Spectroscopic measurements with parallel array detector

• US 11,079,315 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2019
• Issued: 08/03/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COR Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nueon Inc.
• Inventors: Messerschmidt, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stock, Jr., Gordon J
• Application Number:
  US16/404,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20190323950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• 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 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/208 adapted to determine urine quantity, e.g. flow, volume
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/35 using infrared light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/06113 Coherent sources; lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/068 Optics, miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/49 Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80

Abstract

A measurement apparatus comprises optical components arranged to provide parallel measurements of a biological sample. The parallel sample measurements provide improved accuracy with lower detection limit thresholds. The parallel measurements may comprise one or more of Raman spectroscopy measurements or infrared spectroscopy measurements. The parallel measurements can be combined with a light source. In many embodiments, the light source comprises one or more wavelengths corresponding to resonance frequencies of one or more molecules of the sample, such as wavelengths of ultraviolet light. The wavelengths of light corresponding to resonance frequencies can provide an increased signal to noise ratio. The parallel array optical configuration can be combined with wavelengths of light corresponding to resonance frequencies in order to provide increased measurement accuracy and detection of metabolites.

Claims

1. A method of measuring a blood sample, the method comprising:

placing the blood sample on a support;

separating the blood sample into a plurality of components;

illuminating the sample with a measurement beam;

measuring a plurality of spectra at a plurality of times with a detector while the blood sample separates; and

identifying from the measurements, using a spatial and temporal profile that indicates separation of blood components over space and time, at least one of the plurality of components.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein blood sample comprises one or more of an individual blood cell, a fluid of the blood sample, a hematocrit of the blood sample, or fluids of the hematocrit.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the sample is placed on a chromatography plate and separated with chromatography.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the measurement beam is transmitted through the sample and measured with the detector to determine transmission of the sample.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the measurement beam is emitted from a tunable laser.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the sample is received in an optically transmissive support.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the blood sample is analyzed with an internal reflection mode of an optically transmissive structure.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the blood sample comprises blood cells located on a surface of the optically transmissive structure.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the detector comprises an array detector.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein the measurement beam comprises one or more of ultraviolet light, visible light, near infrared light, or infrared light.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein the sample separates spatially on a substrate.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein a wavelength selector separates wavelengths of light to determine an intensity of specific wavelengths of light.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wavelength selector comprises an optical filter or a grating to separate the wavelengths of light in order to determine the intensity of specific wavelengths of light.