OPTICAL ANALYTE MEASUREMENT

• US 20140307258A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Boult, Terrance E., Kirkbride, Shane
• Application Number:
  US13/809,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20140307258A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/300
• 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 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4845 Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems

Abstract

Ethanol is non-invasively tested using temperature-modulated spectroscopy (TMS). The TMS approach uses the active control of temperature to vary the spectral response of the IR-LED output, effectively sliding a spectral pulse across the ethanol sample, revealing the peaks and valleys of ethanol'"'"'s spectral response.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an analyte in a region of interest, the method comprising:

(a) illuminating the region of interest using light from a light source whose output wavelength is sensitive to temperature;

(b) during step (a), varying the temperature to which the light source is exposed so as to vary the output wavelength;

(c) during steps (a) and (b), receiving a portion of the light from the region of interest; and

(d) performing spectroscopy on the portion of the light received in step (c) to detect the analyte.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyte is ethanol.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the region of interest is a part of a living human body.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an LED.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (a) comprises directing a portion of the light away from the region of interest;

step (c) comprises detecting the portion of the light directed away from the region of interest; and

step (d) comprises performing normalization in the spectroscopy, using the portion of the light directed away from the region of interest.

6. A system for detecting an analyte in a region of interest, the system comprising:

a light source for illuminating the region of interest, the light source having an output wavelength that is sensitive to temperature;

a temperature source for varying the temperature to which the light source is exposed so as to vary the output wavelength; and

a spectroscopic subsystem for receiving a portion of the light from the region of interest and performing spectroscopy on the portion of the light to detect the analyte.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the spectroscopic subsystem is configured such that the analyte is ethanol.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the light source comprises an LED.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the light source is configured to direct a portion of the light away from the region of interest; and

the spectroscopic subsystem is configured to detect the portion of the light directed away from the region of interest and to perform normalization in the spectroscopy, using the portion of the light directed away from the region of interest.

8. The system of claim 8, wherein the spectroscopic subsystem is configured such that the region of interest is a part of a living human body.