Oxygen and Temperature Sensing Capsule
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for intracellularly measuring oxygen and temperature in living organisms are plagued by interconnected temperature and oxygen responses, leading to inaccurate results and potential harm due to reactive singlet oxygen production, with current optical techniques being invasive and requiring repetitive measurements.
Innovation Solution
A capsule comprising a first sensitizer compound capable of energy transfer to triplet oxygen, a second sensitizer compound for temperature measurement, and an emitter compound, dispersed in a matrix that reacts with singlet oxygen, allowing for decoupled and precise measurement of oxygen and temperature with a single non-invasive measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical sensors use phosphorescent compounds for oxygen detection, then oxygen measurement capability is achieved, but temperature changes cause measurement errors due to interconnected temperature and oxygen responses
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into two independent sensing channels: one for oxygen detection using phosphorescent compounds and another for temperature detection using fluorescent compounds. This segmentation allows each channel to operate independently, eliminating the interference where temperature changes affect oxygen measurements. The oxygen sensor uses phosphorescence intensity or lifetime changes specifically responsive to oxygen concentration, while the temperature sensor uses fluorescence properties that are temperature-dependent but oxygen-independent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces separate sensing mechanisms as intermediaries: phosphorescent compounds serve as intermediaries for oxygen detection while fluorescent compounds serve as intermediaries for temperature detection. These intermediary substances have selective responsiveness - phosphorescent compounds are primarily sensitive to oxygen and fluorescent compounds are primarily sensitive to temperature - thereby mediating the measurement process to avoid cross-interference between temperature and oxygen responses.
2Measurement precision
If repetitive measurements are performed to improve accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but the invasive nature and potential harm to the living organism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing capabilities (oxygen detection and temperature detection) into a single integrated sensor capsule that can perform both measurements simultaneously. This merging eliminates the need for repetitive separate measurements, as both parameters are captured in one non-invasive insertion. The capsule contains both phosphorescent and fluorescent sensing compounds along with their respective matrix materials, enabling dual-parameter measurement from a single deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor capsule is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both an oxygen sensor and a temperature sensor simultaneously. This universal design allows a single device to perform multiple measurement functions, reducing the need for multiple separate measurements and minimizing invasiveness to the living organism while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.
3Measurement precision
If phosphorescence decay time measurement is used for oxygen detection, then oxygen sensing capability is achieved, but the measurement process requires averaging of many excitation pulses increasing measurement time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic excitation pulses to stimulate the phosphorescent and fluorescent compounds, with the phosphorescence decay time serving as the oxygen sensing parameter. By using periodic excitation rather than continuous illumination, the system can measure the decay characteristics that are specific to oxygen concentration. The periodic nature allows for time-resolved detection, where the decay profile after each pulse contains the oxygen information, reducing the need for extensive averaging compared to continuous measurement approaches.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable, precise, and non-invasive measurement of oxygen and temperature within living cells without contamination or oxidation damage, eliminating the need for repetitive measurements and improving accuracy by decoupling oxygen and temperature sensing processes.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one first sensitizer compound is capable of energy transfer to triplet oxygen converting the triplet oxygen into singlet oxygen
Implementation Method 2
having a triplet state with a first triplet energy band and being capable of energy transfer via an emissive process emitting light at a first frequency v1
Implementation Method 3
having a triplet state with a second triplet energy band and being capable of energy transfer via an emissive process and a non-emissive process and being capable of absorbing radiation at a second frequency v2 and of emitting light at a fourth frequency v4
Implementation Method 4
at least one emitter compound having a triplet state with a third triplet energy band, wherein the at least one second sensitizer compound is capable of transferring energy to the at least one emitter compound and wherein the at least one emitter compound, after obtaining energy transferred from the at least one second sensitizer compound, is capable of emitting light at a third frequency v3
Implementation Method 5
as matrix material at least one compound being capable of reacting with singlet oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule suitable for oxygen and temperature sensing contains:i) at least one first sensitizer compound being capable of energy transfer to triplet oxygen,ii) at least one compound being capable of reacting with and inactivating singlet oxygen,iii) at least one second sensitizer compound being capable of absorbing radiation at a second frequency v2 and of emitting light at a fourth frequency v4,iv) at least one emitter compound, wherein the at least one second sensitizer compound is capable of transferring energy to the at least one emitter compound and wherein the at least one emitter compound, after obtaining energy transferred from the at least one second sensitizer compound, is capable of emitting light at a third frequency v3, wherein the following equation is fulfilled: v3>v2,wherein the upper energy limit of the first triplet energy band of the first sensitizer compound is lower than the lower energy limit of the second triplet energy band of the second sensitizer compound and lower than the lower energy limit of the third triplet energy band of the emitter compound, and wherein the third triplet band of the emitter compound at least partially overlaps with the second triplet energy band of the second sensitizer compound.