SPATIALLY-RESOLVED ANALYTE MAPPING WITH TIME-OF-FLIGHT OPTICAL SENSORS

Simultaneous real-time acquisition of analytical data from several loc ations is attractive in a variety of applications. This brief review t races the evolution of approaches to such measurements. Greatest empha sis is placed on optical time-of-flight chemical detection when signal s are multiplexed from several point sensors or when the measurements are taken along the length of a single continuous extended-length 'dis tributed' sensing element. The use of sensors featuring extended-lengt h continuous chemically sensitive optical fibers offers detection arra ngements for which there is no counterpart in conventional chemical se nsor technologies. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.