Analyte Sensor Component

Abstract

A sensor component for use in a system for measuring concentration of analytes in fluid in a fluid line comprises one or more sensing elements having an optical property that varies with the concentration of the analytes, and engages with the fluid line such that the sensing elements are exposed to the fluid. The sensor component comprises a connector connecting to one or more optical waveguides, and transmits light between the waveguides and the sensing elements. The sensor component comprises one or more of a sampling port configured to provide fluidic access to the fluid line, a data storage medium storing data representing information about the sensor component, and a reflective element. Where it comprises a reflective element, the sensor component transmits light between the waveguides and the reflective element on a separate optical path from an optical path between the waveguides and the sensing elements.

1 . A sensor component for use in a system for measuring the concentration of one or more analytes in fluid in a fluid line, the sensor component comprising:
 one or more sensing elements having an optical property that varies with the concentration of the one or more analytes in the fluid, the sensor component being configured to engage with the fluid line such that the sensing elements are exposed to the fluid in the fluid line;   a connector configured to connect to one or more optical waveguides, the sensor component being configured to transmit light between the one or more optical waveguides and the one or more sensing elements; and   a sampling port configured to provide fluidic access to the fluid line when the sensor component is engaged with the fluid line.   
     
     
         2 . A sensor component according to  claim 1 , wherein the sampling port comprises a one-way valve configured to permit one-way fluid flow out of the fluid line. 
     
     
         3 . A sensor component according to  claim 1 , wherein the sampling port comprises a component fitting configured to engage with an external fitting. 
     
     
         4 . A sensor component according to  claim 3 , wherein the component fitting comprises a Luer fitting. 
     
     
         5 . A sensor component according to  claim 3 , wherein the sampling port is configured to open upon engagement of the external fitting with the component fitting. 
     
     
         6 . A sensor component according to  claim 1 , wherein the sampling port is self-closing. 
     
     
         7 . A sensor component according to  claim 1 , wherein the sampling port is at most 20 cm from the one or more sensing elements. 
     
     
         8 . A sensor component according to  claim 1 , wherein the sampling port comprises a removable cap configured to seal the sampling port. 
     
     
         9 . A sensor component according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid-permeable support element for supporting the sensing elements arranged to be between the sensing elements and the fluid in the fluid line when the sensor component is engaged with the fluid line. 
     
     
         10 . A sensor component according to  claim 9 , wherein the permeable support element comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         11 . A sensor component according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensing elements comprise a membrane permeable to at least one of the analytes configured to be exposed to the fluid in the fluid line when the sensor component is engaged with the fluid line. 
     
     
         12 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A sensor component according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor component is configured to engage with a wall of the fluid line. 
     
     
         19 . A sensor component according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor component further comprises a conduit, the sensing elements being exposed to fluid in the conduit and the conduit is configured to be inserted into the fluid line for engagement of the sensor component with the fluid line. 
     
     
         20 . A sensor component according to  claim 19 , wherein the conduit is configured to be inserted into the fluid line in an in-line configuration. 
     
     
         21 . A sensor component according to  claim 19 , wherein the conduit is configured to be inserted into the fluid line in a shunt configuration. 
     
     
         22 . A sensor component for use in a system for measuring the concentration of one or more analytes in fluid in a fluid line, the sensor component comprising:
 one or more sensing elements having an optical property that varies with the concentration of the one or more analytes in the fluid, the sensor component being configured to engage with the fluid line such that the sensing elements are exposed to the fluid in the fluid line when the sensor component is engaged with the fluid line;   a connector configured to connect to one or more optical waveguides, the sensor component being configured to transmit light between the one or more optical waveguides and the one or more sensing elements;   a reflective element, the sensor component being configured also to transmit the light between the one or more optical waveguides and the reflective element on a separate optical path from an optical path between the one or more optical waveguides and the one or more sensing elements.   
     
     
         23 . A sensor component according to  claim 22 , wherein the reflective element is concave. 
     
     
         24 . A sensor component according to  claim 22 , wherein the reflective element is planar. 
     
     
         25 . A sensor component according to  claim 22 , wherein the reflective element is configured to reflect at least 10% of light incident thereon back to the one or more waveguides. 
     
     
         26 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A sensor component according to  claim 22 , wherein the sensor component comprises two or more sensing elements. 
     
     
         30 . A sensor component according to  claim 29 , further comprising a light-absorbing element positioned between the sensing elements. 
     
     
         31 . A sensor component according to  claim 22 , wherein the connector comprises a transparent optical element in respect of the or each sensing element configured to transfer light between the sensing element and the one or more optical waveguides. 
     
     
         32 . A sensor component according to  claim 31 , wherein the transparent optical element comprises a waveguide. 
     
     
         33 . A sensor component according to  claim 22 , further comprising a temperature sensor arranged to sense the temperature of the one or more sensing elements. 
     
     
         34 . A sensor component according to  claim 33 , wherein the temperature-sensitive element is a thermistor or a thermocouple. 
     
     
         35 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A replaceable sensor component for use in a system for measuring the concentration of one or more analytes in fluid in a fluid line, the sensor component comprising:
 one or more sensing elements having an optical property that varies with the concentration of the one or more analytes in the fluid, the sensor component being configured to engage with the fluid line such that the sensing elements are exposed to the fluid in the fluid line when the sensor component is engaged with the fluid line;   a connector configured to connect to one or more optical waveguides, the sensor component being configured to transmit light between the one or more optical waveguides and the one or more sensing elements; and   a data storage medium configured to store data representing information about the sensor component.   
     
     
         40 . A replaceable sensor component according to  claim 39 , further comprising an interface circuit configured to transmit signals between the data storage medium and the system. 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A replaceable sensor component according to  claim 39 , wherein the information comprises one or more characteristics of the one or more sensing elements. 
     
     
         43 . A replaceable sensor component according to  claim 42 , wherein the information comprises calibration information about the variation of the optical property of the sensing elements with the concentration of the one or more analytes and/or the temperature of the sensing elements. 
     
     
         44 . A replaceable sensor component according to  claim 39 , wherein the information comprises one or more characteristics of a calibration fluid used for calibration of the replaceable sensor component. 
     
     
         45 . A replaceable sensor component according to  claim 44 , wherein the information comprises a variation of the pH of the calibration fluid with temperature. 
     
     
         46 . A replaceable sensor component according to  claim 39 , wherein the information comprises an identifier of a patient with whom the replaceable sensor component is associated. 
     
     
         47 . A replaceable sensor component according to  claim 46 , wherein the data storage medium is configured to receive the identifier during initialisation of the system, and store the identifier such that the replaceable sensor component is permanently associated with the patient. 
     
     
         48 . A replaceable sensor component according to  claim 39 , wherein the information comprises an identifier of the system with which the replaceable sensor component is associated. 
     
     
         49 . A replaceable sensor component according to  claim 39 , wherein the information comprises one or more of:
 an indication of prior use of the replaceable sensor component;   an indication of whether damage has occurred to the replaceable sensor component;   a use-by date after which the replaceable sensor component should not be used;   an in-use lifetime of the replaceable sensor component;   a length of time for which the replaceable sensor component has been used;   a unique identifier of the replaceable sensor component;   a date of manufacture of the replaceable sensor component;   a time at which the replaceable sensor component was last calibrated; and   an indication of the number and/or type of errors that have occurred during use of the replaceable sensor component.   
     
     
         50 .- 62 . (canceled)