Device and method for monitoring blood parameters

• US 8,017,407 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ariel Navon
• Original Assignee: Ariel Navon
• Inventors: Navon, Ariel
• Primary Examiner(s): Gakh; Yelena G
• Assistant Examiner(s): XU, XIAOYUN
• Application Number:
  US12/593,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20100076281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 436/164
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14535 for measuring haematocrit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 using differentiation including higher order derivatives

Abstract

A device and method measuring at least one parameter related to the blood of a subject, by emitting light with at least one emitter at least one wavelength within the spectral range of 380 980 nm toward a body part containing at least one wavelength. Spatially resolved reflectance measurements are obtained by capturing light reflected by the body part with at least one reflectance detector. At least one of the absorption coefficient and the reduced scattering coefficient of the blood component of the body part at each of the wavelengths is extracted from the measurements. The temporal derivatives of the at least one of the absorption coefficient and the reduced scattering coefficient is extracted, and at least one blood related parameter is calculated using the temporal derivatives.

Claims

1. A method for measuring at least one parameter related to the blood of a subject, the method comprising the procedures of:

emitting light with at least one emitter, at least one measurement wavelength within the spectral range of 380-980 nm, toward a body part containing at least one blood vessel;

obtaining spatially resolved reflection measurements, by capturing light reflected by said body part, with at least one reflectance detector;

extracting at least one of the adsorption coefficient (μ

′

_s) and the reduced scattering coefficient (μ

′

_s) of the blood component of said body part at each of said at least one wavelength, from said measurements;

extracting the temporal derivatives of said at least one of said adsorption coefficient and said reduced scattering coefficient

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameter is the hematocrit value (Hct) of said subject.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said procedure of emitting light comprises emitting light at an isosbestic wavelength for oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said procedure of calculating comprises using said temporal derivatives in accordance with the following equation:

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said isosbestic wavelength is selected from the list consisting of:

approximately 390 nm;

approximately 422 nm;

approximately 452 nm;

approximately 500 nm;

approximately 529 nm;

approximately 545 nm;

approximately 570 nm;

approximately 584 nm; and

approximately 803 nm.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the procedure of:

obtaining diffuse transmittance measurements, by capturing light passing through said body part, with at least one transmittance detector disposed opposite said emitter across said body part.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said body part is selected from the list consisting of:

a finger;

a toe;

an outer ear;

an eardrum;

an earlobe;

a mouth;

an eye;

a palm; and

the webbing between fingers

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameter is selected from the list consisting of:

oxygen saturation level;

hemoglobin concentration;

temporal variation of blood concentration;

mean RBC size; and

mean RBC size distribution.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said procedure of emitting light comprises emitting light at least two measurement wavelengths, and said procedure of calculating comprises solving for the oxygen saturation level and hematocrit value of said subject, at each of said at least two measurement wavelengths.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said procedure of calculating comprises using said temporal derivatives in accordance with the following equation:

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said procedure of emitting light comprises emitting light at least three measurement wavelengths, and said procedure of calculating comprises solving for the oxygen saturation level, the temporal variation of blood concentration, and hematocrit value of said subject, at each of said at least three measurement wavelengths.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said procedure of calculating comprises using said temporal derivatives in accordance with the following equation: