Microsensor copolymer and method of manufacture

Claim 1

An analyte sensor, comprising: an optical fiber having an outer bonding surface; an analyte sensing matrix covalently bonded to said bonding surface, the analyte sensing matrix including a copolymer having first and second monomer portions formed from a first monomer having a first type of functional group providing a bonding site for covalent bonding to a first dye indicator material, and a second monomer having a second type of functional group providing a bonding site for covalent bonding to a second dye indicator material and for cross-linking, said first and second monomer portions being provided in a ratio selected to control bonding of said second dye material and crosslinking; a first dye indicator material covalently bonded to said first monomer portion of said copolymer; a second dye indicator material covalently bonded to a portion of the bonding sites of said second monomer portion of said copolymer; and a crosslinking agent covalently bonded to said bonding surface and covalently bonded to a remaining portion of the bonding sites of said second monomer portion of said copolymer, whereby the proportion of bonding sites on said second monomer portion for crosslinking varies inversely with the proportion of said bonding sites of said second monomer portion covalently bonded to said second dye indicator material.

Claim 15

A method of making an analyte sensor having an optical fiber with an outer bonding surface and an analyte sensing polymeric matrix covalently bonded to said bonding surface and including first and second covalently bonded dye indicator materials, comprising the steps of: forming a copolymer from first and second monomers, with said first monomer having a first type of functional group available as bonding sites for said first dye indicator material, and said second monomer having a second type of functional group available as bonding sites for said second dye indicator material and for crosslinking, said first and second monomers being provided in a ratio selected to control bonding of said second dye material and crosslinking; covalently bonding said first dye indicator material to said first type of functional group of said first monomer of said copolymer, and covalently bonding said second dye indicator material to a portion of the bonding sites of said second type of functional group of said second monomer to form a dye copolymer; mixing said dye copolymer with a crosslinking agent; and covalently bonding said crosslinking agent to said bonding surface and to at least a portion of remaining bonding sites of said second functional group of said second monomer of said dye copolymer to bond said analyte sensing polymeric matrix to said bonding surface, whereby the proportion of bonding sites on said second monomer available for crosslinking varies inversely with the proportion of said bonding sites on said second monomer covalently bonded to said second dye indicator material.

Claim 16

A method of making an analyte sensor having an optical fiber with an outer bonding surface and an analyte sensing polymeric matrix covalently bonded to said bonding surface and including first and second covalently bonded dye indicator materials, comprising the steps of: forming a copolymer from first and second monomers, with said first monomer having a first type of functional group available as bonding sites for said first dye indicator material, and said second monomer having a second type of functional group available as bonding sites for said second dye indicator material and for crosslinking, said first and second monomers being provided in a ratio selected to control bonding of said second dye material and crosslinking; covalently bonding said first dye indicator material to said first type of functional group of said first monomer of said copolymer, and covalently bonding said second dye indicator material to a portion of the bonding sites of said second type of functional group of said second monomer to form a dye copolymer; mixing said dye copolymer with a crosslinking agent; and covalently bonding said crosslinking agent to said bonding surface and to at least a portion of remaining bonding sites of said second functional group of said second monomer of said dye copolymer to bond said analyte sensing polymeric matrix to said bonding surface, whereby the proportion of bonding sites on said second monomer available for crosslinking varies inversely with the proportion of said bonding sites on said second monomer covalently bonded to said second dye indicator material.

Claim 22

A method of making a microsensor for measuring an analyte in a fluid, said microsensor having an optical fiber having a glass surface portion, and a polymeric analyte sensing matrix covalently bonded to said glass surface portion, the polymeric analyte sensing matrix including a dye indicator material, comprising the steps of: covalently bonding a first dye indicator material to a copolymer of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and a second dye indicator material to aziridynyl ethyl methacrylate having bonding sites for bonding to said second dye indicator material and for crosslinking to form a dye copolymer; forming a blocked polyether isocyanate by reacting stoichiometric equivalent quantities of acetone oxime and a polyether polyisocyanate; mixing water with said dye copolymer and said blocked polyether polyisocyanate to initiate crosslinking between said dye copolymer and said blocked polyether polyisocyanate to form said polymeric analyte sensing matrix; applying said polymeric analyte sensing matrix in which crosslinking has been initiated to said glass surface portion of said optical fiber; and heating said polymeric analyte sensing matrix on said glass surface portion of said optical fiber to a temperature greater than 80 degrees Celsius for a sufficient time to cure said polymeric analyte sensing matrix and to form a covalent bond between said polymeric analyte sensing matrix and said glass surface portion of said optical fiber.

Claim 23

A method of making a microsensor for measuring an analyte in a fluid, said microsensor having an optical fiber having a glass surface portion, and a polymeric analyte sensing matrix covalently bonded to said glass surface portion, the polymeric analyte sensing matrix including a dye indicator material, comprising the steps of: covalently bonding a first dye indicator material to a copolymer of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and a second dye indicator material to aziridynyl ethyl methacrylate having bonding sites for bonding to said second dye indicator material and for crosslinking to form a dye copolymer; forming a blocked polyether isocyanate by reacting stoichiometric equivalent quantities of acetone oxime and a polyether polyisocyanate; mixing water with said dye copolymer and said blocked polyether polyisocyanate to initiate crosslinking between said dye copolymer and said blocked polyether polyisocyanate to form said polymeric analyte sensing matrix; applying said polymeric analyte sensing matrix in which crosslinking has been initiated to said glass surface portion of said optical fiber; and heating said polymeric analyte sensing matrix on said glass surface portion of said optical fiber to a temperature greater than 80 degrees Celsius for a sufficient time to cure said polymeric analyte sensing matrix and to form a covalent bond between said polymeric analyte sensing matrix and said glass surface portion of said optical fiber.