Transcutaneous measurement of substance in body tissues or fluid
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in transcutaneous measurement of a substance comprising:
- a light source for directing light towards a subject;
a light detection means for detecting at least one selected wavelength or wavelength band; and
an optical system, the optical system comprising;
a focusing means for collecting and focusing divergent light emanating from the subject; and
an optical selecting means, that is positioned, in use, relative to the said focusing means such that light from the focusing means passes through the optical selecting means, and such that light returning from a pre-selected region only of the subject is able to pass through the optical selecting means to the light detection means, the said pre-selected region of the subject being one of the following;
(I) at a pre-selected distance beneath the surface of the subject;
(II) pre-selected to be on the surface of the subject;
whereby the intensity of light at the at least one selected wavelength or wavelength band returning from the selected region can be determined.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for transcutaneous measurement of a substance within a body. Transcutaneous measurement of substances within a subjects'"'"' tissues or fluids is effected through the use of the present invention. A light source, focused by an optical system, directs light towards a subject. Light returning from the subject as a result of this illumination, is collected, focused and directed to a detection system. The output of this detection system can then be analyzed to determine the concentration of the substance being measured. In a preferred embodiment bilirubin is measured. However, the measurement of substances such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose, albumin, hemoglobin and cholesterol, among others, is also contemplated.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in transcutaneous measurement of a substance comprising:
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a light source for directing light towards a subject; a light detection means for detecting at least one selected wavelength or wavelength band; and an optical system, the optical system comprising; a focusing means for collecting and focusing divergent light emanating from the subject; and an optical selecting means, that is positioned, in use, relative to the said focusing means such that light from the focusing means passes through the optical selecting means, and such that light returning from a pre-selected region only of the subject is able to pass through the optical selecting means to the light detection means, the said pre-selected region of the subject being one of the following; (I) at a pre-selected distance beneath the surface of the subject; (II) pre-selected to be on the surface of the subject;
whereby the intensity of light at the at least one selected wavelength or wavelength band returning from the selected region can be determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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18. An apparatus for use in transcutaneous measurement of a substance comprising:
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a light source for directing light towards a subject; a light detection means for detecting at least one selected wavelength or wavelength band; and an optical system, the optical system comprising; a focusing means for collecting and focusing divergent light emanating from the subject; and an optical selecting means, where the light from the focusing means passes through the optical selecting means and is arranged such that only light returning from a selected region which is at a selected distance beneath the subject'"'"'s skin is transmitted to the light detection means, the selected distance being determined by adjustment of the optical system, and where the intensity of light at the at least one selected wavelength or wavelength band returning from the selected region can be determined. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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26. A method for transcutaneous measurement of a substance within a subject comprising:
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directing light towards the subject; collecting divergent light that emanates from the subject as a result of directing the light toward the subject; focusing the collected divergent light; passing the focused light though an optical selecting means;
that is positioned relative to the said focusing means such that light returning from a pre-selected region only of the subject passes through the optical selecting means to the light detection means the said pre-selected region being one of the following;(I) at a pre-selected distance beneath the surface of the subject; (II) pre-selected to be on the surface of the subject; and
determining the intensity of light at one or more selected wavelength or wavelength bands returning from the pre-selected region.
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Specification