Patent ID: 7399445
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A sensor device for detecting a target substance by utilizing a localized plasmon resonance in a sensor medium, comprising: a sensor medium comprising a substrate, a metal film having a plurality of slit openings formed on the substrate, and a sensor material for fixing a target substance positioned within the slit openings, the sensor material being capable of changing its optical properties by reacting with the target substance; a light source unit that irradiates polarized light having a wavelength toward the sensor medium; a light detector that detects light transmitted through or reflected from the sensor medium; and a measuring unit that measures a change of a spectrum or an intensity of light detected by the light detector, wherein the plurality of slit openings are arranged periodically in a first direction in the metal film, a length of each of the plurality of slit openings in the first direction and an interval between the slit openings in the first direction are equal to or less than the wavelength of the light, wherein each of the plurality of slit openings extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and has a length in the second direction that is greater than the length in the first direction, and wherein the localized plasmon resonance generated in the sensor medium by the polarized light having an electric field parallel to the first direction causes the change of the spectrum or the intensity of light detected by the light detector, and the target substance is detected based on the change.