Patent ID: 7701579

Claim:
A fluorescence sensor, comprising: a sensor section for collecting a fluorescent substance, which acts to represent presence of a substance to be detected in a sample; an exciting light source, which produces exciting light for exciting the fluorescent substance to produce fluorescence; and at least one different non-exciting light source for irradiating different non-exciting light, which varies in wavelength from the exciting light and which is substantially free from capability of exciting the fluorescent substance, to the sensor section, wherein the fluorescence sensor is provided with: a dielectric material block, which has been formed from a material capable of transmitting the exciting light, a sample support section for supporting the sample at a position in the vicinity of one surface of the dielectric material block, which one surface constitutes the sensor section, and an exciting light irradiating optical system for irradiating the exciting light through the dielectric material block toward an interface between the dielectric material block at a region of the one surface of the dielectric material block and a medium, which is located on the side outward from the dielectric material block at the region of the one surface of the dielectric material block, such that total reflection conditions may be satisfied.