NONINVASIVE ANALYZER APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF FOR SEPARATING DISTRIBUTED PROBING PHOTONS EMERGING FROM A SAMPLE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting distributed probing light emerging from a subject, comprising:
- a noninvasive analyzer, comprising;
a near-infrared light source configured to provide photons during use;
an optical interface to the subject, comprising;
an illumination area; and
a detection area comprising, during use, a surface area of the subject,wherein, during use, the photons sequentially pass through the illumination area into a portion of the subject and out of the subject through the detection area;
a set of detectors within ten centimeters of the illumination area, said set of detectors comprising;
a first detector optically coupled to a first detection zone of the detection area; and
a second detector optically coupled to a second detection zone of said detection area,the second detection zone;
(1) at least twenty percent larger than the first detection zone and (2) positioned radially outward from the illumination area relative to the first detection zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A noninvasive analyzer apparatus and method of use thereof is described for spatially separating light having noninvasively probed a tissue volume into groups, which narrows standard deviations of probed tissue pathlength for each of the groups. Reduction in tissue pathlength uncertainty subsequently enhances noninvasive analyte concentration determination accuracy. Control of individual detector distance from an illumination zone in combination with control of area of a detection zone coupled to an individual detector yields intensity control of the various groups. The intensity control is optionally aided using several intensity control elements including: control of detector response shape, hardware gain settings set as function of distance from the illumination zone, varying numerical aperture of light collection optics as a function of position from the illumination zone, multiple illumination-detector linked bundlets, micro-optics, segmented spacers, arcs of detector elements, and/or outlier analysis based on detected intensity as a function of position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting distributed probing light emerging from a subject, comprising:
a noninvasive analyzer, comprising; a near-infrared light source configured to provide photons during use; an optical interface to the subject, comprising; an illumination area; and a detection area comprising, during use, a surface area of the subject, wherein, during use, the photons sequentially pass through the illumination area into a portion of the subject and out of the subject through the detection area; a set of detectors within ten centimeters of the illumination area, said set of detectors comprising; a first detector optically coupled to a first detection zone of the detection area; and a second detector optically coupled to a second detection zone of said detection area, the second detection zone;
(1) at least twenty percent larger than the first detection zone and (2) positioned radially outward from the illumination area relative to the first detection zone.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A method for detecting distributed probing light emerging from a subject, comprising the steps of:
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providing a noninvasive analyzer, comprising; a near-infrared light source; an optical interface to the subject comprising;
an illumination area and a detection area comprising a surface area of the subject; anda set of detectors within ten centimeters of the illumination area, said set of detectors comprising; a first detector optically coupled to a first detection zone of the detection area; and a second detector optically coupled to a second detection zone of the detection area, the second detection zone;
(1) at least twenty percent larger than the first detection zone and (2) positioned radially outward from the illumination area relative to the first detection zone;providing photons with said near-infrared light source; and sequentially passing the photons through the illumination area into a portion of the subject and out of the subject through the detection area to said set of detectors. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification