Optical sensor for sensing multiple analytes

摘要

A device 10 for analyzing simultaneously multiple analytes in a fluid of unknown composition. The device includes a plurality of sensors 22A-22E, a light source 14 for providing light to shine on the sensors 22A-22E, light detectors 48, and a processor 16. The sensors 22A-22E are exposed to a sample of the fluid of unknown composition. The plurality of sensors 22A-22E include groups of sensors 22A-22E, each group targeting a specific analyte and including one or more sensors that contain an analyte-specific chemical that interacts more specifically with one analyte than with some other analytes to be analyzed. Each sensor in each group has a different chemical interacting specifically with the analyte. The light source 16 shines light on the sensors of the plurality of sensors 22A-22E to cause light interaction with the sensors 22A-22E. The differences in the sensors 22A-22E lead to differences in the light interaction. The light detectors 48 detect the light interaction by the sensors 22A-22E. The processor 22A-22E analyzes the light interaction by the sensors 22A-22E to take into account interference in light interaction among the analytes, thereby determining the concentration of each of the analytes in the fluid.