Optical spectroscopy device for non-invasive blood glucose detection and associated method of use

• US 8,552,359 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Louis Medical Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Curators of the University of Missouri (University of Missouri)
• Inventors: Xu, Zhi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn, Seung C
• Application Number:
  US12/729,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20100252721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 250/226, 250/239, 362/296.05, 362/308, 362/154, 356 39- 40, 356436-440, 600/322, 600310-319
• US Class Current: 250/226
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1239 and separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0216 using light concentrators or collectors or condensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/18 using diffraction elements, e.g. grating gratings per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light

Abstract

An apparatus for concentrating light and associated method of use is disclosed. This apparatus includes a first outer wall having an anterior end, a posterior end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior portion, the interior portion having an anterior end and a posterior end, and a light source disposed within the interior portion. The first outer wall has an opening in the posterior end, the opening having an opening diameter. The interior portion has a substantially frusto-conical shape and has a cross-sectional diameter at the opening equal to the opening diameter and a second cross-sectional diameter near the anterior end that is less than the opening diameter and the inner surface is photo-reflective. The light passes through a sample through an aperture and a collector lens or a second outer wall. A transmission diffraction grating may be utilized.

Claims

1. An apparatus for concentrating light, the apparatus comprising:

an first outer wall having an anterior end, a posterior end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior portion, the interior portion having an anterior end and a posterior end;

a light source disposed within the interior portion;

wherein the first outer wall has an opening in the posterior end, the opening having an opening diameter;

wherein the interior portion has a substantially frusto-conical shape;

wherein the interior portion has a cross-sectional diameter at the opening equal to the opening diameter and a second cross-sectional diameter near the anterior end that is less than the opening diameter; and

wherein the inner surface is photo-reflective.

2. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 1, wherein the first outer wall includes metal, and the inner surface is polished.

3. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 1, wherein the half angle of the frusto-conical shape from a perpendicular line bisecting the frusto-conical shape extending from the second cross-sectional diameter to the first cross-sectional diameter is less than about forty-five degrees.

4. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 3, wherein the half angle of the frusto-conical shape is more than about five degrees and less than about twenty-five degrees.

5. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 1, further comprising a condenser lens positioned underneath the opening for receiving light through a sample.

6. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 5, wherein the condenser lens is an aspheric lens.

7. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 5, further comprising an aperture located between the sample and the condenser lens.

8. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of light filters;

wherein each light filter of the plurality of light filters is positioned to receive light from the condenser lens and emit filtered light onto a corresponding photodetector of a plurality of photodetectors; and

wherein each photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors is tuned to detect light in the spectrum emitted by the corresponding filter of the plurality of light filters.

9. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 8, further comprising an aperture located between the sample and the condenser lens.

10. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 5, further comprising a diffraction grating positioned underneath the condenser lens.

11. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 10, further comprising an aperture located between the sample and the condenser lens.

12. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of light filters;

wherein each light filter of the plurality of light filters is positioned to receive light from the condenser lens and emit filtered light onto a corresponding photodetector of a plurality of photodetectors; and

wherein each photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors is tuned to detect light in the spectrum emitted by the corresponding filter of the plurality of light filters.

13. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 1, further comprising:

a second outer wall having an anterior end, a posterior end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior portion, the interior portion having an anterior end and a posterior end;

wherein the interior portion of the second outer wall having a first opening in the posterior end with a first cross-sectional diameter and the interior portion of the second outer wall having a second opening in the anterior end with a second cross-sectional diameter and the first cross-sectional diameter is greater than the second cross-sectional diameter;

wherein the interior portion has a substantially frusto-conical shape and is photo-reflective; and

wherein a sample can be positioned between the opening in the first outer wall and the second opening in the anterior end of the second outer wall.

14. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of light filters;

wherein each light filter of the plurality of light filters is positioned to receive light from the first opening in the posterior end of the second outer wall and emit filtered light onto a corresponding photodetector of a plurality of photodetectors; and

wherein each photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors is tuned to detect light in the spectrum emitted by the corresponding filter of the plurality of light filters.

22. The apparatus for concentrating light of claim 12, further comprising an aperture located between the sample and the condenser lens.

15. A method for concentrating light, the method comprising:

utilizing a light source located within an interior portion of a first outer wall, wherein the first outer wall includes an anterior end, a posterior end, a photo-reflective inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior portion, the interior portion having a substantially frusto-conical shape, an anterior end and a posterior end, and the first outer wall has an opening in the posterior end, the opening having an opening diameter and the interior portion has a cross-sectional diameter at the opening equal to the opening diameter and a second cross-sectional diameter near the anterior end that is less than the opening diameter.

16. The method for concentrating light of claim 15, further comprising utilizing a condenser lens positioned underneath the opening for receiving light through a sample.

17. The method for concentrating light of claim 16, wherein the condenser lens is an aspheric lens.

18. The method for concentrating light of claim 16, further comprising utilizing an aperture located between the sample and the condenser lens.

19. The method for concentrating light of claim 16, further comprising:

utilizing a plurality of light filters, wherein each light filter of the plurality of light filters is positioned to receive light from the condenser lens and emit filtered light onto a corresponding plurality of photodetectors and each photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors is tuned to detect light in the spectrum emitted by the corresponding light filter of the plurality of light filters.

20. The method for concentrating light of claim 15, further comprising:

utilizing a second outer wall having an anterior end, a posterior end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior portion, the interior portion is substantially frusto-conical shape, photo-reflective, and having an anterior end and a posterior end and the interior portion of the second outer wall having a first opening in the posterior end with a first cross-sectional diameter and the interior portion of the second outer wall having a second opening in the anterior end with a second cross-sectional diameter and the first cross-sectional diameter is greater than the second cross-sectional diameter; and

positioning a sample between the opening in the first outer wall and the second opening in the anterior end of the second outer wall.

21. The method for concentrating light of claim 20, further comprising:

utilizing a plurality of light filters, wherein each light filter of the plurality of light filters is positioned to receive light from the first opening in the posterior end of the second outer wall and emit filtered light onto a corresponding plurality of photodetectors and each photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors is tuned to detect light in the spectrum emitted by the corresponding light filter of the plurality of light filters.