Method for Determining Clinical and/or Chemical Parameters in a Medium and Device for Carrying Out Said Method

• US 20070297741A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Technomedica AG
• Original Assignee: Technomedica AG
• Inventors: Linder, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/589,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20070297741A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/130
• 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: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0229 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/14 using refracting elements, e.g. prisms G01J3/18, G01J3/26 take precedence prisms per se G02B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/39 using tunable lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0607 by varying physical parameters other than the potential of the electrodes, e.g. by an electric or magnetic field, mechanical deformation, pressure, light, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 80/107 Gunn diodes

Abstract

A method for determining clinical and/or chemical parameters (S1) in a medium (10), utilizing a laser unit, for emitting coherent light waves (6) and a phototransistor unit, for receiving light waves (8). At least some of the emitted light waves (6) are transferred to the medium (10) and the phototransistor unit waves (8) measures at least some of the light waves (8) that are reflected in the medium (10), the parameters (S1) being determined as a result of the characteristics of the emitted and received light waves (6; 8). The fact that light waves (6) are emitted into the medium (10) by a laser unit (2) and that the light waves (8) that are reflected in the medium (10) are measured by a phototransistor (4) enables the parameters (S1) that occur in the target area of the laser beam to be determined advantageously in a processing and control unit.

Claims

1. A method for determining clinical and/or chemical parameters (S1) in a medium (10), utilizing

means (2) for transmitting coherent light waves (6) and means (4) for receiving light waves (8), the method comprising:

delivering at least a part of the transmitted light waves (6) is delivered into the medium (10),

measuring with the means (4) for receiving light waves (8) at least a part of the light waves (8) reflected in the medium (10),

determining the parameters (S1) on the basis of the properties of the transmitted and received light waves (6;

8).

2. Method according to claim 1, including tuning the frequency or wavelength of the coherent light waves (6) in accordance with characteristics of the parameters (S1) to be determined.

3. Method according to claim 1, including tuning the means (4) for receiving light waves (8) in frequency-selective or wavelength-selective fashion.

4. Method according to claim 1, including operating the means (2) for transmitting coherent light waves (6) so as to generate wavelengths between 400 and 1400 nm.

5. Method according to claim 1, including determining cholesterol as parameter (S1) according to concentration in the blood.

6. A method for determining clinical and/or chemical parameters (S2) in a medium (10), according to claim 1, further utilizing

means (3) for transmitting microwaves (7a) and means (3) for receiving microwaves (7b), the method further comprising:

delivering at least a part of the transmitted microwaves (7a) into the medium (10),

measuring with the means (3) for receiving microwaves (7b) at least a part of the microwaves (7b) reflected in the medium (10),

determining the parameters (S2) on the basis of the transmitted and received microwaves.

7. Method according to claim 6, including tuning frequency or wavelength of the microwaves (7a) to be transmitted in accordance with characteristics of the parameters (S2) to be determined.

8. Method according to claim 6, wherein the means (3) for transmitting and receiving microwaves (7a, 7b) generate pulses of a duration between 83 and 133.3 ps.

9. Method according to claim 6, including determining glucose as parameter (S2) according to concentration in the blood.

10. Method according to claim 1, including establishing a position of a measurement path (100) in the medium (10) with the aid of the means (2) for transmitting coherent light waves (6) and the means (4) for receiving light waves (8) and wherein the determination of the parameters (S1, S2) is limited to the measurement path

11. Method according to claim 10, including operating the means (2) for transmitting coherent light waves (6) so as to generate light waves in the infrared region.

12. Method according to claim 10, including establishing a time point of a measurement performed in the measurement path (100) on the basis of a specifiable time signal of the heart cycle.

13. An apparatus for carrying out a method for determining clinical and/or chemical parameters (S1) in a medium, the apparatus comprising:

laser unit (2), a phototransistor unit (4), and a monitoring unit (1), the monitoring unit (1) being in operative connection with each of the laser unit (2) and the phototransistor unit (4).

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a microwave unit (3) that is in operative connection with the monitoring unit (1).

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said microwave unit (3) has a sending apparatus, at least the sending apparatus of the microwave unit being supported movably in two planes.

16. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the phototransistor unit (4) exhibits a frequency-sensitive or wavelength-sensitive tuning mode.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the frequency or the wavelength of the waves (8) to be detected is tunable.

18. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said monitoring unit establishes a time point of a measurement performed in a measurement path (100) on the basis of a specifiable time signal of the heart cycle.