Biological information collecting probe, biological information measuring instrument, method for producing biological information collecting probe, and biological information measuring method

• US 20030109030A1
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchida, Shinji, Ooshima, Kiyoko
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/49 within a body or fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering

Abstract

Provided are a biological information detecting probe and a biological information measuring apparatus that are easy to handle and can easily carry out highly accurate measurements by improving contact between a surface of a living body and a light sensor while minimizing damage to the body tissue, and a biological information measurement method for implementing the same. The invention also achieves a biological information measuring apparatus that can easily measure biological information concerning deep portions of a living body by improving contact between the surface of the living body and the light sensor, and a method for implementing the same. The biological information detecting probe comprises a raised portion 5 forming a recessed portion which is pressed against a living tissue in intimate contact relationship, a substrate 4, an exit end face 9 from which detection light exits through one part of the recessed portion, and a light receiving means 11 which is provided in another part of the recessed portion and into which the detection light is introduced, wherein with the raised portion 5 and substrate 4 held pressed against the living tissue, the detection light is passed through the living tissue and introduced into the receiving means 11.

Claims

1. (Amended) A biological information detecting probe characterized by comprising:

pressing means having a recessed portion which is pressed against a living tissue;

detection light emitting means of emitting detection light through one part of said recessed portion; and

detection light entrance means which is provided in another part of said recessed portion, and into which said detection light is introduced, and in that;

said pressing means is formed from a material that has a higher refractive index than said living tissue; and

with said pressing means held pressed against said living tissue, said detection light is introduced into said detection light entrance means after being passed through said living tissue fitted into said recessed portion.

2. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the angle formed by a plane containing said one part of said recessed portion through which said detection light is emitted makes, and a plane containing said other part of said recessed portion through which said detection light enters is smaller than 180°

.

3. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising:

a living tissue pressing part which is pressed against said living tissue and thereby deforms a portion of said living tissue; and

a base part which contacts a portion of said living tissue other than the portion thereof against which said living tissue pressing part is pressed, and in that;

said pressing means is formed extending over said living tissue pressing part and said base part.

4. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said living tissue pressing part and/or said base part include secretion removing means of removing secretion released from said living tissue, said secretion removing means being located in a portion contacting said living tissue.

5. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that

said detection light emitting means is provided in said living tissue pressing part, and

said detection light entrance means is provided in said base part.

6. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that

said detection light emitting means is provided in said base part, and

said detection light entrance means is provided in said living tissue pressing part.

7. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said detection light emitting means and/or said detection light entrance means include an optical waveguide.

8. (Amended) The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said optical waveguide has a Y-branch shape or a plate-like shape.

9. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that

said optical waveguide in said detection light emitting means is for receiving external input light, and

an end face of said optical waveguide, from which said detection light is not emitted, is formed so as to guide said input light to an end face from which said detection light is emitted.

10. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that said end face of said optical waveguide from which said detection light is not emitted totally reflects said input light for input into said optical waveguide.

11. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that all or part of said end face of said optical waveguide from which said detection light is not emitted has a grating structure, and

said grating structure diffracts said input light for input into said optical waveguide.

12. (Amended) The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said optical waveguide is formed from a material selected from the group consisting at least of germanium, silicon, and diamond.

13. (Amended) The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said optical waveguide is surrounded with a cladding material.

14. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 13, characterized in that said optical waveguide is surrounded with a cladding material that has a lower refractive index than said optical waveguide.

15. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said base part is formed from a silicon material.

16. A fabrication method for the biological information detecting probe as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 15, including the step of forming said detection light emitting means and/or said detection light entrance means by depositing a germanium material.

18. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said recessed portion is provided with a first light blocking film for blocking said detection light, said first light blocking film being formed on a part of said recessed portion other than said one part and said other part thereof.

19. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 1 or 18, characterized in that said recessed portion is substantially in the shape of an inverted triangle in a cross section taken parallel to a light path of said detection light, and a bottom of said recessed portion does not form a face.

20. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 1 or 18, characterized in that said recessed portion is formed so as to have a face at its bottom.

21. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 20, characterized in that the part on which said first light blocking film is formed is the bottom of said recessed portion.

22. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 1 or 18, characterized in that a plurality of said recessed portions are provided.

23. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 22, characterized by comprising a second light blocking film formed between said plurality of recessed portions.

24. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 22, characterized in that the light path of said detection light is one that is projected from said detection light emitting means at an angle smaller than the angle formed by a straight line joining the bottom of said recessed portion to an edge of another recessed portion adjacent to said recessed portion, said edge being the part thereof nearest to said bottom, and a straight line passing through said edges of said plurality of recessed portions.

25. The biological information detecting probe as set forth in claim 22, characterized in that said plurality of recessed portions comprise at least two recessed portions having different depths.

26. (Amended) The biological information detecting probe as set forth in any one of claims 16 or 18 to 25, characterized in that said pressing means is formed from Si, Ge, SiC, or diamond.

27. (Amended) A biological information measuring apparatus characterized by comprising:

the biological information detecting probe as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 15 or 18 to 25;

a light source for said detection light; and

analyzing means of analyzing said detection light passed through said living tissue and introduced into said biological information detecting probe, and in that;

said biological information measuring apparatus acquires biological information based on an analysis result obtained from said analyzing means.

28. (Amended) A biological information measuring apparatus characterized by comprising:

the biological information detecting probe as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 15 or 18 to 25;

a light source for said detection light; and

analyzing means of analyzing scattered light generated when said detection light is introduced into said living tissue, and in that;

said biological information measuring apparatus acquires biological information based on an analysis result obtained from said analyzing means.

31. (Amended) The biological information measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 27 or 28, characterized in that said biological information detecting probe depresses said living tissue to a depth not greater than 5 mm.

32. (Amended) The biological information measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 27 or 28, characterized in that said biological information detecting probe depresses said living tissue into a substantially curved shape.

33. (Amended) The biological information measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 27 or 28, characterized in that the angle formed by a contact face that contacts and depresses said living tissue, and a line perpendicular to a plane containing said living tissue other than said contact face is not smaller than 90°

.

17. (Deleted)

29. (Deleted)

30. (Deleted)