Fiber-optic probe for the measurement of fluid parameters

An analyte sensor system for a fiber optic probe, the probe having at least one optical fiber, the analyte sensor comprising

• two optical fibers comprising a first optical fiber with two ends and a second optical fiber with two ends, an end of the first optical fiber having an optical fiber face and spaced apart from an optical fiber face of an end of the second optical fiber,
• a cavity in the fiber optic probe between the two opposed optical fiber faces,
• an indicator matrix disposed in the cavity in a light path across the cavity between the two opposed optical fiber faces, the indicator matrix containing indicator molecules on a support, the indicator molecules for indicating a specific analyte,
• a membrane covering the indicator matrix in the cavity, the membrane disposed over the cavity on an exterior of the fiber optic probe, the membrane accessible by the specific analyte from the fiber optic probe's exterior, the membrane selectively permeable to the specific analyte, and
• the support comprising a silica-gel-based porous particulate material with a particle size of about 10 microns.