NONINVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF ANALYTE CONCENTRATION USING A FIBERLESS TRANSFLECTANCE PROBE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for noninvasively interrogating a target region for measuring an amount of a target analyte, comprising:
- a source for generating a combined beam of electromagnetic radiation including at least two repetitive periods of radiation having different wavelengths, at least two of the wavelengths having different absorption coefficients for the target analyte;
a detector arranged to detect a portion of the radiation backscattered by the target region, the detector generating an output signal proportional to the detected intensity of the combined beam at each of the two repetitive periods of radiation; and
a fiberless transflectance probe for directing the beam of electromagnetic radiation to the target region and conducting the backscattered radiation to the detector;
wherein the fiberless transflectance probe comprises a tapered tubular housing with an inner reflective surface, a cylindrical optical rod with an outer reflective surface and a detection window through which the beam of electromagnetic radiation is transmitted to the target region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for noninvasively measuring the concentration of a target analyte in a sample matrix using a fiberless transflectance probe is described. It includes directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation, consisting of at least two components of different wavelengths, to the sample matrix and conducting the backscattered radiation to a detector which outputs a signal indicative of the differential absorption of the two wavelengths in the sample matrix. The transflectance probe comprises a tapered tubular housing having an inner reflective surface, an optical rod having an outer reflective surface, and a detection window which serves as an interface between the probe and the surface of the sample matrix. The method and apparatus described are particularly useful in measuring the concentration of glucose in tissue containing blood.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for noninvasively interrogating a target region for measuring an amount of a target analyte, comprising:
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a source for generating a combined beam of electromagnetic radiation including at least two repetitive periods of radiation having different wavelengths, at least two of the wavelengths having different absorption coefficients for the target analyte; a detector arranged to detect a portion of the radiation backscattered by the target region, the detector generating an output signal proportional to the detected intensity of the combined beam at each of the two repetitive periods of radiation; and a fiberless transflectance probe for directing the beam of electromagnetic radiation to the target region and conducting the backscattered radiation to the detector; wherein the fiberless transflectance probe comprises a tapered tubular housing with an inner reflective surface, a cylindrical optical rod with an outer reflective surface and a detection window through which the beam of electromagnetic radiation is transmitted to the target region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A transflectance probe for measuring a property of a sample, comprising:
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a detection window through which the sample is irradiated; an optical rod with an outer reflective surface positioned perpendicular to the detection window; a tapered tubular housing with an inner reflective surface positioned around the optical rod; at least one light source for irradiating the sample; and a detector positioned at the proximal end of the optical rod for detecting the light backscattered by the sample. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of noninvasively interrogating a target region for measuring an amount of a target analyte, comprising the steps of:
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providing a fiberless transflectance probe comprising a tapered tubular housing with an inner reflective surface, a detection window and an optical rod with an outer reflective surface positioned perpendicular to the detection window; providing at least two light sources operating at two different wavelengths for generating a radiation beam consisting of at least two time multiplexed components; transmitting the radiation beam to the target region by reflecting on the inner surface of the tubular housing and the outer surface of the optical rod; conducting a backscattered beam from the target region to the detector by reflecting on the inner surface of the optical rod; and providing a detector that detects the backscattered beam and produces an output signal indicative of the differential absorption of the two wavelengths by the target region. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification