Apparatus and method for measuring blood components

• US 20050119538A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hye-jeong, Jeon, Kye-jin, Choe, Eun-young, Hwang, In-duk
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• 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: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

A blood component measuring apparatus includes a fixing apparatus for fixing a body part of an examinee, the body part including a tissue to be examined, a light source portion for radiating light onto the tissue to be examined, the tissue to be examined covering the light source portion, a photodetector for detecting light passing through the tissue to be examined, the photodetector facing the light source portion, and an analyzer for analyzing the light detected by the photodetector, wherein the fixing apparatus includes first and second fixing members for fixing first and second portions of the body part, respectively, the first and second portions of the body part being connected to the tissue to be examined, wherein the first and second fixing members are operable to move depending on a location of the tissue to be examined.

Claims

1. A blood component measuring apparatus, comprising:

a fixing apparatus for fixing a body part of an examinee, the body part including a tissue to be examined;

a light source portion for radiating light onto the tissue to be examined, the tissue to be examined covering the light source portion;

a photodetector for detecting light passing through the tissue to be examined, the photodetector facing the light source portion; and

an analyzer for analyzing the light detected by the photodetector, wherein the fixing apparatus includes;

a first fixing member for fixing a first portion of the body part, the first portion of the body part being connected to the tissue to be examined; and

a second fixing member for fixing a second portion of the body part, the second portion of the body part being connected to the tissue to be examined,

wherein the first and second fixing members are operable to move depending on a location of the tissue to be examined.

2. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second fixing members are disposed on a common base plate so that each of the first and second fixing members are operable to pivot about a respective point on the common base plate.

3. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fixing member comprises:

a first support operable to pivot about an end of the first support;

a movable member mounted on the first support and providing a space for receiving the first portion of the body part, a portion of the movable member being operable to vary a size of the space for receiving the first portion of the body part in response to a size of the first portion of the body part; and

an adjustor for adjusting a position of the movable member.

4. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first fixing member further comprises a pressing means for pressing a region of the body part adjacent to the tissue to be examined.

5. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first fixing member further comprises a tissue catching means for pulling a region of the body part adjacent to the tissue to be examined downward or outward.

6. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adjustor comprises a first adjustor for varying a length of the space for receiving the first portion of the body part and a second adjustor for varying a width of the space for receiving the first portion of the body part.

7. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a stopper for limiting a pivotal motion of the first support.

8. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fixing member comprises:

a second support operable to pivot about an end of the second support;

a supporting member mounted on the second support to support the second portion of the body part, the supporting member being operable to vary a size of the supporting member in response to a size of the second portion of the body part;

a tissue catcher for pulling a portion of the tissue to be examined;

a movable member for adjusting a position of the tissue catcher; and

an adjustor for adjusting a position of the supporting member.

9. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tissue catcher comprises an upper member and a lower member.

10. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a stopper for limiting a pivotal motion of the second support.

11. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source portion comprises a light source for radiating light and a photo-guider for guiding light radiated from the light source portion onto the tissue to be examined.

12. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the photo-guider comprises a heater for adjusting a temperature of the tissue to be examined.

13. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the heater is either formed on a surface of the photo-guider or formed enclosing the photo-guider.

14. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photodetector comprises:

a photo-guide pillar contacting the tissue to be examined to guide light passing through the tissue to be examined; and

a protecting tube enclosing the photo-guide pillar and making a boundary of an interface area between the photo-guide pillar and the tissue to be examined gentle.

15. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the protecting tube comprises a parallel portion, which is parallel to the photo-guide pillar, and a bent portion, which is at a lower end of the protecting tube and is angled toward a lower end of the photo-guide pillar.

16. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bent portion is inclined at an angle of about 30-60°

with respect to a horizontal plane, which is perpendicular to the photo-guide pillar.

17. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body part of the examinee is a hand, and the tissue to be examined is a web tissue between a thumb, which is the first portion of the body part, and an index finger, which is the second portion of the body part.

18. The blood component measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a fixing member for fixing either an arm or a wrist of the examinee.

19. A blood component measuring method using the apparatus claimed in claim 1, the method comprising:

mounting the body part of the examinee on the fixing apparatus such that the light source portion contacts a first surface of the tissue to be examined;

uniformly maintaining a temperature of the tissue to be examined at a predetermined temperature;

applying a tension to the tissue to be examined; and

obtaining desired data from the tissue to be examined.

20. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 19, wherein applying the tension is performed before uniformly maintaining the temperature.

21. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the predetermined temperature of the tissue to be examined is in a range of about 36-40°

C.

22. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 19, wherein applying tension to the tissue to be examined comprises spreading opposing portions of the body part.

23. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 22, wherein applying tension to the tissue to be examined further comprises deforming the tissue to be examined by pulling a portion of the tissue to be examined while spreading the opposing portions of the body part.

24. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 23, wherein applying tension to the tissue to be examined further comprises deforming the tissue to be examined by either pulling or pressing a first region of the tissue to be examined, the first region of the tissue to be examined being adjacent to a target region of the tissue to be examined, which is where the measurement occurs.

25. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 23, wherein applying tension to the tissue to be examined further comprises deforming the tissue to be examined by either pulling or pressing a second region of the tissue to be examined, the second region of the tissue to be examined being adjacent to a target region of the tissue to be examined, which is where the measurement occurs.

26. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 24, wherein applying tension to the tissue to be examined further comprises deforming the tissue to be examined by either pulling or pressing a second region of the tissue to be examined, the second region of the tissue to be examined being adjacent to a target region of the tissue to be examined, which is where the measurement occurs.

27. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising fixing the body part of the examinee.

28. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 19, wherein obtaining desired data comprises:

contacting the photodetector with a second surface of the tissue to be examined, the photodetector facing the light source portion;

radiating light onto one side of the tissue to be examined and detecting light passing through the tissue to be examined;

amplifying the detected light; and

analyzing the amplified light to output data on the blood component in the tissue to be examined.

29. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 28, wherein contacting the photodetector with the second surface of the tissue to be examined comprises establishing an angle in a range of about 30-60°

between a periphery of the photodetector and the second surface of the tissue to be examined.

30. The blood component measuring method as claimed in claim 24, wherein pressing the first region comprises applying a pressure equal to or less than about 0.5 N/mm².