Bio-photonic feedback control software and database

• US 8,117,044 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NSE Products, Inc. (Nu Skin Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NSE Products, Inc. (Nu Skin Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fralick, John, Breiter, David L., Peterson, Jack, Gilbert, Mindy, Distel, Marvin, Newman, Ryan, Erickson, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lamprecht, Joel
• Application Number:
  US12/958,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20110320324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 600473-478, 600/424, 600/407, 600/300, 600/310, 705/14, 705/26, 705/77, 705/2, 702/27
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies

Abstract

A process, apparatus, and method for computerized detection, tracking, and feedback control of nutritional supplements in an animal, including humans relies on Raman scattering effects on skin or other tissues to determine the content of carotenoids or other nutrients as evidenced in that skin. Serum levels of nutrients may vary dramatically with time, but skin tissues may average such nutrition over time. Skin and other tissues may be scanned with light to produce accurate measurements of carotenoids or other nutrients accumulated in the skin based on the Raman scattering affect of those nutrients in the skin. A score can be derived from a properly calibrated bio-photonic scanner to reflect an averaged effective uptake of the detected nutrient (e.g. such as the carotenoid example). This feedback control is thus much more immediate than any anecdotal, long-term, report of general well being, which would vary so much between individuals as to be nearly impossible to ascertain on an individual level, and difficult, invasive, and expensive to determine individually in a conventional clinical procedure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tracking and distributing royalty payments owed to a licensor for use of a testing device and commission payments owed to operators of the testing device, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of testing devices licensed from a licensor thereof, wherein;

each testing device of the plurality of testing devices is structured to be mobile and independent from one another; and

each testing device is further configured to measure selected molecular structures in live tissues relating to nutrition of subjects tested thereby and to provide diagnostic information regarding risk of disease and/or risk markers for disease;

a compensation system configured to upload directly data corresponding to use of the testing devices, the compensation system comprising;

an authorization server configured to manage and provide authorization to operators of the testing devices prior to operating of the testing devices, and further configured to track use of the testing devices;

a royalty system configured to allocate royalties due to the licensor based at least in part on use of the testing devices and a royalty schedule; and

a commission system configured to allocate compensation due to entities responsible for distribution of nutritional products associated with or directed to altering levels of the selected molecular structure in the subjects tested; and

a communications link operable for connecting each testing device to the compensation system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each testing device is further configured to conduct a test comprising measuring tissue of a subject non-invasively, non-destructively, and in vivo, ascertaining the concentration of a selected molecular structure therein, and outputting a value corresponding thereto.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each testing device is further configured to perform tests by illuminating and measuring a radiant response from live tissue and to determine a corresponding value reflecting concentration of a selected molecular structure relating to nutrition of subjects.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selected molecular structures include carotenoids.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authorization server is further configured to control operation of one or more of the testing devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a certificate server configured to generate and distribute certificates redeemable for use of the testing devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each certificate includes a certificate number associated therewith.