Recent developments of optical fibre chemical sensors at IROE

An overview is given on the activity in progress at IROE, relative to the field of optical fibre sensors for chemical parameters. Optode-based sensors are under development for both biomedical and environmental applications. As for the biomedical field, particular attention will be devoted to clinical applications of the developed sensor in gastroenterology. The first clinical applications of an absorption-based sensor for the detection of gastric carbon dioxide will be described. Clinical results have shown the superiority of the developed sensor over the sensor currently available on the market and based on air tonometry. New clinical findings involving a sensor for the detection of bile will be also discussed. As far as environmental applications are concerned, an optode for the detection of nitrogen dioxide will be described.