NON-INVASIVE BLOOD ANALYSIS

• US 20160015301A1
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leman Micro Devices LLC
• Original Assignee: Leman Micro Devices SA
• Inventors: Elliott, Christopher, Jones, Marc-Eric, Varshney, Arushi, Ruegg, Matthieu
• Granted Patent: US 10,265,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0425 Ergonomically shaped housings A61B2560/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02233 Occluders specially adapted therefor tourniquets A61B17/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14557 specially adapted to extracorporeal circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6897 Computer input devices, e.g. mice or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a personal hand-held monitor (PHHM) comprising a signal acquisition device for acquiring signals which can be used to derive a measurement of a parameter related to the health of the user, wherein the signal acquisition device comprises a blood photosensor having one or more photo-emitters for transmitting light to a body part of a user, one or more photo-detectors for detecting light transmitted through or scattered by the body part and two or more optical cells, at least one of which contains an analyte to be detected or which mimics the absorption spectrum of the analyte, through which the light that has been or will be transmitted through or scattered by the body part passes before it reaches the photo-detector(s).

Claims

1. A personal hand-held monitor (PHHM) comprising a signal acquisition device for acquiring signals which can be used to derive a measurement of a parameter related to the health of the user, the signal acquisition device being integrated with a personal hand-held computing device (PHHCD), wherein the signal acquisition device comprises a blood photosensor having one or more photo-emitters for transmitting light to a body part of a user, one or more photo-detectors for detecting light transmitted through or scattered by the body part and two or more optical cells, at least one of which contains an analyte to be detected or which mimics the absorption spectrum of the analyte to be detected, through which the light that has been or will be transmitted through or scattered by the body part passes before it reaches the or each photo-detector, wherein the processor of the PHHM is adapted to process the signals received from the or each photo-detector to calculate the difference in intensity of light which has passed through the or each analyte cell and light which has passed through the or each non-analyte cell and to process signals obtained from the photosensor in the presence of the body part and in the absence of the body part to provide a measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the user'"'"'s blood.

2. A PHHM according to claim 1, wherein the processor of the PHHM is adapted to determine the pulse of the user and to correlate the signals obtained from the photosensor with the user'"'"'s pulse in providing a measurement of the analyte in the user'"'"'s blood.

3. The PHHM of claim 2, wherein the processor of the PHHM is adapted to analyse the signals received from the blood photosensor to determine the pulse of the user.

4. The PHHM of claim 2, which includes an electrical sensor comprising at least a first and a second electrode which are electrically isolated from one another and which are arranged to be contacted by two separate parts of the user'"'"'s body, such as a finger on one hand and a finger on the other hand, and the processor of the PHHM is adapted to analyse the signals from the electrical sensor to determine the pulse of the user.

10. The PHHM of claim 2 or claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, which is adapted to apply pressure to the body part or to have pressure applied to it by the body part so that, in use, an artery in the body part changes from occluded to patent during each pulse and the processor of the PHHM is adapted to derive a measurement of the change in the luminal area of the artery during each pulse and to correlate the signals received from the blood photosensor with the pulse and the change in the luminal area of the artery to provide a measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the arterial blood.

12. The PHHM of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the PHHM is adapted to be pressed against the body part or to have the body part pressed against it by a user to vary the luminal area of the artery.

13. The PHHM of claim 12, wherein the processor of the PHHM is adapted to provide visual and/or audible instructions to the user to vary the pressure applied to or by the body part so that the change in luminal area of the artery with each pulse is maximised.

14. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the or each photo-emitter is a thermal emitter.

15. The PHHM of claim 14, wherein the temperature of each photo-emitter is controlled by means of feedback that regulates the current through or voltage across the photo-emitter.

16. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the light is transmitted to and/or from the body part by means of fibre-optics.

17. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 16, including means for attenuating partially or completely the light emitted by the or each photo-emitter.

18. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the processor of the PHHM is adapted to normalise the calculated difference between the signals from the photosensor by taking account of the measured value of each of those signals, the signal from the photo-detector when the photo-emitter is completely attenuated, similar signals from the photosensor when the body part is not present and any signals derived from the means used to detect the change in luminal area of the artery.

19. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the cells comprise a rotating disc, one or more parts of which are coated with or carry in solution the analyte or which mimic the absorption spectrum of the analyte and the other parts of which do not.

20. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein one or more shutters are used to select the path of the light through the blood photosensor.

21. The PHHM of claim 20 wherein the optical shutters are electro-optical devices.

22. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the or each photo-detector is formed of InGaAs.

23. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the analyte is glucose, ethanol, haemoglobin, creatinine or cholesterol.

24. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the analyte is an illegal or otherwise forbidden drug or stimulant.

25. The PHHM of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the optical system is integrated.

5. A personal hand-held monitor (PHHM) comprising a signal acquisition device for acquiring signals which can be used to derive a measurement of a parameter related to the health of the user, wherein the signal acquisition device comprises a blood photosensor having one or more photo-emitters for transmitting light to a body part of a user, one or more photo-detectors for detecting light transmitted through or scattered by the body part and two or more optical cells, at least one of which contains an analyte to be detected or which mimics the absorption spectrum of the analyte to be detected, through which the light that has been or will be transmitted through or scattered by the body part passes before it reaches the or each photo-detector, wherein the processor of the PHHM is adapted to process the signals received from the or each photo-detector to calculate the difference in intensity of light which has passed through the or each analyte cell and light which has passed through the or each non-analyte cell, to determine the pulse of the user and to correlate the signals obtained from the photosensor in the presence of the body part and in the absence of the body part with the user'"'"'s pulse to provide a measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the user'"'"'s blood.

6. The PHHM of claim 5, wherein the processor of the PHHM is adapted to analyse the signals from the blood photosensor to determine the pulse.

7. The PHHM of claim 5, which includes an electrical sensor comprising at least a first and a second electrode which are electrically isolated from one another and which are arranged to be contacted by two separate parts of the user'"'"'s body, such as a finger on one hand and a finger on the other hand, and the processor of the PHHM is adapted to analyse the signals from the electrical sensor to determine the pulse of the user.

8. The PHHM of any one of claims 5 to 8, which is self-contained and includes a processor, display and control, communications and storage means to provide a measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the user'"'"'s blood.

9. The PHHM of any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the signal acquisition device is integrated with a personal hand-held computing device (PHHCD).

11. A personal hand-held monitor (PHHM) comprising a signal acquisition device for acquiring signals which can be used to derive a measurement of a parameter related to the health of the user, wherein the signal acquisition device comprises a blood photosensor having one or more photo-emitters for transmitting light to a body part of a user, one or more photo-detectors for detecting light transmitted through or scattered by the body part and two or more optical cells, at least one of which contains an analyte to be detected or which mimics the absorption spectrum of the analyte to be detected, through which the light that has been or will be transmitted through or scattered by the body part passes before it reaches the or each photo-detector, wherein the processor of the PHHM is adapted to process the signals received from the or each photo-detector to calculate the difference in intensity of light which has passed through the or each analyte cell and light which has passed through the or each non-analyte cell, to determine the pulse of the user and to correlate the signals obtained from the photosensor with the pulse of the user wherein the PHHM is adapted to apply pressure to the body part or to have pressure applied to it by the body part so that, in use, an artery in the body part changes from occluded to patent during each pulse and the processor of the PHHM is adapted to derive a measurement of the change in the luminal area of the artery during each pulse and to correlate the signals received from the blood photosensor with the pulse and the change in the luminal area of the artery to provide a measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the arterial blood.