Method of producing fiber optic chemical sensors incorporating photocrosslinked polymer gels
AssigneeCordis Corporation
InventorMark E. Blaylock
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Abstract
A fiber optic chemical sensor and the method of making it are provided, such being useful in medical, biological and industrial applications. The sensor includes an optical fiber waveguide having a photocrosslinked polymeric gel at a portion thereof, which gel is crosslinked in place and undergoes substantial volume expansion. A dye is absorbed into the gel, the dye being responsive to different degrees depending on the presence and concentration of any one of particular parameters of a fluid being monitored, such parameters being pH, oxygen concentration, carbon dioxide concentration and the like.
Claims10
A method for making a fiber optic chemical sensor for monitoring at least one parameter of a fluid, comprising:
- preparing a photocrosslinkable gel-forming polymer composition including a photopolymer component that crosslinks when subjected to actinic radiation and a solvent within which said photopolymer component is soluble;
- contacting said photocrosslinkable polymer composition with a portion of an optical fiber waveguide in order that the photocrosslinkable polymer composition adheres to the optical fiber waveguide;
- subjecting said photocrosslinkable polymer composition to actinic radiation while said composition is adhered to the portion of the optical fiber waveguide to thereby photocrosslink said composition into a photocrosslinked polymeric gel member of said optical fiber;
- and
- absorbing a dye component into said photocrosslinked polymeric gel member, said dye component being responsive to a parameter of a fluid to be monitored.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.