Method for monitoring body fluids

• US 20070179365A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IntelliDx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntelliDx, Inc.
• Inventors: Pesach, Benny, Bitton, Gabriel, Nagar, Ron
• Application Number:
  US11/345,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179365A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces

Abstract

A method of monitoring at least one fluid compartment of a body comprising: illuminating the skin with light that stimulates photoacoustic waves in the skin; and using the photoacoustic waves to measure change in the volume of the fluid compartment.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring at least one fluid compartment of a body comprising:

illuminating the skin with light that stimulates photoacoustic waves in the skin; and

using the photoacoustic waves to measure change in the volume of the fluid compartment.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein using the photoacoustic waves comprises using the photoacoustic waves to determine change in thickness of a layer or layers in the skin.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein using the photoacoustic waves comprises using the waves to determine change in the concentration of a marker in a fluid compartment of the at least one fluid compartment.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one compartment comprises the interstitial fluid (ISF) compartment.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein illuminating the skin comprises illuminating the skin with light that is relatively strongly absorbed by water.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein using the photoacoustic waves comprises using the photoacoustic waves to determine change in thickness of the skin and/or a layer therein.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein using the photoacoustic waves comprises using the waves to determine change in distance at which a blood vessel is located in or beneath the skin.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one compartment comprises the blood.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein using the photoacoustic waves comprises using the waves to assay a marker in the blood.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the marker is at least one of hemoglobin (Hb), or packed red cell volume (PCV).

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein illuminating the skin comprises illuminating the skin with light that is relatively strongly absorbed by hemoglobin.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one compartment comprises two compartments.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the two compartments comprise the ISF compartment and the blood.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein determining change in the ISF compartment volume comprises using the photoacoustic waves to determine change in distance at which a blood vessel is located in or beneath the skin.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein determining change in the volume of blood comprises using the photoacoustic waves to assay a marker in the blood.

16. A method of determining change in thickness of the skin comprising:

illuminating the skin with light that stimulates photoacoustic waves in the skin; and

using the photoacoustic waves to determine change in the thickness.

17. A method of determining change in thickness of the skin comprising:

illuminating the skin with light that stimulates photoacoustic waves in a blood vessel in or below the skin;

using the photoacoustic waves to determine change in distance of the blood vessel below the skin surface; and

using change in the distance to determine change in skin thickness.

18. A method of determining changes in thickness of the skin comprising:

transmitting ultrasound that is reflected from a blood vessel in or below the skin;

using the reflected ultrasound to determine change in distance at which the blood vessel is located beneath the skin surface; and

using changes in the distance to determine changes in skin thickness.