Low noise optical probe
First Claim
1. An energy sensor comprising:
- a housing having a support surface for a tissue material which is to be analyzed;
a chamber having an entrance in the form of an aperture defined on said housing support surface such that, when said housing is positioned adjacent said tissue material, a first portion of said tissue material covers said aperture and is supported by said support surface around said aperture;
a detector located in said chamber, said detector positioned in said chamber in a manner such that said portion of said tissue material which covers said aperture is isolated from said detector;
a first portion of optically scattering medium positioned at the support surface such that when said support surface is placed adjacent the tissue material, the optically scattering medium is located between the detector and the tissue, said optically scattering medium comprising a conformable material; and
a light energy source in communication with said detector and said chamber via said aperture, said energy source configured to transmit energy to said detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical probe for measurements, which is particularly suited to reduce noise in measurements taken on an easily compressible material, such as a finger, a toe, a forehead, an earlobe, or a lip. The probe includes a base having an aperture which leads to a chamber. The base is placed adjacent a portion of the material, the chamber being placed directly adjacent any easily compressible portion of the material. A photodetector is located within the chamber and does not contact the material. A light emitting diode (LED) is affixed to the material, opposite the photodetector and above the chamber. The material which is supported by the aperture and therefore rests above or has intruded into the chamber is inhibited from compression since nothing comes in contact with this portion of the material, even when the material moves. Thus, light from the LED is directed through a stabilized portion of the material, i.e., the optical path length through which light travels is stabilized, even during motion of the material. This reduces noise in the signal measured by the photodetector. A scattering medium is interposed between the LED and the material, between the material and the photodetector, or between the LED and the material as well as between the material and the photodetector. The scattering medium is used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the received optical signal.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An energy sensor comprising:
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a housing having a support surface for a tissue material which is to be analyzed; a chamber having an entrance in the form of an aperture defined on said housing support surface such that, when said housing is positioned adjacent said tissue material, a first portion of said tissue material covers said aperture and is supported by said support surface around said aperture; a detector located in said chamber, said detector positioned in said chamber in a manner such that said portion of said tissue material which covers said aperture is isolated from said detector; a first portion of optically scattering medium positioned at the support surface such that when said support surface is placed adjacent the tissue material, the optically scattering medium is located between the detector and the tissue, said optically scattering medium comprising a conformable material; and a light energy source in communication with said detector and said chamber via said aperture, said energy source configured to transmit energy to said detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An energy sensor comprising:
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a housing having a support surface for a tissue material which is to be analyzed; a chamber having an entrance in the form of an aperture defined on said housing support surface such that, when said housing is positioned adjacent said tissue material, a first portion of said tissue material covers said aperture and is supported by said support surface around said aperture; a light energy source; a detector located in said chamber, said detector positioned in said chamber in a manner such that said portion of said tissue material which covers said aperture is isolated from said detector by said optically scattering medium, and wherein said light energy source communicates with said detector via said aperture and said optically scattering medium; and a first portion of optically scattering medium positioned at the support surface such that when said support surface is placed adjacent the tissue material, the optically scattering medium is located between the detector and the tissue, wherein said first portion of optically scattering medium is a conformable material which does not significantly perturb the tissue material in the aperture when brought into contact with the first portion of tissue material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An optical sensor comprising:
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a light energy source; a housing having a support surface adapted to be placed adjacent tissue material to be analyzed, said housing having a chamber defining an aperture in said support surface; a photodetector within said chamber and spaced away from said aperture in said support surface, and wherein said light energy source optically communicates with said photodetector and said chamber via said aperture; and an optically scattering medium positioned such that when said support surface is placed adjacent the tissue material, the optically scattering medium is between said photodetector and said tissue material, said optically scattering medium comprising a conformable material. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical sensor comprising:
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a light energy source; a photodetector; a housing having a support surface adapted to be placed adjacent a tissue material which is to be analyzed, said housing having a chamber, said chamber defining an aperture in said support surface and extending from said support surface through at least a portion of said housing, said photodetector positioned in said chamber spaced from said aperture and wherein said light source optically communicates with said photodetector via said aperture and chamber; and an optically scattering medium positioned such that when said support surface is placed adjacent the tissue material, the optically scattering medium is between said tissue material and said photodetector, said optically scattering medium comprising a conformable material. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An optical sensor comprising:
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a light energy source; a photodetector; a housing having a support surface adapted to be placed adjacent a material which is to be analyzed, said housing having a chamber including said photodetector and defining an aperture in said support surface and extending from said support surface, and wherein said light source optically communicates with said photodetector via said aperture; and an optically scattering medium positioned such that when said support surface is placed adjacent the tissue material, the optically scattering medium is between said tissue material and said photodetector, wherein said scattering medium comprises a reticulated foam. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An optical sensor comprising:
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a light energy source; a photodetector; a housing having a support surface adapted to be placed adjacent a material which is to be analyzed, said housing having a chamber including said photodetector and defining an aperture in said support surface and extending from said support surface, and wherein said light source optically communicates with said photodetector via said aperture; and an optically scattering medium positioned such that when said support surface is placed adjacent the tissue material, the optically scattering medium is between the tissue material and said detector, wherein said scattering medium comprises an optically scattering gel.
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30. An optical sensor comprising:
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a light energy source; a photodetector; a housing having a support surface adapted to be placed adjacent a material which is to be analyzed, said housing having a chamber including said photodetector and defining an aperture in said support surface and extending from said support surface, and wherein said light source optically communicates with said photodetector via said aperture; and an optically scattering medium positioned such that when said support surface is placed adjacent the tissue material, the optically scattering medium is between said tissue material and said photodetector, wherein said scattering medium comprises a conformable plastic.
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Specification