ANTITHROMBOGENIC PO2 SENSOR FOR CONTINUOUS INTRAVASCULAR OXYGEN MONITORING

An antithrombogenic oxygen partial pressure sensor (Anthron® p02 sensor) was produced by coating a hydrophilic heparinized polymer (Anthron) on an etched epoxy composite ultramicroelectrode (microhole electrode). From in vitro tests, both the response time and stability were satisfactory under the conditions of a 20 μm thickness of Anthron coating and a depth up to 100 μm for the microhole. Additionally, results of in vitro tests without systemic heparinization demonstrated that a stable real time measurement of the intravascular oxygen partial pressure value was possible for a long period without thrombus formation or adhesion of blood components on the electrode surface of the Anthron® pO2 sensor. Moreover, the measured data agreed with those from the blood gas analyser. Due to the thick thrombus formation on the electrode surface, the control (non-coated) sensor was unable to measure the intravascular oxygen partial pressure even for a short period of time. © 1990.