Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A gas sensor comprising: a gas permeable, light permeable and substantially aqueous impermeable matrix consisting essentially of a single polymeric material, said matrix having a plurality of micro-compartments dispersed therein; and an aqueous phase in said micro-compartments and substantially filling said micro-compartments, said aqueous phase comprising an aqueous buffer solvent and a solute, said solute including a dye soluble in said solvent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A gas sensor comprising: a gas permeable, light permeable and substantially aqueous impermeable matrix consisting essentially of a single polymeric material, said matrix having a plurality of micro-compartments dispersed therein; and an aqueous phase in said micro-compartments and substantially filling said micro-compartments, said aqueous phase comprising an aqueous buffer solvent and a solute, said solute including a dye soluble in said solvent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A gas sensor of claim 1 wherein: said dye is a pH sensitive dye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A gas sensor of claim 1 or 2 wherein: said polymeric material is an ionic impermeable material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A gas sensor of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein: said material is polydimethysiloxane and said dye is hydroxypyrene trisulfonic acid or a salt thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A gas sensor of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said microcompartments are smaller than 5 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The gas sensor of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
A gas sensor which comprises: an aqueous phase having an aqueous soluble optical indicator dye dissolved therein; a gas permeable carrier body which is essentially aqueous impermeable and is capable of transmitting light at least at selected wavelengths; a plurality of droplets of said aqueous phase dispersed in said carrier body, said droplets being supported by said carrier body; an optical fiber having an optical face; and said carrier body with said aqueous phase dispersed therein being located in association with said optical face of said optical fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A gas sensor which comprises: an aqueous phase having an aqueous soluble optical indicator dye dissolved therein; a gas permeable carrier body which is essentially aqueous impermeable and is capable of transmitting light at least at selected wavelengths; a plurality of droplets of said aqueous phase dispersed in said carrier body, said droplets being supported by said carrier body; an optical fiber having an optical face; and said carrier body with said aqueous phase dispersed therein being located in association with said optical face of said optical fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A gas sensor of claim 7 wherein: said optical indicator dye is a fluorescent dye and said selected wavelengths including the excitation and emission wavelengths of said fluorescent dye.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
A process of preparing a gas sensor which comprises: dissolving a quantity of a dye in a quantity of aqueous buffer solution; vigorously mixing said buffer solution with a quantity of a polymeric precursor of a cross-linked polymeric material so as to form an emulsion of said buffer solution and said polymeric precursor; adding a quantity of a cross-linking agent and a catalyst to said emulsion; forming said catalyzed emulsion into a shape; and curing said shaped catalyzed emulsion to form a cross-linked polymeric material having a plurality of micro-compartments of said dye containing aqueous buffer solution in said cross-linked polymeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
A process of preparing a gas sensor which comprises: dissolving a quantity of a dye in a quantity of aqueous buffer solution; vigorously mixing said buffer solution with a quantity of a polymeric precursor of a cross-linked polymeric material so as to form an emulsion of said buffer solution and said polymeric precursor; adding a quantity of a cross-linking agent and a catalyst to said emulsion; forming said catalyzed emulsion into a shape; and curing said shaped catalyzed emulsion to form a cross-linked polymeric material having a plurality of micro-compartments of said dye containing aqueous buffer solution in said cross-linked polymeric material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 9 further including the step of: adding a quantity of an emulsification enhancement agent to said solution of said dye in said buffer so as to form a solution of said dye and said emulsification enhancement agent in said buffer.