Fluorescent detector systems for the detection of chemical perturbations in sterile storage devices

Abstract

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.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of sample-containing vessels positioned within an system, each vessel comprising a fluorescent species in the sample, wherein the fluorescent species has an emission that is dependent on a parameter to be measured; and   (b) a means for monitoring a parameter of one or more of the plurality of samples-containing vessels positioned in the system, the means comprising:
 (i) a light source for exciting the fluorescent species; 
 (ii) an emission detector for measuring emission from the fluorescent species; and 
 (iii) a probe for delivering excitation light to the fluorescent species and for delivering emission light to the detector. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a single probe. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a separate probe for each vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter is pH. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter is CO 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter is oxygen. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter is glucose. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent species has a first emission intensity at a first emission wavelength and a second emission intensity at a second emission wavelength, and wherein the first and second emission wavelengths are not the same. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising 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.