Patent ID: 7391936

Claim:
A microfluidic optical sensor, comprising: an optical waveguide extending between an optical input port and an optical output port, said optical waveguide being capable of propagating light from said optical input port to said optical output port, said optical waveguide comprising an optical waveguide interaction region that comprises an optical waveguide loop; a fluidic channel extending between a fluid input port and a fluid output port, said fluidic channel being capable of conducting a fluid from said fluid input port to said fluid output port, said fluidic channel comprising a fluidic channel region; said fluidic channel region being aligned in a sandwich with said optical waveguide interaction region and separated from said optical waveguide interaction region by an interposed spacing material having a thickness; said thickness being configured to enable transmission of an evanescent field of light through said spacing material between said optical waveguide interaction region and said fluidic channel region.