Fluorescent detector systems for the detection of chemical perturbations in sterile storage devices
System and method for detecting and measuring chemical perturbations in a sample. The system and method are useful for non-invasive pH monitoring of blood or blood products sealed in storage bags.
1. A method for monitoring a parameter of one or more samples positioned in an incubator, comprising:
(a) irradiating a fluorescent seminaphthofluorescein species having a first emission intensity at a first emission wavelength and a second emission intensity at a second emission wavelength, each emission intensity dependent on a parameter, with excitation light emanating from a probe physically isolated from the fluorescent species to provide first and second emission intensities, wherein the fluorescent species is in liquid communication with a sample contained in a vessel in an incubator;
(b) measuring the first and second emission intensities to determine a first parameter reading of the sample; and
(c) repeating step (a) after a pre-determined time and measuring the first and second emission intensities to determine a second parameter reading of the sample.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (c) is repeated to provide multiple parameter readings to monitor the parameter of the sample over time.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter is pH.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter is CO 2 .
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter is oxygen.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter is glucose.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring the first and second emission intensities of each sample positioned in the incubator to determine a first parameter reading for each of the samples.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein step (c) is repeated to provide multiple parameter readings to monitor the parameter of each of the samples over time.
9. A incubator, comprising:
(a) plurality of sample-containing vessels positioned within an incubator, each vessel comprising:
(i) a fluorescent species in liquid communication with the sample, wherein the fluorescent species has an emission that is dependent on a parameter to be measured;
(ii) a housing for receiving a probe, wherein the housing is adapted for receiving the probe at a first end and terminating with a window at the second end, the window being transparent to excitation and emission light, and wherein the window physically isolates the probe from the fluorescent species; and
(b) a system for monitoring a parameter of one or more of the plurality of samples-containing vessels positioned in the incubator, the system comprising:
(i) a light source for exciting the fluorescent species;
(ii) an emission detector for measuring emission from the fluorescent species;
(iii) an excitation lightguide for transmitting excitation light from the light source to the fluorescent species, wherein the lightguide comprises a first terminus proximate to the light source and a second terminus distal to the light source;
(iv) an emission lightguide for transmitting emission from the fluorescent species to the emission detector, wherein the lightguide comprises a first terminus proximate to the detector and a second terminus distal to the detector; and
(v) a probe comprising the distal termini of the excitation lightguide and the emission light guide.
10. The incubator of claim 9 , wherein the system comprises a single probe.
11. The incubator of claim 9 , wherein the system comprises a separate probe for each vessel.
12. The incubator of claim 9 , wherein the parameter is pH.
13. The incubator of claim 9 , wherein the parameter is CO 2 .
14. The incubator of claim 9 , wherein the parameter is oxygen.
15. The incubator of claim 9 , wherein the parameter is glucose.
16. The incubator of claim 9 , wherein the fluorescent species has a first emission intensity at a first emission wavelength and a second emission intensity at a second emission wavelength.