Spectroscopic optical system

• US 7,873,397 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRAmed LLC
• Original Assignee: DIRAmed LLC
• Inventors: Anderson, Betty Lise, Higgins, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US11/765,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20080316466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 600/309, 600/310, 600/316, 600/322, 600/473
• US Class Current: 600/316
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering

Abstract

Innovative techniques that result in a better signal-to-noise ratio for spectrographic analysis of substances in a target than conventional techniques. In these techniques, light illuminates a target with at least some of the light penetrating the target. At least a portion of the light that penetrates the target is collected from a region on the target'"'"'s surface that is not directly illuminated. Preferably, at least a majority of the collected light is light that penetrates the target. Also preferably, the light that illuminates the target is in a pattern that partially but not completely surrounds the region from which the portion of the light that penetrates the target is collected. A spectrum of at least a portion of the collected light is analyzed.

Claims

1. A method of performing Raman spectroscopy, comprising the steps of:

illuminating a target with light from a light source, with at least some of the light penetrating the target;

collecting, with collection optics, at least a portion of the light that penetrates the target from a region on the target'"'"'s surface not directly illuminated by the step of illuminating, wherein at least a majority of the light collected by the step of collecting is light that penetrates the target;

analyzing, with Raman spectroscopic instrumentation, a spectrum of at least a portion of the light collected by the step of collecting; and

wherein the light that illuminates the target is in a pattern that partially but not completely surrounds the region from which the portion of the light that penetrates the target is collected.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the light that illuminates the target is in a crescent-shaped, semi-circle-shaped, hyperbolic-shaped, or parabolic-shaped pattern.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the crescent-shaped, semi-circle-shaped, hyperbolic-shaped, or parabolic-shaped pattern is formed using only refractive, transmissive, or refractive and transmissive optics.

4. A method as in claim 2, wherein the crescent-shaped, semi-circle-shaped, hyperbolic-shaped, or parabolic-shaped pattern is formed using one of more of refractive, transmissive, masking, or diffractive optics.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of collecting the light is performed using collection optics directly in contact with the target.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the light that illuminates the target comprises coherent monochromatic light.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the coherent monochromatic light is from a laser or laser diode.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the light comprises infrared light.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the infrared light has a wavelength in the range of 785 nanometers to 850 nanometers.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein the target comprises a person'"'"'s skin.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the spectrum of light is measured to determine a glucose content of one or more of tissue, interstitial fluid, and blood in the person'"'"'s skin.

12. A method of performing Raman spectroscopy, comprising the steps of:

illuminating a target with light from a light source, with at least some of the light penetrating the target;

collecting, with collection optics, at least a portion of the light that penetrates the target from a region on the target'"'"'s surface not directly illuminated by the step of illuminating;

analyzing, with Raman spectroscopic equipment, a spectrum of at least a portion of the light collected by the step of collecting; and

wherein the light that illuminates the target is in a pattern that partially but not completely surrounds the region from which the portion of the light that penetrates the target is collected.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the light that illuminates the target is in a crescent-shaped, semi-circle-shaped, hyperbolic-shaped, or parabolic-shaped pattern.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the crescent-shaped, semi-circle-shaped, hyperbolic-shaped, or parabolic-shaped pattern is formed using only refractive, transmissive, or refractive and transmissive optics.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein the crescent-shaped, semi-circle-shaped, hyperbolic-shaped, or parabolic-shaped pattern is formed using one or more of refractive, transmissive, masking, or diffractive optics.

16. A method as in claim 12, wherein the step of collecting the light is performed using collection optics directly in contact with the target.

17. A method as in claim 12, wherein the light that illuminates the target comprises coherent monochromatic light.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the coherent monochromatic light is from a laser or laser diode.

19. A method as in claim 12, wherein the light comprises infrared light.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the infrared light has a wavelength in the range of 785 nanometers to 850 nanometers.

21. A method as in claim 12, wherein the target comprises a person'"'"'s skin.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein the spectrum of light is measured to determine a glucose content of one or more of tissue, interstitial fluid, and blood in the person'"'"'s skin.

23. A device that performs Raman spectroscopy, comprising:

a light source configured to illuminate a target with light, with at least some of the light penetrating the target;

collection optics configured to collect at least a portion of the light that penetrates the target from a region on the target'"'"'s surface not directly illuminated by the light source, wherein at least a majority of the light collected by the collection optics is light that penetrates the target;

Raman spectrographic instrumentation that analyzes a spectrum of at least a portion of the light collected by the collection optics; and

wherein the light that illuminates the target is in a pattern that partially but not completely surrounds the region from which the portion of the light that penetrates the target is collected.

24. A device as in claim 23, further comprising beam shaping optics that form the light that illuminates the target into a crescent-shaped, semi-circle-shaped, hyperbolic-shaped, or parabolic-shaped pattern.

25. A device as in claim 24, wherein the beam shaping optics comprise only refractive, transmissive, or refractive and transmissive optics.

26. A device as in claim 24, wherein the beam shaping optics comprise one or more refractive, transmissive, masking, or diffractive optics.

27. A device as in claim 23, wherein the collection optics are adapted to be directly in contact with the target.

28. A device as in claim 23, wherein the light that illuminates the target comprises coherent monochromatic light.

29. A device as in claim 28, wherein the light source comprises a laser or laser diode.

30. A device as in claim 23, wherein the light comprises infrared light.

31. A device as in claim 30, wherein the infrared light has a wavelength in the range of 785 nanometers to 850 nanometers.

32. A device that performs spectroscopy, comprising:

a light source configured to illuminate a target with light, with at least some of the light penetrating the target;

collection optics configured to collect at least a portion of the light that penetrates the target from a region on the target'"'"'s surface not directly illuminated by the light source;

Raman spectrographic instrumentation that analyzes a spectrum of at least a portion of the light collected by the collection optics; and

wherein the light that illuminates the target is in a pattern that partially but not completely surrounds the region from which the collection optics collect the portion of the light that penetrates the target.

33. A device as in claim 32, further compromising beam shaping optics that form the light that illuminates the target into a crescent-shaped, semi-circle-shaped, hyperbolic-shaped, or parabolic-shaped pattern.

34. A device as in claim 33, wherein the beam shaping optics comprise only refractive, transmissive, or refractive and transmissive optics.

35. A device as in claim 33, wherein the beam shaping optics comprise one or more of refractive, transmissive, masking, or diffractive optics.

36. A device as in claim 32, wherein the collection optics are adapted to be directly in contact with the target.

37. A device as in claim 32, wherein the light that illuminates the target comprises coherent monochromatic light.

38. A device as in claim 37, wherein the light source comprises a laser or laser diode.

39. A device as in claim 32, wherein the light comprises infrared light.

40. A device as in claim 39, wherein the infrared light has a wavelength in the range of 785 nanometers to 850 nanometers.