Probe for optical measurement

• US 6,449,500 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kurabo Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Kurabo Industries Limited
• Inventors: Asai, Kuniharu, Yasuda, Nobuyoshi, Yanai, Naoki, Shiomi, Motonobu
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US09/620,573
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/344, 600/473, 600/475, 600/476, 600/335, 385/45, 385/47, 250/227.11, 250/227.23, 250/227.28, 356/39, 356/41
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

A second optical component is an optical fiber bundle charged in a clearance between an inner cylinder and an outer cylindrical outer peripheral part in the form of a ring. These elements are integrated with each other, and forward-end-surfaces thereof are on concentric circles. A ring of the forward-end-surface of the outer peripheral part is larger in width than the ring of the forward-end-surface of the second optical component. A first optical component charged with an optical fiber bundle is slidably inserted into and engaged in the cylinder inside the second optical component, so that the forward-end-surface of the first optical component can project or retract from the forward-end-surface of the outer peripheral part. The outer peripheral part is brought into contact with a human body and force for pressing a measured region is changed by sliding the first optical component for measuring absorption spectra between the first and second optical components under different values of pressing force, thereby obtaining a difference absorbance spectrum under different states of pressurization.

Claims

1. A probe for optical measurement, comprising:

a first optical component, arranged on a central axis, having a flat circular forward-end-surface;

a second optical component having a flat forward-end-surface arranged in the form of a ring on a circle surrounding said central axis outside said first optical component; and

an outer peripheral part having a forward-end-surface in the form of a ring on a circle surrounding said central axis outside said second optical component, said ring being formed to be larger in width than said ring of said forward-end-surface of said second optical component, wherein

said optical components are engaged with each other to be relatively slidable in the axial direction, one of said optical components is a projecting part projecting measuring light to a measured object, and the other said optical component is a photoreceiving part receiving output light from said measured object through said projected measuring light.

2. The probe for optical measurement according to claim 1, wherein

said outer peripheral part is integrated with said second optical component so that said forward-end-surfaces of said outer peripheral part and said second optical component are flush with each other.

3. The probe for optical measurement according to claim 1, wherein

said outer peripheral part is integrated with said second optical component so that said forward-end-surface of said second optical component is on a vertical position retracted from said forward-end-surface of said outer peripheral part.

4. The probe for optical measurement according to claim 1, wherein

said projecting part is a light-guide-path guiding said measuring light from a light source.

5. The probe for optical measurement according to claim 1, wherein

said projecting part is provided with a light emitting device embedded therein.

6. The probe for optical measurement according to claim 1, wherein

said photoreceiving part is a light-guide-path guiding received output light to a detector.

7. The probe for optical measurement according to claim 1, wherein

said photoreceiving part is provided with a light dectecting device embedded therein.

8. The probe for optical measurement according to claim 1, wherein

said first optical component is said projecting part, and said second optical component is said photoreceiving part.

9. The probe for optical measurement according to claim 1, wherein

a mechanism slidably engaging and supporting said optical components is provided with a stopper relatively positioning said optical components on such a position that said forward-end-surface of one of said optical components projects from said forward-end-surface of the other said optical component by a constant distance.