Glucose sensor with a Sagnac interference optical system.

The angle of optical rotation was measured by detecting the phase difference between clockwise and counterclockwise circular polarized light that propagated in a sensing loop. This polarimeter, or glucose sensor, consisted of a Sagnac interference optical system with a polarization-maintaining optical fiber, so it was not affected by the control limitations of the polarization rotation angle or the optical power fluctuation that occurs with scattered light, reflection, or polarization rotation in an optical system. The angle of rotation was measured from the phase difference of the glucose sensor when the concentration of glucose was changed. We confirmed that the resolution of optical rotation was 5×10(-4)  deg, and the resolution of the glucose concentration was 1  mg/dl accordingly. The measured specific rotation of glucose was mostly equal to a physical property value. One applications of this glucose sensor is in measuring the blood sugar levels of diabetic patients.