Thin film fiber optic sensor array and apparatus for concurrent viewing and chemical sensing of a sample

Claim 1

A fiber optic sensor useful in an apparatus for concurrently viewing the environs of and optically detecting at least one ligand of interest of a fluid sample, said fiber optic sensor being comprised of: a preformed, unitary fiber optic array comprising a plurality of individually clad, fiber optical strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each of which is formed of multiple strand end faces, said preformed, unitary fiber optic array being of determinable configuration and dimensions, said two discrete ends of said preformed, unitary fiber optic array presenting two discrete optic array surfaces for introduction and conveyance of light energy; and a substantially uniform and uninterrupted thin film comprising at least one light energy absorbing dye positioned over one of said discrete optic array surfaces of said preformed, unitary fiber optic array, said thin film having a thickness ranging from about 1-50 microns, each light energy absorbing dye of said thin film reacting with a ligand of interest in a manner correlatable with an optical determination.

Claim 8

An apparatus for concurrently viewing the environs of and optically detecting at least one ligand of interest of a fluid sample, said apparatus comprising: a fiber optic sensor comprised of (a) a preformed, unitary fiber optic array comprising a plurality of individually clad, fiber optical strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each of which is formed of multiple strand end faces, said preformed, unitary fiber optic array being of determinable configuration and dimensions, said two discrete ends of said unitary fiber optic array presenting two discrete optic array surfaces for introduction and conveyance of light energy, (b) a substantially uniform and uninterrupted thin film comprising at least one light energy absorbing dye positioned over one of said discrete optic array surfaces of said preformed, unitary fiber optic array, said thin film having a thickness ranging from about 1-50 microns, each light energy absorbing dye of said thin film reacting with one ligand of interest in a manner correlatable with an optical determination; means for placing said thin film of said fiber optic sensor into reactive contact with a fluid sample; means for introducing light energy to said thin film of said fiber optic sensor for illumination of said light energy absorbing dye; means for detecting emerging light energy from said illuminated thin film of said fiber optic sensor, said detected emerging light energy serving as an optical determination for a ligand of interest in the fluid sample; means for illuminating the fluid sample and its environs; and means for concurrently viewing the fluid sample and its environs through said thin film of said fiber optic sensor.

Claim 9

An apparatus for concurrently viewing the environs of and optically detecting at least one ligand of interest of a fluid sample, said apparatus comprising: a fiber optic sensor comprised of (a) a preformed, unitary fiber optic array comprising a plurality of individually clad, fiber optical strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each of which is formed of multiple strand end faces, said preformed, unitary fiber optic array being of determinable configuration and dimensions, said two discrete ends of said unitary fiber optic array presenting two discrete optic array surfaces for introduction and conveyance of light energy, (b) a substantially uniform and uninterrupted thin film comprising at least one light energy absorbing dye positioned over one of said discrete optic array surfaces of said preformed, unitary fiber optic array, said thin film having a thickness ranging from about 1-50 microns, each light energy absorbing dye of said thin film reacting with one ligand of interest in a manner correlatable with an optical determination; means for placing said thin film of said fiber optic sensor into reactive contact with a fluid sample; means for introducing light energy to said thin film of said fiber optic sensor for illumination of said light energy absorbing dye; means for detecting emerging light energy from said illuminated thin film of said fiber optic sensor, said detected emerging light energy serving as an optical determination for a ligand of interest in the fluid sample; means for illuminating the fluid sample and its environs; and means for concurrently viewing the fluid sample and its environs through said thin film of said fiber optic sensor.

Claim 14

A method for concurrently viewing the environs of and optically detecting at least one ligand of interest of a fluid sample, and method comprising the steps of: obtaining a fiber optic sensor comprised of (a) a preformed, unitary fiber optic array comprising a plurality of individually clad, fiber optical strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each of which is formed of multiple strand end faces, said preformed, unitary fiber optic array being of determinable configuration and dimensions, said two discrete ends of said preformed, unitary fiber optic array presenting two discrete optic array surfaces for introduction and conveyance of light energy, (b) a substantially uniform and uninterrupted thin film comprising at least one light energy absorbing dye and positioned over one of said discrete optic array surfaces of said preformed, unitary fiber optic array, said thin film having a thickness ranging from about 1-50 microns, each light energy absorbing dye of said thin film reacting with one ligand of interest in a manner correlatable with an optical determination; placing said thin film of said fiber optic sensor into reactive contact with a fluid sample; introducing light energy to said thin film of said fiber optic sensor for illumination of said light energy absorbing dye; detecting emerging light energy from said thin film of said fiber optic sensor, said detected emerging light energy serving as an optical determination for a ligand of interest in the fluid sample; illuminating the fluid sample and its environs; and concurrently viewing the fluid sample and its environs through said thin film of said fiber optic sensor.

Claim 15

A method for concurrently viewing the environs of and optically detecting at least one ligand of interest of a fluid sample, and method comprising the steps of: obtaining a fiber optic sensor comprised of (a) a preformed, unitary fiber optic array comprising a plurality of individually clad, fiber optical strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each of which is formed of multiple strand end faces, said preformed, unitary fiber optic array being of determinable configuration and dimensions, said two discrete ends of said preformed, unitary fiber optic array presenting two discrete optic array surfaces for introduction and conveyance of light energy, (b) a substantially uniform and uninterrupted thin film comprising at least one light energy absorbing dye and positioned over one of said discrete optic array surfaces of said preformed, unitary fiber optic array, said thin film having a thickness ranging from about 1-50 microns, each light energy absorbing dye of said thin film reacting with one ligand of interest in a manner correlatable with an optical determination; placing said thin film of said fiber optic sensor into reactive contact with a fluid sample; introducing light energy to said thin film of said fiber optic sensor for illumination of said light energy absorbing dye; detecting emerging light energy from said thin film of said fiber optic sensor, said detected emerging light energy serving as an optical determination for a ligand of interest in the fluid sample; illuminating the fluid sample and its environs; and concurrently viewing the fluid sample and its environs through said thin film of said fiber optic sensor.