Ocular spectrometer and probe method for non-invasive spectral measurement
First Claim
1. A probe for non-invasive spectral assay of a serum-carried component, comprising:
- a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending therebetween;
a light collection assembly disposed within the inner lumen of the body and being adapted to communicate with an spectrometer for spectral analysis of collected light;
an illumination assembly mated to the body and being effective to provide light; and
an optical assembly mated to the distal end of the body and positionable at the cornea of a subject'"'"'s eye, the optical assembly being configured to direct light from the illumination assembly through a subject'"'"'s eye to tissue and to direct return light from the tissue into the collection assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-invasive spectral measurement of a native, diagnostic or treatment component in blood or tissue, illuminates the back of the eye and collects return light that has passed through and been reflected from choroidal or retinal tissue. Spectral analysis detects a retinal tissue state, or detects the level of a blood or serum constituent, which may be a native constituent or a dye, marker or pharmacological agent. Time-resolved or spectral decay monitoring may be used to assess organ functioning, e.g., by administering a serum-carried indicator of uptake, clearance or binding rate for specific organs. Circulating cells or material diagnostic of different conditions may also be detected by spectral analysis, either directly, or by tagging with a suitable label. A special probe which may include an ophthalmic lens is arranged to couple the return signal from the fundus into one or more collection fibers coupled to a spectrometer, and may be hand-held or mount directly on the front surface of the cornea, providing a simple clinical tool for non-invasive spectrometric access to the bloodstream, requiring little or no special training, and without resort to costly ophthalmic instrumentation.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A probe for non-invasive spectral assay of a serum-carried component, comprising:
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a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending therebetween;
a light collection assembly disposed within the inner lumen of the body and being adapted to communicate with an spectrometer for spectral analysis of collected light;
an illumination assembly mated to the body and being effective to provide light; and
an optical assembly mated to the distal end of the body and positionable at the cornea of a subject'"'"'s eye, the optical assembly being configured to direct light from the illumination assembly through a subject'"'"'s eye to tissue and to direct return light from the tissue into the collection assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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12. A probe for non-invasive spectral assay of a serum-carried component, comprising:
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a body;
a light collection assembly disposed within said body, said light collection assembly configured to couple to a spectrometer; and
an optical assembly mated to said body for coupling a return light signal from choroidal or fundus tissue of a subject'"'"'s eye into the light collection assembly, such that the return light signal includes a spectrum of a target component carried in blood or serum;
whereby the spectrometer processes the light signal to directly assay said serum-carried component.
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18. A method of performing a non-invasive measurement of a target component present in blood or tissue comprising the steps of:
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positioning an optical structure at the front of a subject'"'"'s eye;
directing illumination into the subject'"'"'s eye at fundus tissue;
collecting a light signal returned from said tissue; and
processing a spectrum present in the light signal to measure a targeted serum-carried component present in said tissue.
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33. An optical system for non-invasive spectral assay of a serum-carried component, comprising:
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a source for providing light;
first and second beam splitters optically coupled to the light source, the first beam splitter directing a portion of the light to a subject'"'"'s eye to elicit reflected light from the eye, and directing a second portion of the light to the second beam splitter;
a reference reflection surface optically coupled to the second beam splitter to be illuminated by the second light portion, said surface directing reflected light in response to said illumination to the second beam splitter; and
first and second collection assemblies coupled to said first and second beam splitters, respectively;
wherein the first beam splitter directs the light reflected from the eye to the first collection assembly, and the second beam splitter directs the light reflected from the reflection surface to said second collection assembly. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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36. A method of performing a non-invasive measurement of a target component present in the blood or tissue, such as a native, diagnostic or treatment component, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
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a) positioning an optical assembly at a front surface of a subject'"'"'s eye to collect a light signal from choroidal tissue at the back of the eye;
b) coupling the collected signal to a spectral processor; and
c) processing a spectrum present in the collected light to directly measure a targeted serum-carried component or a condition present in said tissue.
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44. An optical system for non-invasive spectral assay of a serum-carried component, comprising:
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a source for providing light;
an optical member coupled to the source for alternatively switching the light propagation direction between a first direction and a second direction, the first direction illuminating a subject'"'"'s eye;
a reference reflectance surface optically coupled to the optical member to be illuminated by light propagating in the second direction, the surface providing reflected light in response to said illumination;
a detector that detects light reflected from the subject'"'"'s eye and the reflectance surface. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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Specification