A new method for measuring oxygen concentration in biological systems.

Abstract

The oxygen dependent quenching of phosphorescence, if measured by the oxygen dependence of the phosphorescence lifetime, can be used as a sensitive and precise measure of oxygen concentration. The result is an optical method for measuring oxygen which is easily calibrated and the calibration may, depending on the experimental conditions, be stable for months to years. Although much remains to be done to realize the full potential of this method of measuring oxygen, it has great promise and we are proceeding with its development.