Device for monitoring body functions
First Claim
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1. A device for use in non-invasive monitoring of a human or animal subject'"'"'s bodily functions in vivo, having a first optical system which comprises:
- a) a light source to direct light into an eye of the human or animal subject, the light source directing the light in one or more pulses; and
b) a light receiver to receive light returning from the eye as a result of illumination by the light from the light source, the light receiver or a processor coupled to the light receiver arranged to record at least one of a frequency or intensity of the returning light at a selected timing relative to the one or more pulses of light from the light source, said timing selected so as to reduce a proportion of light reflected from at least one of a cornea or iris or lens of the eye, wherein a focal point of the one or more pulses of light from the light source lies in a plane that is at least substantially coincident with a plane of the pupil of the eye.
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Abstract
An optical system for non-invasive monitoring includes a light source to direct one or more pulses of light into an eye, a subject and a light receiver to receive light returning from the eye. The light receiver, or a processor coupled to the light receiver, records a frequency or intensity of the returning light at a selected timing relative to the one or more pulses of light from the light source. This timing may be selected to reduce a proportion of light reflected from a cornea, iris, or lens of the eye.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device for use in non-invasive monitoring of a human or animal subject'"'"'s bodily functions in vivo, having a first optical system which comprises:
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a) a light source to direct light into an eye of the human or animal subject, the light source directing the light in one or more pulses; and b) a light receiver to receive light returning from the eye as a result of illumination by the light from the light source, the light receiver or a processor coupled to the light receiver arranged to record at least one of a frequency or intensity of the returning light at a selected timing relative to the one or more pulses of light from the light source, said timing selected so as to reduce a proportion of light reflected from at least one of a cornea or iris or lens of the eye, wherein a focal point of the one or more pulses of light from the light source lies in a plane that is at least substantially coincident with a plane of the pupil of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for use in non-invasive monitoring of a human or animal subject'"'"'s bodily functions in vivo, having a first optical system which comprises:
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a) a light source to direct light into an eye of the human or animal, the light source directing the light in one or more pulses; and b) a light receiver to receive light returning from the eye as a result of illumination by the light from the light source, the light receiver or a processor coupled to the light receiver arranged to record at least one of a frequency or intensity of the returning light at a selected timing relative to the one or more pulses of light from the light source, so as to reduce a proportion of light reflected from at least one of a cornea or iris or lens of the eye, wherein the light receiver or the processor is arranged to record at least one of the frequency or the returning light during a recording period after each pulse of light, the recording period commencing at an end of said each pulse of light or at a predetermined time interval before or after the end of said each pulse of light.
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11. A device for use in non-invasive monitoring of a human or animal subject'"'"'s bodily functions in vivo, having a first optical system which comprises:
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a) a light source to direct light into an eye of the human or animal, the light source directing the light in one or more pulses; and b) a light receiver to receive light returning from the eye as a result of illumination by the light from the light source, the light receiver or a processor coupled to the light receiver arranged to record at least one of a frequency or intensity of the returning light at a selected timing relative to the one or more pulses of light from the light source, so as to reduce a proportion of light reflected from at least one of a cornea or iris or lens of the eye, wherein the light receiver or processor is arranged to monitor the intensity of light of different wavelengths returning from a retina of the eye, thereby allowing an absorbance or reflectance characteristic of the retina to be determined.
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12. A method of non-invasive monitoring of a human or animal subject'"'"'s bodily functions in vivo, said method comprising:
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directing one or more pulses of light into an eye of the human or animal subject; intermittently recording light returning from the eye at a timing relative to directing of said one or more pulses; and determining at least one of a frequency or intensity of light returned from the eye, wherein said timing is selected so as to reduce a proportion of light reflected from a cornea or an iris or a lens of the eye, wherein a focal point of the one or more pulses of light from the light source lies in a plane that is at least substantially coincident with a plane of the pupil of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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13. The method as claimed in 12, wherein the eye is used as an integrating sphere in optical monitoring of a retina of the eye.
Specification