An arrangement for operating a biosensor emitting radiation includes an excitation light source, which generates at least one excitation radiation for the biosensor; a coupling fiber, at the entry surface of which the excitation radiation is coupled in; an optical Y-coupler, including an excitation arm, which is connected to the exit surface of the coupling fiber, a detector arm, which is connected to an optical detector, and a sensor foot, which can be connected to the biosensor. The excitation arm has a conical shape. The radiation axis of the excitation arm includes an angle in the range of 5° to 70° with the main radiation axis of the detector arm. The diameter of the excitation arm at the connecting point to the detector arm is less than two thirds the diameter of the detector arm. An arrangement for determining the glucose content blood is also provided.

A cartridge for use with an instrument to perform measurement of a fluid, including a digital microfluidics substrate comprising a plurality of electrowetting electrodes operative to perform droplet operations on a liquid droplet in a droplet operations gap; a top plate separated from the digital microfluidics substrate to form a droplet operations gap and comprising openings for injecting liquids into the droplet operations gap; a fiber assembly comprising a fiber optic probe projecting into the droplet operations gap and having a sensing end situated in proximity with one or more of the electrowetting electrodes.

A sample capture and testing system can include a primary receptacle for receiving a fluid sample, where the primary receptacle has a sensor for label-free detection of an analyte disposed at one side. The primary receptacle can be incorporated in a needle for in vivo capture and testing of a sample. The primary receptacle can be incorporated into a specimen container and used as part of a point of care device.

The present invention is directed to an assembly for use in detecting an analyte in a sample based on thin-film spectral interference. The assembly includes a light source to emit light signals; a light detector to detect light signals; a coupler to optically couple the light source and the light detector to a waveguide tip; a monolithic substrate having a coupling side and a sensing side; and a lens between the waveguide tip and the monolithic substrate. The lens relays optical signals between the waveguide tip and the monolithic substrate.

Plasmonic optical fibers, plasmonic optical sensors and methods of manufacturing the same. A fiber core conveys an optical signal therewithin and provides a plasmonic sensing area exposed to a fluid. The plasmonic sensing area is formed only on a section of an external surface of the fiber core. The plasmonic sensing area provides an interface within the section of the external surface for the conveyed signal to at least partially exit the fiber core and cause a modified optical signal to be conveyed in the fiber core. An optical signal generator may provide the optical signal to the plasmonic optical fiber, an optical signal receiver may discriminate the conveyed optical signal from the modified optical signal and a processor module may analyze the modified optical signal and identifies physical characteristics of the fluid present at the sensing area.

The present invention is directed to an assembly for use in detecting an analyte in a sample based on thin-film spectral interference. The assembly includes a light source to emit light signals; a light detector to detect light signals; a coupler to optically couple the light source and the light detector to a waveguide tip; a monolithic substrate having a coupling side and a sensing side; and a lens between the waveguide tip and the monolithic substrate. The lens relays optical signals between the waveguide tip and the monolithic substrate.

The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a sensor cap with at least one main body and a membrane for an optochemical or electrochemical sensor for determining and/or monitoring the concentration of an analyte in a measuring medium, a corresponding sensor cap, and a corresponding sensor. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a permeable membrane is provided with a surface for contacting the measuring medium, as well as a main body with at least one sector for connecting to the membrane. At least part of the membrane and main body are welded, wherein the membrane is at least partially applied to the at least one sector of the main body and a connection between the main body and membrane is sealed against the measuring medium.

A fluoride sensor includes an aluminum layer situated on a distal end face of an optical fiber. A light source directs light into the optical fiber at a proximal end and reflected light from the aluminum layer at the distal end face is directed by the fiber to a detector. A rate of change of a detector signal is processed to produce an estimate of a concentration of fluoride.

An oxygen sensing system comprises a substrate structured to communicate optical signals. An oxygen sensing layer is disposed on the substrate and comprises an oxygen sensing molecule in a matrix in a first unexcited state and formulated to: (a) be excited by a first optical signal to move to a second state; (b) be quenched in the second state by oxygen; and (c) emit a second optical signal corresponding to an amount of oxygen. A protective layer, disposed on the oxygen sensing layer, includes at least one of i) an oleophobic layer and ii) an anti-fouling layer. A controller is optically coupled to the substrate and structured to generate the first optical signal, receive the second optical signal and determine oxygen concentration from the second optical signal.

A method of quantifying the amount of glucose in a sample is provided herein that may further comprise an interferent such as mannitol. At least two measurements are obtained using measurement methods that differ in their sensitivity to the amount of interferent in the sample, thus enabling the results to be compared to determine whether any interferent is present in the sample. A glucose sensor for carrying out a method described herein is also provided.