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 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. Based on these considerations, Giner, Inc. proposes to develop a non-invasive, transcutaneous (ptcCO2) solid-state electrochemical carbon dioxide microsensor 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 2 mm Hg. The proposed novel microsensor will utilize solid polymer electrolytes and thick-film screen printing technology to fabricate reproducible and inexpensive (less than $600 for quantities greater than 1,000) microsensor designed for independent operation, complete with its own battery power source and data display interface.