Measurement Head For Non-Invasive Blood Analysis

• US 20080262324A1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bakker, Bernardus Leonardus Gerardus, Van Beek, Michael Cornelis, Rensen, Wouter Harry Jacinth, Van Der Voort, Marjolein, Lucassen, Gerald, Compen, Hendrikus Antonius Cornelus Maria
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,129 B2
• 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 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68 Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

The present invention provides an efficient approach of attaching and fixing a measurement head for a spectroscopic system to a variety of different parts of the skin of a patient. The measurement head preferably features a compact design providing a flexible handling and offering a huge variety of application areas taking into account the plurality of properties of various portions of the skin. Furthermore, the measurement head features a robust and uncomplicated optical design not requiring a lateral shifting of the optical axis of the objective. Such transverse relative movements between the objective and a capillary vessel in the skin are preferably performed by mechanically shifting the skin with respect to the objective of the measurement head. Moreover, the measurement head is adapted to host one or more pressure sensors measuring the contact pressure between the measurement head and the skin. This pressure information can further be exploited in order to calibrate the spectroscopic analysis means, to regulate the contact pressure within predefined margins specifying an optimum range of contact pressure for spectroscopic examination of capillary vessels.

Claims

1. A measurement head for a spectroscopic system comprising:

fixing means for fixing the measurement head to an area of the surface of the skin of a patient,

an objective for imaging of a target area for directing an excitation beam to the target area and for collecting return radiation from the target area.

2. The measurement head according to claim 1, further comprising means for moving the fixing means relative to the objective in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective for moving the target area to the optical axis of the objective.

3. The measurement head according to claim 1, further comprising means for moving the objective relative to the fixing means in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis of the objective for moving the focal plane of the objective to the target area.

4. The measurement head according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprising an adhesive element being adapted to be in contact with the area of the surface of the skin, the adhesive element being further adapted to prevent a relative movement between the area of the surface of the skin and the fixing means.

5. The measurement head according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means further comprising a first and a second clamping element, the first clamping element being an integral part of a housing of the measurement head, the first and the second clamping elements being adapted to exert mechanical stress to the surface of the skin.

6. The measurement head according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprising at least a first and a second magnetic element, the first and the second magnetic element mutually exerting an attractive magnetic force, the first magnetic element being an integral part of the housing of the measurement head and the second magnetic element being adapted to be spaced apart from the first magnetic element by a volume of the tissue of the patient containing the target area.

7. The measurement head according to, claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprising means for generating a first barometric pressure between the surface of the skin and the fixing means, the first barometric pressure being substantially smaller than the surrounding barometric pressure.

8. The measurement head according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprising at least one disposable element, the at least one disposable element being adapted to be in contact with the area of the surface of the skin.

9. The measurement head according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means being rigidly connected to the objective, the measurement head further comprising at least a first and a second displacing element being adapted to be in contact with the area of the surface of the skin, the first displacing element being adapted to displace the area of the surface of the skin along a first direction and the second displacing element being adapted to move the area of the surface of the skin along a second direction, the first and the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

10. The measurement head according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means further comprising a window, the window being an integrated part of the housing of the measurement head.

11. The measurement head according to claim 1, further comprising at least one pressure sensor, the at least one pressure sensor measuring a contact pressure between the measurement head and the surface of the skin.

12. A fixing means for fixing of a measurement head according to claim 1 to an area of the surface of the skin of a patient.

13. The fixing means according to claim 12, wherein the fixing means being adapted for fixing the housing of the measurement head to the area of the surface of the skin.

14. The fixing means according to claim 12, further comprising at least one disposable element being adapted to be in contact with the surface of the skin.

15. A method for positioning of a measurement head of a spectroscopic system with respect to a target area, the method of positioning comprising the steps of:

applying fixing means of the measurement head to an area of the surface of the skin,

moving the fixing means of the measurement head with respect to an objective of the measurement head for imaging of the target area and for positioning the target area on the optical axis of the objective.