Apparatus and method for analyzing a body fluid
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining the remission of a chemistry which reacts with a medically significant component of a body fluid, the remission of the chemistry changing as it reacts, the apparatus comprising a source of radiation for irradiating the chemistry, a remission detector for detecting remissions of radiation from the chemistry, means for providing a radiation pathway between the source and the chemistry, means for providing a remission pathway between the chemistry and the remission detector, and means for determining the rate of change of remission of the chemistry with respect to time, the rate determining means comprising means for initially stimulating the radiation source at a first time rate, for receiving remission data from the remission detector, for comparing remission data from remission measurements spaced apart by a first number of intervening remission measurements, for determining when the difference between compared data exceeds a first predetermined limit, for changing the time rate of stimulation of the radiation source to a second and greater rate of stimulation per unit time once the difference between compared data exceeds the first limit, for comparing remission data from remission measurements spaced apart by a second number of intervening remission measurements, which second number may be the same as, or different from, the first number, for determining when the difference between compared data no longer exceeds a second predetermined limit, and for converting remission data identified based upon determining when the difference between compared data no longer exceeds the second limit to the concentration of the medically significant component of the body fluid, and means for coupling the radiation source and remission detector to the rate determining means.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus (10) for determining the remission of a chemistry (106) which reacts with a medically significant component of a body fluid. The remission of the chemistry (106) changes as it reacts. The method and apparatus (10) include irradiating the chemistry (106) with a radiation source (182), detecting remissions of radiation from the chemistry (106) with a radiation detector (300), providing a radiation pathway (164) between the source (182) and the chemistry (106), providing a remission pathway (164) between the chemistry (106) and the detector (300), and detecting the rate of change of remission of the chemistry (106) with respect to time. The irradiating, detecting and rate detecting steps and apparatus comprise initially irradiating the chemistry (106) at a first time rate and detecting remissions therefrom, comparing remission data from remission readings spaced apart by a first number of intervening remission readings, and determining when the difference between compared readings exceeds a first predetermined limit. The time rate of irradiation of the chemistry is changed once the difference between compared readings exceeds the first limit. Remission data from remission readings spaced apart by a second number of intervening remission readings are then compared. The method and apparatus next determine when the difference between compared readings no longer exceeds a second predetermined limit. The last remission reading is then converted to the concentration of the medically significant component of the body fluid.
108 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for determining the remission of a chemistry which reacts with a medically significant component of a body fluid, the remission of the chemistry changing as it reacts, the apparatus comprising a source of radiation for irradiating the chemistry, a remission detector for detecting remissions of radiation from the chemistry, means for providing a radiation pathway between the source and the chemistry, means for providing a remission pathway between the chemistry and the remission detector, and means for determining the rate of change of remission of the chemistry with respect to time, the rate determining means comprising means for initially stimulating the radiation source at a first time rate, for receiving remission data from the remission detector, for comparing remission data from remission measurements spaced apart by a first number of intervening remission measurements, for determining when the difference between compared data exceeds a first predetermined limit, for changing the time rate of stimulation of the radiation source to a second and greater rate of stimulation per unit time once the difference between compared data exceeds the first limit, for comparing remission data from remission measurements spaced apart by a second number of intervening remission measurements, which second number may be the same as, or different from, the first number, for determining when the difference between compared data no longer exceeds a second predetermined limit, and for converting remission data identified based upon determining when the difference between compared data no longer exceeds the second limit to the concentration of the medically significant component of the body fluid, and means for coupling the radiation source and remission detector to the rate determining means.
- 16. A method for determining the remission of a chemistry which reacts with a medically significant component of a body fluid, the remission of the chemistry changing as it reacts, the method comprising the steps of irradiating the chemistry, detecting remissions of radiation from the chemistry, providing a radiation pathway between a radiation source and the chemistry, providing a remission pathway between the chemistry and a remission detector, and determining the rate of change of remission of the chemistry with respect to time, the irradiating, remission detecting and rate determining steps together comprising the steps of initially irradiating the chemistry at a first time rate and detecting remissions therefrom, comparing remission data from remission measurements spaced apart by a first number of intervening remission measurements, determining when the difference between composed data exceeds a first predetermined limit, changing the time rate of irradiation of the chemistry to a second and greater rate of irradiation per unit time once the difference between compared data exceeds the first limit, comparing remission data from remission measurements spaced apart by a second number of intervening remission measurements, which second number may be the same as, or different from, the first number, determining when the difference between compared data no longer exceeds a second predetermined limit, and converting remission data identified based upon determining when the difference between compared data no longer exceeds a second predetermined limit to the concentration of the medically significant component of the body fluid.
Specification