Solid State Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Sensor

The United States Army (The Army) has identified the need for a device that can accurately and non-invasively measure the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) that is suitable for use in combat casualties who have hypovolemic shock, acute lung injury, massive resuscitation, and other factors that alter the exhaled or end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2)-PCO2 relationship. In this Phase II program, Giner, Inc. will continue the developmental work started in Phase I and will fabricate a fully functioning and fieldable prototype Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitor (microsensor cell module and electronics module) that is accurate, reliable, safe, easy to use and operates at near body temperature and demonstrate its performance for continuous and rapid (less than 30 seconds for 90% of full response) detection of carbon dioxide in the range 0"250 mm Hg with resolution of 0.05 mm Hg. The proposed Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitor concept combines the novel microsensor cell module, that utilizes solid polymer electrolytes and thick-film screen printing technology, with state of the art electronics module to fabricate reproducible and inexpensive (less than $600 for quantities greater than 1,000) monitor designed for independent operation, complete with its own battery power source and data display interface.