In vitro test av sensor med gelatinfantom : Framtagning av testprotokoll för verifiering av en kombinationssensor

Musculoskeletal pain is a common problem, and it is important to localise the source of the damaged tissue to be able to treat it. Damaged tissue has deviating physiological parameters such as conductivity, oxygen content and pH. Sensors that can measure these parameters are available ex vivo and development of a sensor that can measure these parameters in vivo inhuman tissue with one sensor device is ongoing. In this report a needle type sensor that can measure both conductivity and oxygen saturation in vivo is used, and the aim is to produce a test protocol to calibrate and verify the function of the sensor by in vitro testing. In order to accomplish this aim, hydrogel phantoms with different conductivity, oxygen content and mechanical properties were created to mimic human tissue. The phantoms were based on gelatine and water with different additives to achieve the desired chemical properties. The phantoms were then measured with the sensor, and it was successful in being able to measure the difference in conductivity and oxygen content. From the methods used in this report and the results of the phantom testing, test protocols for the sensor were created that can be used to calibrate and verify its function.