Objective The aim of this project is to develop a small, compact, portable, battery operated optical fibre sensor for the simultaneous detection of bile and pH in the stomach and in the esophagus. The development of such an optoelectronic unit will avoid hospitalization of the patient, with a consequent reduction of medical costs. The simultaneous detection of the above parameters will lead to a unique instrument capable of substituting the bile sensor and the pH monitoring unit. Multianalyte detection with the sarne device and optical fibre sensor technology will warrant the construction of an instrument essentially inexpensive in comparison with the sensors at the moment available on the market. Important issues that will be addressed in the project are: - detailed analysis of the physician requirements; - use of light emitting diodes at different wavelengths as sources and of SMD technique which can warrant the miniatunzation of the optoelectronic unit; - design and fabrication of the catheter and of the probe, which must be completely biocompatible, easy to construct and to be produced in large quantities; - in vitro characterization of the sensor: - in vitro validation on volunteers. ln the view of the project team the optoelectronic unit, characterized by different electronic channels connected with the same catheter, will have dimensions of 15x3x8 cm3, weight < 500 g and a market price of 6 KECU to be met resulting in a very competitive product. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsoptoelectronicsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsfibre optics Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0203 - Reliability and quality of materials and products Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme EAW - Exploratory awards Coordinator Prodotec Srl EU contribution No data Address Via A. Antognoli 50127 Firenze Italy See on map Total cost No data