Patent ID: 6888629

Claim:
A sensor for performing surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, comprising: a sensor body having a throughbore; an optical energy source for generating an optical excitation signal; a surface enhanced Raman scattering structure that is mounted to said sensor body through which said optical excitation signal is directed for irradiating an analyte, whereupon said analyte generates primary Raman emissions in response to being irradiated by said optical excitation signal, and wherein said surface enhanced Raman scattering structure generates secondary Raman emissions when irradiated by said optical excitation signal; an optical detector for generating an output signal that represents spectral characteristics of said primary and secondary Raman emissions in response to receiving said primary and secondary Raman emissions; and a processor for substantially filtering said secondary Raman emission from said primary Raman emissions and for generating an output signal representing said analyte.