Patent ID: 6068743
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A measuring apparatus for determining, partial oxygen pressure in human brain tissue (3) comprisinga probe (5) dimensioned to be inserted in brain tissue, said probe comprising a thin, flexible tube of a tissue-compatible, oxygen-permeable plastic and having an interior volume;a liquid electrolyte comprising an acetate in said volume;a polaragraphic cathode (11) with a limited exposed surface and an anode (13) with a silver surface in said volume and immersed in said electrolyte;measuring means (15) comprisinga power source (21),means for selectively connecting said power source in a polaragraphic mode with a first polarity to said anode and cathode to generate a polaragraphic voltage,a measurement amplifier (20) for determining the magnitude of a current flowing between said anode and cathode in said polaragraphic mode, anda regeneration device (24) for calculating, on the basis of said measured polaragraphic current, a time, duration and current magnitude for regeneration and for applying in a regeneration mode a voltage to said anode and cathode in a polarity reversed from that in said polaragraphic mode for a selected time interval to regenerate said probe; andremovable memory means fixedly attached to said probe for recording data from said probe wherein said measuring means records operational data in said polaragraphic mode in an interval immediately preceding disconnection of said probe from said measuring means whereby a patient having a probe inserted can move from one measuring apparatus to another taking said memory means along.