The Client

A veterinary specialist practice committed to improving patient safety during anaesthetic procedures. They identified the need for a specialist monitoring device to help detect gastric reflux in dogs – a potentially serious complication that can occur under anaesthesia. Continuous pH monitoring in the oesophagus would allow their clinical team to identify reflux early and intervene.

The Challenge

The client required a custom pH probe that could:

• Continuously measure pH from the dog’s oesophagus, positioned near the stomach junction.
• Be compact: ideally ~10 mm in diameter (max 20 mm) and ≤100 mm in length.
• Withstand full immersion in acidic gastric fluids (pH ~2).
• Be chemically sterilised between patients.
• Include 1–2 m of cable with a BNC connector for use with a pH Meter.

The probe needed to be precise, robust, and small enough to fit safely in an animal’s oesophagus while under anaesthetic.

The Solution

Sentek developed a custom pH probe tailored to the client’s exact requirements:

Design & Construction: 70 mm length with a tapered 12 mm outer diameter PEEK body, providing chemical resistance, biocompatibility, and smooth insertion to minimise snagging during placement.

Sensing & Connectivity: Hemispherical pH-sensitive membrane with an AgCl cartridge in a pseudo double junction design for improved chemical protection, paired with a 2 m cable and BNC connector fully compatible with their pH Meter.

Usage & Durability: The client inserts the probe within a protective tube to ensure safe placement near the stomach junction, with all materials selected to withstand immersion in gastric acid and tolerate thorough cleaning between uses.

The Result

This bespoke probe provides accurate, real-time pH readings during surgery, giving the client a reusable, cost-effective tool to detect reflux early and improve patient safety.