Non-invasive measurement of blood components using retinal imaging
First Claim
1. A method for the detection of the concentration of a blood component in an individual comprising:
- (a) projecting light having selected wavelengths into an eye of the individual to illuminate the fundus;
(b) detecting the light reflected from the fundus and forming an image of a portion of the fundus containing blood vessels;
(c) analyzing selected wavelength components in the detected light from the blood vessels in the image to determine the concentration of a selected blood component.
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Abstract
Illuminating light of selected wavelengths in the visible or infrared range is projected through the pupil of the eye onto the fundus, and the light reflected back and out through the pupil is detected and analyzed, preferably using the area of the optic disk for analyzing the retinal vessels overlying the optic disk. Specific wavelengths of illuminating light may be chosen for each blood component to be analyzed depending on the spectral characteristics of the substance being analyzed. The reflected image from the retina may be used to measure non-photoreactive blood components such as hemoglobin, and photoreactive components such as bilirubin. For the measurement of photoreactive components, images may be taken before and after, or during, illumination of the eye with light at wavelengths which will affect the photoreactive analyte, enabling measurements of the concentration of the analyte.
90 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for the detection of the concentration of a blood component in an individual comprising:
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(a) projecting light having selected wavelengths into an eye of the individual to illuminate the fundus;
(b) detecting the light reflected from the fundus and forming an image of a portion of the fundus containing blood vessels;
(c) analyzing selected wavelength components in the detected light from the blood vessels in the image to determine the concentration of a selected blood component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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15. A method of detecting the concentration of a photoreactive analyte in the blood of an individual comprising:
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(a) projecting light into the eye of the individual to illuminate the fundus that contains wavelengths not including light at wavelengths that will break down the photoreactive analyte and detecting the light reflected from the fundus to determine the intensity of the reflected light at these wavelengths;
(b) projecting light into the eye to illuminate the fundus containing wavelengths that break down the photoreactive analyte, and projecting light into the eye to illuminate the fundus containing the wavelengths that do not break down the photoreactive analyte and detecting the intensity of such light reflected from the fundus; and
(c) determining the difference between the intensity of light detected with no wavelengths that break down the photoreactive analyte projected on the fundus and the intensity of light detected when light which breaks down the photoreactive analyte has been projected onto the fundus, from which the analyte concentration may be determined.
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Specification