Oxygen sensing membranes and methods of making same

A method of forming a polymeric sensing membrane having a Stern-Volmer constant k.sub.SV in the range of about 0.002 (mmHG).sup.-1 to 1.0 (mmHg).sup.-1, said method comprising the steps of:

• using a first selecting step selected from the group consisting of
• a) selecting a fluorescent dye molecule having a relaxation time .tau..sub.O, said fluorescent dye molecule capable of emitting fluorescence, wherein oxygen to be sensed by said polymeric sensing membrane is capable of collisionally quenching said fluorescence of said fluorescent dye molecule;
• or
• b) selecting a polymer having a permeability (Perm.sub.O2);
• using a second selecting step selected from the group consisting of
• c) selecting a polymer having a permeability (Perm.sub.O2) wherein said Perm.sub.O2 required to provide said Stern-Volmer constant k.sub.SV is determined by the mathematical function log (k.sub.Sv /.tau..sub.O)=log (4.pi..multidot.N.sub.A .multidot.p)+log (Perm.sub.O2), or by the function log (k.sub.SV /.tau..sub.O)=2.05604+0.66877 log (Perm.sub.O2), wherein said first selecting step is step a);
• or
• d) selecting a fluorescent dve molecule having a relaxation time .tau..sub.O, wherein said relaxation time .tau..sub.O is determined by the mathematical function log (k.sub.SV /.tau..sub.O)=log (4.pi..multidot.N.sub.A .multidot.p)+log (Perm.sub.O2), or by the function log (k.sub.SV /.tau..sub.O)=2.05604+0.66877 log (Perm.sub.O2), said fluorescent dye molecule capable of emitting fluorescence, wherein oxygen to be sensed by said polymeric sensing membrane is capable of collisionally quenching said fluorescence of said fluorescent dye molecule, and wherein said first selecting step is step b);
• admixing said fluorescent dye molecule with said polymer to form a mixture;
• and
• forming said mixture into said polymeric sensing membrane.