Apparatus and method for measuring blood component using light trans-reflectance

• US 7,450,981 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, Kye-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berhanu; Etsub D
• Application Number:
  US11/206,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20060100491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 600/318, 600/319, 600/321, 600/322
• US Class Current: 600/318
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring a blood component using the trans-reflectance of light irradiated to a transflective member disposed behind a test site. The apparatus includes an optical source unit irradiating light to the test site of a test subject; a transflective unit transflecting light transmitted through the test site; a detection unit detecting the transflected light; and an analysis unit analyzing the transflected light detected in the detection unit. A related method includes irradiating the light to the test site; transflecting light through the test site, detecting the transflected light, and analyzing the detected light. Blood component measurement can be easily performed without collecting blood by analyzing the transflected light with a high optical power containing much information about a blood component.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring a blood component using light trans-reflectance, the apparatus comprising:

an optical source unit to irradiate light to a test site of a test subject;

a transflective unit to transflect light transmitted through the test site among the light irradiated from the optical source unit;

a detection unit to detect the transflected light; and

an analysis unit to analyze the transflected light detected in the detection unit,

wherein the test subject is a human body and the test site is an eyelid, and

wherein the transflective unit is a contact lens configured to transflect light transmitted through the eyelid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical source unit includes an optical source that irradiates a 1,600-1,800 nm or 2,100-2350 nm wavelength light beam.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical source unit includes an optical source that irradiates different wavelength light beams, and a spectrometer to select a specific wavelength light beam from the different wavelength light beams.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical source unit irradiates near-infrared light to the test site.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transflecting light is infrared light which is in the ranges of 1600-1800 nm or 2100-2350 nm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical source unit irradiates light reacting with glucose to the test site.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical source unit includes an optical fiber to transmit light from the optical source unit to the test site.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transflective unit is a contact lens transflecting light irradiated from the optical source unit and the contact lens is adapted to be attached to the test site.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contact lens is adapted to be disposed on the cornea.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blood component is selected from the group consisting of glucose, cholesterol, hemoglobin, albumin, triglyceride, alcohol and gamma globulin.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transflective unit is configured to be spaced from a cornea.

12. A method of measuring a blood component using light trans-reflectance, the method comprising:

irradiating light to a test site;

transflecting light transmitted through the test site among the light irradiated to the test site;

detecting the transflecting light; and

analyzing the detected light by calculating a blood component level based on the transflected light,

wherein the operation of irradiating the light to the test site includes irradiating light reacting with the blood component to an eyelid, and

wherein the operation of transflecting the light transmitted through the test site includes transflecting light transmitted through the eyelid.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the blood component is glucose and the operation of analyzing the light includes calculating a glucose level in the blood based on the transflecting light.