APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EASING USE OF A SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC BASED NONINVASIVE ANALYZER

• US 20070293743A1
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GLT Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: George Acosta, Kevin Hazen, Stephen Monfre, Thomas Blank
• Inventors: Hazen, Kevin, Blank, Thomas, Acosta, George, Monfre, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/316
• 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: A61B 5/6841 by using templates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/474 Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres

Abstract

A placement guide apparatus with an improved hydration inducing plug used in coupling a noninvasive analyzer to a sampling site to determine analyte in the human body is disclosed. The hydration inducing plug includes at least one fluoropolymer that may be used as a coupling agent. The guide apparatus may further include an automated or semi-automated coupling fluid delivery system. Use of either of these couplers mitigates issues associated with related technology and enhances noninvasive analyte measurements, such as a near-IR diffuse reflectance based noninvasive glucose concentration analyzer.

Claims

1. A placement guide used for coupling of an optical probe of an optically based noninvasive glucose concentration analyzer to a sample site of a skin sample, said optical probe comprising at least one optical incident member for delivering incident photons into the sample site and an optical collection member for collecting photons emerging from the sample site, said guide comprising:

a mount having a contact surface at one end, at least a portion of said contact surface being in proximate contact with the skin sample during use;

an aperture, defined by said mount, which is adapted to receive said optical probe during use, wherein an area defined by said aperture comprises the sample site; and

a hydration inducing plug covering said aperture, wherein an outer surface of said hydration inducing plug aligns with said contact surface of said mount, said outer surface being in proximate contact with the sample site during use;

wherein said hydration inducing plug acts as an optical interface between said optical probe and the sample site when said optical probe is coupled into said aperture.

2. The guide of claim 1, wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a hydrophobic material.

3. The guide of claim 1, wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a fluoropolymer material.

4. The guide of claim 1, wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises an uneven member.

5. The guide of claim 1, wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises multiple layers.

6. The guide of claim 5, wherein each of said layers comprises its own physical properties.

7. The guide of claim 5, wherein at least one of said multiple layers comprises unevenly heat compressed layers.

8. The guide of claim 7, wherein a central area of said hydration inducing plug comprises a thinner layer than an outer ring area of said hydration inducing plug.

9. The guide of claim 1, wherein said hydration inducing plug has an aperture formed in its center thereof, wherein upon said optical probe being coupled with said guide, said optical collection member of said optical probe is coupled into said aperture and has direct contact with the sample site, while said optical incident member of said optical probe maintains direct contact with a surrounding area of said hydration inducing plug.

10. The guide of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of said hydration inducing plug is shaped as an optical convexity, and wherein an aperture is formed in a center of said hydration inducing plug, wherein upon said optical probe being coupled with said guide, said optical collection member of said optical probe is coupled into said aperture and has direct contact with the sample site.

11. The guide of claim 1, wherein said optical collection member of said optical probe is coupled into said aperture and has direct contact with the sample site, and wherein a small space is maintained between said hydration inducing plug and said optical incident member of said optical probe.

12. The guide of claim 1, wherein said mount comprises at least one reservoir for containment of an optical coupling fluid, said at least one reservoir being connected to one or more channels via which said optical coupling fluid is lead to the sample site, said optical coupling fluid spreading between the outer surface of said hydration inducing plug and a skin surface of the sample site.

13. The guide of claim 12, wherein said optical coupling fluid is near-infrared inactive.

14. The guide of claim 12, wherein said optical coupling fluid comprises any of:

a chlorofluorocarbon; and

a chlorofluorocarbon polymer.

15. The guide of claim 12, wherein said optical coupling fluid comprises any of:

a fluorocarbon molecule;

a fluorocarbon polymer; and

a fluorocompound.

16. The guide of claim 12, wherein said optical coupling fluid is delivered in an automated fashion to the sample site.

17. The guide of claim 12, wherein said optical coupling fluid is directed to the sample site by at least one of:

a guiding channel;

a mechanical pump; and

an electromechanical system.

18. The guide of claim 12, further comprising a barrier for directing said optical coupling fluid to the sample site.

19. The guide of claim 18, wherein said barrier comprises any of:

contact of said guide to the sample site to act as a physical barrier;

a device on said guide that minimally deforms the skin sample to form a physical barrier around the sample site; and

an adhesive on said guide, circumscribing the sample site, that couples said guide to the skin sample around the sample site.

20. The guide of claim 1, wherein said mount comprises a plurality of channels for delivery of a coupling fluid, each of said channels being connected to a coupling fluid reservoir, said coupling fluid spreading between the outer surface of said hydration inducing plug and the skin surface of the sample site during use.

21. The guide of claim 1, wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a hydrophobic a near-IR transmissive material from 1100 to 1900 nm.

22. The guide of claim 1, wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a material index of refraction matched to said contact surface of said mount.