Optical fiber sensors for continuous monitoring of biochemicals and related method

A sensor for optically measuring properties of at least one sample analyte, comprising

• a probe housing,
• optical fiber means for transmitting light energy into and out of said housing, one end of said optical fiber means disposed within a hollow portion of said housing and spaced from one end of said probe housing,
• porous membrane means disposed generally adjacent said one end of said housing, for defining a chamber between an inner wall of said porous membrane means and said optical fiber means,
• reflective surface means disposed within said chamber between said optical fiber means and said porous membrane means, and spaced from said porous membrane means, said reflective surface means for defining an illuminated region between said one end of said optical fiber means and said reflective surface means and a dark region between said reflective surface means and said porous membrane means,
• a dye-labeled analog-analyte in solution disposed within said chamber,
• receptor material disposed within either said illuminated region or said dark region, and said receptor material being capable of chemically binding with said analyte and said analog-analyte,
• light source means for generating excitation energy, said light source means operatively associated with said optical fiber means such that said excitation light passes through said optical fiber means to said reflective surface means, and
• detection means operatively associated with said optical fiber means, for detecting an emission signal generated by said dye-labeled analog-analyte.