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Abstract

An apparatus for measuring the presence of an analyte in a fluid, including a light source adapted to shine an energetic beam of light onto a layer incorporating or in contact with fluorophore-tagged organic molecules. The fluorophore-tagged organic molecules are configured to bind with at least one predetermined analyte to produce at least one organometallic fluorescent compound having at least one characteristic fluorescent wavelength. A photodetector is positioned adjacent the layer of, or surface in contact with, fluorophore-tagged organic molecules to receive fluorescent light excited therefrom. A microprocessor is operationally connected to the light source and to the photodetector. Exposure of the fluorophore-tagged organic molecules to the analyte allows the formation of at least one organometallic fluorescent compound in the layer of fluorophore-tagged organic molecules or in contact with the surface of the layer. The beam of energetic light interacts with the at least one organometallic fluorescent compound to produce fluoresced light and a portion of the fluoresced light is thereby received by the photodetector. The photodetector sends a photodetector signal to the microprocessor proportional to the fluoresced light received The microprocessor is adapted to identify the presence of the analyte and calculate a concentration of analyte in layer of fluorophore-tagged organic molecules from the photodetector signal.

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First Claim