FIBRE OPTIC SENSOR

• US 20110044576A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Glysure Ltd
• Original Assignee: Glysure Ltd
• Inventors: Crane, Barry Colin
• Application Number:
  US12/918,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20110044576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7713 in core
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7796 Special mountings, packaging of indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/032 with non solid core or cladding G02B6/02295 takes precedence

Abstract

A fibre optic sensor for detecting or measuring the concentration of an analyte in a medium, the sensor having a sensing region (1) for insertion into the medium during use, which sensing region comprises a cell containing an indicator for the analyte, wherein the cell comprises a central portion (CE) arranged longitudinally within the fibre and one or more crossing portions (CR1, CR2, CR3) which intersect the central portion.

Claims

1. A fibre optic sensor for detecting or measuring the concentration of an analyte in a medium, the sensor having a sensing region for insertion into the medium during use, which sensing region comprises a cell containing an indicator for the analyte,

wherein the cell comprises a central portion arranged longitudinally within the fibre and one or more crossing portions which intersect the central portion.

2. A sensor according to claim 1, having two or three crossing portions intersecting the central portion.

3. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one crossing portion extends to the edge of the fibre to enable analyte in the medium to enter the cell during use.

4. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein each crossing portion, when viewed along a cross section of the fibre, is positioned at an angle of at least 60°

to any adjacent crossing portion.

5. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein adjacent crossing portions are separated by a distance of from 30 to 100 μ

m, said distance being measured from the point of intersection of each crossing portion with the central portion.

6. (canceled)

7. A method of producing a fibre optic sensor for detecting or measuring the concentration of an analyte in a medium, the sensor having a sensing region for insertion into the medium during use, which sensing region comprises a cell containing an indicator for the analyte,

wherein the cell comprises a central portion arranged longitudinally within the fibre and one or more crossing portions which intersect the central portion,

which method comprises providing a cell by (a) forming one or more holes extending across the sensing region of the fibre to provide one or more crossing portions;

and then (b) forming a hole through the distal end of the fibre and extending longitudinally within the sensing region of the fibre to provide a central portion, such that the central portion intersects the one or more crossing portions, and providing an indicator to the cell.

8. A method according to claim 7, which further comprises capping one or more of the thus formed holes.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the holes are produced by laser ablation.

10. A method of detecting or measuring the concentration of an analyte in a medium, which method comprises inserting the sensing region of a fibre optic sensor into the medium, passing incident light along the fibre and measuring an emitted signal, wherein the fibre optic sensor is for detecting or measuring the concentration of an analyte in a medium, the sensor having a sensing region for insertion into the medium during use, which sensing region comprises a cell containing an indicator for the analyte,

wherein the cell comprises a central portion arranged longitudinally within the fibre and one or more crossing portions which intersect the central portion.