METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING TISSUE HYDRATION

• US 20130144136A1
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NOBO, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NOBO, Inc.
• Inventors: Rymut, Russell
• Application Number:
  US13/308,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144136A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for the measurement of a tissue hydration value in a subject comprising a microprocessor and a sensor system having a light source and a light detector. Light is projected from the light source towards the tissue of a subject. The light projected either passes through or off of the tissues of the subject and is then received by the light detector. The light detector transmits a measurement of light intensity received by the detector to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed with a tissue hydration model that utilizes the measurement of light intensity to determine the tissue hydration value for the subject.

Claims

1. A system for the measurement of a tissue hydration value in a subject, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a sensor system comprising a light source and a light detector;

wherein the microprocessor is operatively connected to the light source and light detector; and

the microprocessor can control the light and is programmed with a tissue hydration model that utilizes a measurement of light intensity received by the light detector from light projected from the light source after the light passes through or is reflected by a tissue of the subject to determine the tissue hydration value for the subject.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor system further comprises delivery optics which direct the light produced by the light source, the delivery optics selected from the group consisting of lens filters, lenses, or fiber optic cables.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a first and a second light emitting diode;

the first light emitting diode emitting a wavelength of light that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the second light emitting diode emitting a wavelength of light that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode;

the light emitting diode coupled to a first optical filter which filters the light produced by the light emitting diode to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the light emitting diode coupled to a second optical filter which filters the light produced by the light emitting diode to a wavelength of light that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a first and a second light emitting diode;

the first light emitting diode coupled to a first optical filter which filters the light produced by the first light emitting diode to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the second light emitting diode coupled to a second optical filter which filters the light produced by the second light emitting diode to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises an incandescent light;

the incandescent light coupled to a first optical filter which filters the light produced by the incandescent light to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the incandescent light coupled to a second optical filter which filters the light produced by the incandescent light to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a first and a second incandescent light;

the first incandescent light coupled to a first optical filter which filters the light produced by the first incandescent light to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the second incandescent light coupled to a second optical filter which filters the light produced by the second incandescent light to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor system further comprises collection optics which direct the light produced by the light source after it has passed through tissue of a subject and deliver it to the light detector, the collection optics selected from the group consisting of lenses or fiber optic cables.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor system further comprises diffraction optics which diffract the light produced by the light source after it has passed through tissue of a subject, the diffracted light being directed to the light detector, the diffraction optics selected from the group consisting of prisms, slits, and diffraction gratings.

10. A method of determining a tissue hydration value of a subject comprising:

providing a light source which provides a first light projection having a first wavelength and a first intensity toward tissue of a subject; and

a second light projection having a second wavelength and a second intensity toward tissue of a subject;

providing a light detector which the detects the intensity of the first and second light projections, after the light projections have either passed through or are reflected off of the tissue of the subject;

wherein the light detector transmits the intensity of the light projections detected to a fluid calculation system comprising a microprocessor that is programmed with a tissue hydration model;

wherein the microprocessor utilizes the light intensities of the first second light projections received from the light detector to determine the tissue hydration value for the subject.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second light projections are provided at different times.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second light projections are provided at same time and wherein the first light projection has a first frequency, and the second light projection has a second frequency which is different than the first frequency.

13. The method claim 10 wherein the light source comprises a first and a second light emitting diode;

the first light emitting diode emitting the first light projection at a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the second light emitting diode emitting the second light projection at a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode;

the light emitting diode coupled to a first optical filter which filters the first light projection produced by the light emitting diode to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the light emitting diode coupled to a second optical filter which filters the second light projection produced by the light emitting diode to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the light source comprises a first and a second light emitting diode;

the first light emitting diode coupled to a first optical filter which filters the first light projection produced by the first light emitting diode to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the second light emitting diode coupled to a second optical filter which filters the second light projection produced by the second light emitting diode to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the light source comprises an incandescent light;

the incandescent light coupled to a first optical filter which filters the first light projection produced by the incandescent light to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the incandescent light coupled to a second optical filter which filters the second light projection produced by the incandescent light to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the light source comprises a first and a second incandescent light;

the first incandescent light coupled to a first optical filter which filters the first light projection produced by the first incandescent light to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 725-775 nm, about 900-1025 nm, about 1125-1225 nm, about 1350-1550 nm, or about 1850-2100 nm; and

the second incandescent light coupled to a second optical filter which filters the second light projection produced by the second incandescent light to a wavelength that is in one of the following ranges selected from the group consisting of about 800-825 nm, about 1025-1100 nm, about 1225-1300 nm or about 1550-1800 nm.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second light projections pass through the tissue of the subject and the light detector is positioned so that the first and second light projections transmitted by the light source are transmitted in a straight line from the light source through the tissue of the subject to the light detector.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second light projections are reflected by the tissue of the subject and are received by the light detector after being reflected by the tissue of the subject.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second light projections are received by collection optics which direct the first and second light projections after they has passed through tissue of a subject and deliver it to the light detector, the collection optics selected from the group consisting of lenses or fiber optic cables.

21. A method of determining a tissue hydration value of a subject comprising:

providing a light source which provides a light projection having an intensity toward a tissue of the subject;

providing diffraction optics which diffract the light projection produced by the light source after it has passed through, or reflected off, the tissue of the subject, the diffracted light being directed to a light detector, the diffraction optics selected from the group consisting of prisms, slits, and diffraction gratings;

wherein the light detector detects the intensity of the projection after the light projection has passed through the diffraction optics; and

wherein the light detector transmits the intensity of the light projections detected to a fluid calculation system comprising a microprocessor that is programmed with a tissue hydration model;

wherein the microprocessor utilizes the light intensities received from the light detector to determine the tissue hydration value for the subject.

22. A method of determining a tissue hydration value of a subject comprising:

providing a light source which provides a light projection having an intensity toward a tissue of the subject;

providing a first optical filter coupled to a first light detector;

wherein the light projection produced by the light source after it has passed through, or reflected off, the tissue of the subject, is directed towards the first optical filter;

providing a first second optical filter coupled to a second light detector;

wherein the light projection produced by the light source after it has passed through, or reflected off, the tissue of the subject, is directed towards the second optical filter;

wherein the first and second light detector detects the intensity of the projection after the light projection has passed through the first or second optical filter;

wherein the light detector transmits the intensity of the light projections detected to a fluid calculation system comprising a microprocessor that is programmed with a tissue hydration model; and

wherein the microprocessor utilizes the light intensities received from the light detector to determine the tissue hydration value for the subject.