Patent ID: 8470300

Claim:
A sensor for detecting an analyte selected from: an ionic analyte, wherein the sensor comprises a polymer matrix comprising a fluorescence source, an ionophore and a chromoionophore, wherein in an initial state photons emitted from the fluorescence source are absorbed by the chromoionophore, and when the ionophore associates with the ionic analyte, the chromoionophore stops absorbing photons emitted by the fluorescence source; an ionic analyte, wherein the sensor comprises a polymer matrix comprising a fluorescence source, an ionophore and a chromoionophore, wherein in an initial state photons emitted from the fluorescence source are not absorbed by the chromoionophore, and when the ionophore associates with the ionic analyte, the chromoionophore absorbs photons emitted by the fluorescence source; and a chelatable analyte, wherein the sensor comprises a polymer matrix, comprising a polymer including moieties that bind the chelatable analyte, optionally a fluorescence source, and a chromophore associated with the polymer matrix that binds to the moieties in the absence of the chelatable analyte; wherein the sensor comprises a continuous coating, penetrable by the analyte, at least partially covalently bound to the surface of the polymer matrix.