ACCURATE TEMPERATURE SENSOR USING PLASTIC OPTICAL FIBER

CONTINUOUS INTRAPARTUM FETAL PH PROBES AND INTRA-ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS MONITORING PROBES NEED TO MONITOR LOCAL TEMPERATURES AT THE SENSOR TIPS. DURING APPLICATION AND USE, THE BENDING AND TWISTING TO WHICH THESE SENSORS ARE SUBJECTED HAVE DEMANDED THAT PLASTIC FIBERS BE USED. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A HIGHLY ACCURATE TEMPERATURE SENSING OPTRODE, FABRICATEDON A SMALL PLASTIC OPTICAL FIBER, THAT CAN BE USED TO CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR VARIOUS PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF PHASE I ARE: 1. TO DEVELOP A PHOSPHORESCENT METHOD FOR MONITORING TEMPERATURE IN AN IN-VIVO DEVICE USING A 114 UM PLASTIC OPTICAL FIBER 2. TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS DEVICE CAN BE STERILIZED FOR CLINICAL USE 3. TO FABRICATE THE SENSOR IN A MANNER THAT WILL LEND ITSELF TO FUTURE INEXPENSIVE MASS PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES. THE LONGER TERM PHASE II OBJECTIVE WOULD BE TO BUILD AND CHARACTERIZE THE PROVE FOR USE WITH OTHER FIBER OPTIC DIAGNOSTIC SENSORS, THUS PROVIDING REAL TIME CAPABILITY OF CORRECTING THESE SENSORS FOR TEMPERATURE EFFECTS.