MICROFABRICATED SENSOR ARRAYS SENSITIVE TO PH AND K+ FOR IONIC DISTRIBUTION MEASUREMENTS IN THE BEATING HEART

Thick-film H+- and K+-selective sensor arrays based on solvent polymer ic neutral carrier membranes are described, The sensor away design and construction allow inexpensive and mass production of disposable mini aturized probes useful in the biomedical held, especially for cardiova scular research and monitoring. They are also suitable for use as mult isensor electrochemical detectors within modern now injection analysis instrumentation. The carriers used for membrane preparation are H+-se lective ETH 5294 chromoionophore and the well-known K+-selective ionop hore, valinomycin. The preliminary in vivo experiments, to monitor Hand K+ ionic distribution in the beating pig heart, help to determine the unique ionic conduction responsible for ventricullar fibrillation in the setting of acute regional myocardial ischemia.