Patent ID: 8349605

Claim:
An analyte sensor, comprising in combination: a light source for generating light having a chosen wavelength or band of wavelengths; an optical guide having a first surface and an axis, capable of receiving light from said light source and for guiding the light along the axis, and having at least one region on the first surface thereof wherein an evanescent field is generated substantially perpendicular to the axis of said guide such that the evanescent field extends from the first surface within the at least one region; at least one detector disposed in the vicinity of the at least one region of said guide and ≦45 μm from said guide, for detecting the intensity of the evanescent field; and a substrate not interposed between said optical guide and said at least one detector, for supporting said waveguide and said detector, whereby the analyte in the vicinity of the at least one region modifies the distribution of the evanescent field thereby changing the intensity thereof detected by said at least one detector.