Patent ID: 7656536

Claim:
A disposable detector tip comprising: an optical fiber section having a proximal end and a distal end; a first reflecting surface formed on the distal end of the optical fiber, the first reflecting surface binding analyte binding molecules; a second reflecting surface formed on the distal end of the optical fiber proximal to the first reflecting surface, 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 as analyte binds to the analyte binding molecules; and a connector structure including a bore into which the optical fiber section is attached, the connector structure for sliding over a ferrule containing one or more optical fibers for removably attaching the disposable detector tip to the ferrule, the connector structure including arms for holding a proximal end of the optical fiber section in place relative to a distal end of the one or more optical fibers in the ferrule while reducing sensitivity to lateral misalignment.