This newly developed sensor allows early detection of diseases such as gastrointestinal ischaemia. In this disease there is an increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the stomach.
The sensor combines a hydrogel and pressure gage to detect the higher levels of CO2. When CO2 concentration increases, pH changes and the hydrogel swells. Hydrogel swelling is, in turn, detected by the pressure gage. The sensor (2.9 mm x 0.9 mm x 0.7 mm) easily fits inside a catheter tip.
Bottom line, while the transduction scheme is certainly nothing new, the application is quite interesting and may have a sizeable niche market. Besides gastrointestinal applications, the sensor may potentially be used to measure carbon dioxide levels in the brains of intensive care patients.
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