Detecting element, detecting device and detecting method

A detecting device for detecting a property of an analyte, comprising

• a detecting element;
• a light source for irradiating the detecting element with a detecting light;
• a light receiving element for receiving an output light emitted from the detecting element;
• and
• an arithmetic unit for processing a signal obtained by the light receiving element to determine the property of the analyte,
• wherein the detecting element comprises a plurality of metallic structures separated from each other, a plurality of substrates which has a plurality of planes on which the metallic structures exist, and an analyte-holding region constituting a duct for the analyte,
• wherein at least one part of the analyte-holding region is comprised of a part of at least one of the planes, and one of the planes has a normal line intersecting with all the other planes,
• wherein the planes are arranged such that the detecting light intersects the planes, and
• wherein the normal line intersecting with the other planes is on an angle of 20 degrees or less with the detecting light.

A method for detecting a property of an analyte using a detecting element which is comprised of a plurality of metallic structures separated from each other, a plurality of substrates which has a plurality of planes on which the metallic structures exist, and an analyte-holding region constituting a duct for the analyte, wherein at least one part of the analyte-holding region is comprised of a part of at least one of the planes, which comprises the steps of:

• introducing an analyte into the analyte-holding region;
• irradiating the detecting element with a detecting light so that the detecting light intersects the planes;
• receiving the output light emitted from the detecting element with a light receiving element;
• determining a property of the analyte by a signal output from the light receiving element;
• and
• outputting the determined property to a user,
• wherein each normal line of the planes is on an angle of 20 degrees or less with the detecting light.