Article and method for applying a coupling agent for a non-invasive optical probe
First Claim
1. An article for applying a coupling agent to a surface of a tissue or a body part, the article comprising:
- a backing, wherein the backing comprises a non-permeable material, the backing comprising a flat major surface on a skin-contacting side of the article; and
a layer of coupling agent deposited over the flat major surface of the backing on the skin-contacting side of the article such that the layer of coupling agent provides a surface on the article for contacting the tissue or body part;
wherein only the layer of coupling agent is over the flat major surface of the backing on the skin-contacting side of the particle;
wherein the article comprising the backing and the layer of coupling agent is configured such that a predetermined amount of the layer of coupling agent is uniformly and usably transferable to the surface of the tissue or the body part upon removal of the article comprising the backing and the layer of coupling agent from the tissue or the body part, wherein the predetermined amount of the layer of coupling agent enhances optical and thermal coupling between the tissue or the body part and a separate measuring device including an optical probe.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides an article of manufacture and method for controlling the application of a coupling agent, such as a silicone oil or mineral oil, on a surface of a tissue prior to contacting the tissue with an apparatus for non-invasive optical measurement of the concentration of an analyte. The article ensures that a specific quantity of the coupling agent is deposited in a uniform layer over the entire target area of the tissue, thereby enhancing both the optical signal and the repeatability of thermal and optical coupling with the components of the apparatus. The article comprises a backing and a layer of coupling agent on at least one major surface of the backing.
38 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An article for applying a coupling agent to a surface of a tissue or a body part, the article comprising:
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a backing, wherein the backing comprises a non-permeable material, the backing comprising a flat major surface on a skin-contacting side of the article; and a layer of coupling agent deposited over the flat major surface of the backing on the skin-contacting side of the article such that the layer of coupling agent provides a surface on the article for contacting the tissue or body part; wherein only the layer of coupling agent is over the flat major surface of the backing on the skin-contacting side of the particle; wherein the article comprising the backing and the layer of coupling agent is configured such that a predetermined amount of the layer of coupling agent is uniformly and usably transferable to the surface of the tissue or the body part upon removal of the article comprising the backing and the layer of coupling agent from the tissue or the body part, wherein the predetermined amount of the layer of coupling agent enhances optical and thermal coupling between the tissue or the body part and a separate measuring device including an optical probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11)
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7. A method for improving the precision of a non-invasive optical measurement, said method comprising:
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providing an article comprising; a backing, wherein the backing comprises a non-permeable material, the backing comprising a flat major surface on a skin-contacting side of the article; and a layer of coupling agent deposited over the flat major surface of the backing on the skin-contacting side of the article, the layer of coupling agent providing a surface on the article for contacting a tissue or a body part; wherein only the layer of coupling agent is over the flat major surface of the backing on the skin-contacting side of the article; coupling the article comprising the backing and the layer of coupling agent to the surface of the tissue or the body part such that all regions of the layer of coupling agent contact the tissue or the body part and remain fixed to the tissue or the body part until peeled away from the tissue or the body part; removing the article comprising the backing and the layer of coupling agent from the surface of the tissue or the body part after all regions of the layer of coupling agent contact the tissue or body part by peeling the fixed article off the tissue or the body part, wherein upon the removing of the article, a specified amount of the layer of coupling agent is usably transferred to the surface of the tissue or the body part; bringing an optical measuring device in contact with the usably transferred coupling agent and said tissue or said body part, wherein said usably transferred coupling agent enhances optical and thermal coupling between said device and said tissue or said body part; and performing a non-invasive determination of the concentration of an analyte in said tissue or said body part. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 12)
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13. An article for applying a coupling agent to a surface of a tissue or a body part, the article comprising:
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a backing comprising adhesive material on a flat major surface of the backing; a layer of coupling agent over the flat major surface of the backing; and a porous substrate layer adhered to the flat major surface of the backing by the adhesive material and interposed between the backing and the layer of coupling agent; wherein the adhesive material and holes in the porous substrate layer are saturated by the coupling agent; wherein the article comprising the backing, the substrate layer, and the layer of coupling agent is configured such that a predetermined amount of the layer of coupling agent is uniformly and usably transferable to the surface of the tissue or the body part upon removal of the article comprising the backing, the substrate layer, and the layer of coupling agent from the tissue or the body part, wherein the predetermined amount of the layer of coupling agent enhances optical and thermal coupling between the tissue or the body part and a separate measuring device including an optical probe. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for improving the precision of a non-invasive optical measurement, said method comprising:
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providing an article comprising; a flat backing comprising adhesive material on a major surface of the backing; a layer of coupling agent over the major surface of the backing, the layer of coupling agent providing a surface on the article for contacting a tissue or a body part; and a porous substrate layer adhered to the major surface of the backing by the adhesive material and interposed between the backing and the layer of coupling agent; wherein the adhesive material and holes in the porous substrate layer are saturated by the coupling agent; coupling the article comprising the backing, the substrate layer, and the layer of coupling agent to the surface of the tissue or the body part such that all regions of the layer of coupling agent contact the tissue or the body part; removing the article comprising the backing, the substrate layer, and the layer of coupling agent from the surface of the tissue or the body part, wherein upon the removing of the article, a specified amount of the layer of coupling agent is usably transferred to the surface of the tissue or the body part; bringing an optical measuring device in contact with the usably transferred coupling agent and said tissue or said body part, wherein said usably transferred coupling agent enhances optical and thermal coupling between said device and said tissue or said body part; and performing a non-invasive determination of the concentration of an analyte in said tissue or said body part. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification