Diffuse reflectance monitoring apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for obtaining a diffuse reflectance spectra from skin tissue for non-invasive measurement of analytes therein, the skin tissue having an epidermis layer and a dermis layer, the apparatus comprising:
- a source of infrared energy for generating and delivering infrared energy to a first location on the skin tissue;
a collector for collecting infrared energy reflected from the dermis layer at a second location;
means for causing the collector to collect primarily only the infrared light that is reflected from the dermis layer; and
means for determining the concentration of a selected blood analyte by analyzing the infrared energy collected by the collector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. A specular control device is provided that can discriminate between diffusely reflected light that is reflected from selected depths or layers within the tissue. The specular control device permits a spectroscopic analyzer to receive the diffusely reflected light that is reflected from, for example, a first layer or depth within the tissue, while preventing the remaining diffusely reflected light from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer. Furthermore, the specular control device may prevent the specularly reflected light (e.g. surface reflected light) from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer.
151 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for obtaining a diffuse reflectance spectra from skin tissue for non-invasive measurement of analytes therein, the skin tissue having an epidermis layer and a dermis layer, the apparatus comprising:
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a source of infrared energy for generating and delivering infrared energy to a first location on the skin tissue;
a collector for collecting infrared energy reflected from the dermis layer at a second location;
means for causing the collector to collect primarily only the infrared light that is reflected from the dermis layer; and
means for determining the concentration of a selected blood analyte by analyzing the infrared energy collected by the collector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for obtaining a diffuse reflectance spectra from skin tissue for non-invasive measurement of analytes therein, the skin tissue having an epidermis layer and a dermis layer, the apparatus comprising:
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a source of infrared energy for generating and delivering infrared energy to the skin tissue;
a collector for collecting infrared energy reflected from the skin tissue;
a blocker blade positioned between the infrared energy source and the collector such that the collector collects primarily only the infrared energy that is reflected from the dermis layer; and
means for determining the concentration of a selected blood analyte by analyzing the infrared energy collected by the collector.
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15. An apparatus for obtaining a diffuse reflectance spectra from skin tissue for non-invasive measurement of analytes therein, the skin tissue having an epidermis layer and a dermis layer, the apparatus comprising:
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a source of infrared energy for generating and delivering infrared energy to the skin tissue at an illumination location;
a collector for collecting infrared energy reflected from the skin tissue;
means for causing the collector to collect primarily only the infrared energy that is reflected from the dermis layer; and
means for determining the concentration of a selected blood analyte by analyzing the infrared energy collected by the collector.
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16. A method for obtaining a diffuse reflectance spectra from skin tissue for non-invasive measurement of analytes therein, the skin tissue having an epidermis layer and a dermis layer, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating infrared energy;
directing the infrared energy to a first location on the skin tissue;
selectively collecting only the infrared energy that is reflected from the dermis layer; and
determining the concentration of a selected blood analyte by analyzing the collected infrared energy. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification