Patent ID: 7750294

Claim:
A photonic sensor system for sensing an analyte in a sample, said system comprising: a) at least one encapsulated beta emission source; b) a scintillation layer which radiates upon exposure to beta emission from said beta emission source; c) an array of sensors formed on or within the scintillation layer and which comprise luminophores capable of radiating upon exposure to radiation from said scintillation layer, wherein the intensity, wavelength, polarization, spectrum, or lifetime of said luminophore radiation is changed upon exposure of the sensors to said analyte, wherein at least two sensors in the array have different calibration curves with respect to said analyte, wherein each of said different calibration curve provides a single analyte concentration value for a given change in luminophore radiation, and the individual signals from each of the at least two distinct sensors are detected simultaneously; wherein the scintillating layer is disposed between the beta emission source and said array of sensors; and wherein said array of sensors is positioned with respect to the scintillation layer such that the scintillation layer radiation impinges each sensor of the array without having first impinged other sensors in the array.