Development of a calcium sensitive fluorescence sensor as medical device

This calcium sensitive fluorescence sensor is based on a fluorescence dye immobilized in a hydrogel, which is placed onto the inner wall of a transparent measuring cell. The ionized calcium (iCa) sensitive fluorophore oregon green dextran (OG-dextran) reacts with the calcium ion resulting in an increase of fluorescence intensity proportional to the concentration of iCa. To measure the optical signal of the calcium sensitive fluorescence sensor an appropriate and very sensitive optical measurement device was developed. The aim of this sensor is to measure the ionic calcium concentration during extracorporeal citrate-calcium anticoagulation. Thus the newly developed calcium sensor can bring an enhancement for accurate online measurement of iCa during treatment and adjustment of iCa afterwards.