Patent ID: 8208982
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
1. An evanescent catheter system adapted to be placed in blood comprising: an optical fiber obtained by removing a cladding layer to expose a core layer, to generate evanescent light, to detect fluorescence from a fluorescent substance excited by the evanescent light, and to measure an existing amount of the substance in the blood on the basis of a fluorescence intensity, wherein substantially a half of the cladding covering the core is removed at a columnar tip of the optical fiber whereby the evanescent light is generated on an upper columnar surface of the core, and an optical filter for transmitting the fluorescence in a predetermined wavelength region located on an inner lower columnar surface of the core exposed by removing the cladding layer, wherein the optical filter comprises an upper side and a lower side, wherein the upper side of the optical filter is more proximal to the exposed core than the lower side, and a light receiving element is located on the lower side of the optical filter, wherein the light receiving element detects the fluorescence from the fluorescent substance.