Patent ID: 7319525

Claim:
A disposable detector tip comprising: an optical fiber section having a proximal end and a distal end; first and second reflecting surfaces formed on the distal end of the optical fiber section, the reflecting surfaces positioned so that light coupled into the proximal end of the optical fiber section is reflected in a manner that results in an interference signal; a deposit of analyte binding molecules formed on the optical fiber section in the vicinity of the reflecting surfaces, where binding of analyte molecules to the deposit of analyte binding molecules causes a change in the interference signal; and a connector structure fixedly attached to the optical fiber section, the connector structure for removably attaching to a tip connector of an optical coupling assembly so that the proximal end of the optical fiber section is optically coupled to one or more optical fibers contained in the tip connector, where the connector structure maintains an air gap between the proximal end of the optical fiber section and the one of more optical fibers contained in the tip connector.