sensing of oxygen & carbon dioxide - Isis Project No 1103

Introduction

Isis Innovation, the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford, releases a new method for simultaneous sensing aimed at clinical and industrial applications.

Marketing Opportunity

Determination of Oxygen [O2] and Carbon Dioxide [CO2] concentration is critical in medical diagnostics, anaesthetics, industrial processes and pollution monitoring.  Blood gas analysis is carried out for O2 and C02 using Clark and Stow-Severinghaus cells respectively.  Notably it is not currently possible to determine CO2 intravascularly.  Anaesthetic machines use Clark or paramagnetic cells for O2 and infrared analysis for CO2.  Clearly determination of the concentrations of both gases with a single sensor would be highly desirable.

The Oxford Invention

A combined sensing method has been developed by scientists at Oxford University.  Figure 1 shows how the gases are transported across a permeable membrane into a solvent that is in contact with a gold working microelectrode.  Figure 2 shows how two potentials are applied, the steady state limiting currents measured and then de-convoluted to provide the individual gas concentrations.  This technology is effective down to CO2 concentrations of 3% v/v and believed suitable for miniaturisation and in-vivo use.

Commercialisation Status

The technology is the subject of International Patent Applications. Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developing the commercial opportunity.

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Request Further Information: Project Number 1103 Sensing of Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide