Infrared ATR glucose measurement system (II)
First Claim
1. An analyte level measurement device for measuring said analyte level in a human body by contacting a skin surface of the human body, comprising:
- a.) an infrared source for emitting an IR beam into an ATR plate, said IR beam having components at least in the region of a referencing wavelength and a measuring wavelength, b.) said ATR plate having a measurement surface for contact with said human skin surface and for directing said IR beam against said human skin surface, c.) at least two IR sensors for simultaneously measuring absorbance of at least said referencing wavelength and said measuring wavelength, and d.) a calculator for determining said analyte level using said measured absorbance of said skin surface.
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Abstract
This involves a non-invasive glucose measurement device and a process for determining blood glucose level in the human body using the device. In typical operation, the glucose measurement device is self-normalizing in that it does not employ an independent reference sample in its operation. The device uses attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared spectroscopy. Preferably, the device is used on a fingertip and compares two specific regions of a measured infrared spectrum to determine the blood glucose level of the user. Clearly, this device is especially suitable for monitoring glucose levels in the human body, and is especially beneficial to users having diabetes mellitus. The device and procedure may be used for other analyte materials which exhibit unique mid-IR signatures of the type described herein and that are found in appropriate regions of the outer skin.
93 Citations
58 Claims
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1. An analyte level measurement device for measuring said analyte level in a human body by contacting a skin surface of the human body, comprising:
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a.) an infrared source for emitting an IR beam into an ATR plate, said IR beam having components at least in the region of a referencing wavelength and a measuring wavelength, b.) said ATR plate having a measurement surface for contact with said human skin surface and for directing said IR beam against said human skin surface, c.) at least two IR sensors for simultaneously measuring absorbance of at least said referencing wavelength and said measuring wavelength, and d.) a calculator for determining said analyte level using said measured absorbance of said skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
a.) a first of said at least two IR sensors measures said measuring wavelength and provides a measuring signal related to absorbance of said measuring wavelength; - and
b.) a second of said at least two IR sensors measures said referencing wavelength and provides a referencing signal related to absorbance of said referencing wavelength.
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11. The analyte measurement device of claim 1 wherein
a.) a first of said at least two IR sensors measures said measuring wavelength and provides a measuring signal related to absorbance of said measuring wavelength, and b.) a second of said at least two IR sensors measures said referencing wavelength and provides a referencing signal related to absorbance of said referencing wavelength. -
12. The analyte measurement device of claim 11 wherein said analyte is glucose and further comprising a comparator for comparing said measuring signal to said referencing signal and providing a signal indicative of blood glucose concentration.
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13. The analyte measurement device of claim 12 further comprising a display for displaying said blood glucose concentration.
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14. The analyte measurement device of claim 11 wherein said analyte is glucose and further comprising a computer component for comparing said measuring signal to said referencing signal and providing a digital signal indicative of blood glucose concentration.
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15. The analyte measurement device of claim 14 further comprising a display for displaying said blood glucose concentration.
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16. The analyte measurement device of claim 1 wherein said infrared source is a broadband source.
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17. The analyte measurement device of claim 1 wherein said infrared source is a non-laser source.
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18. The analyte measurement device of claim 1 wherein said infrared source comprises two selected wavelength lasers.
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19. A method for determining the blood glucose level in a human being using a glucose measurement device, comprising the steps of
a.) contacting a skin surface on said human being with an ATR plate in said glucose measurement device, said ATR plate having a surface for contact with said human skin surface, b.) irradiating said human skin surface with an IR beam having components at least in the region of a referencing wavelength and a measuring wavelength through said ATR plate to produce a reflected IR beam indicative of the blood glucose level in said human being, and c.) detecting and quantifying said referencing wavelength and said measuring wavelength components in said reflected IR beam as emitted from said skin surface.
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37. A method for determining the analyte level in a human being using an analyte measurement device, comprising the steps of
a.) contacting a skin surface on said human being with an ATR plate in said analyte measurement device, said ATR plate having a surface for contact with said human skin surface, b.) irradiating said human skin surface with an IR beam having components at least in the region of,a referencing wavelength and a measuring wavelength through said ATR plate to produce a reflected IR beam indicative of the analyte level in said human being, and c.) detecting and quantifying said referencing wavelength and said measuring wavelength components in said reflected IR beam as emitted from said skin surface.
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49. An in vivo method for determining the blood glucose level in a human being using a glucose measurement device, comprising the steps of:
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a.) irradiating human skin surface with light containing at least a mid-IR component so to produce a reflected mid-IR beam from said skin surface indicative of the blood glucose level in said human being, and b.) detecting and analyzing only said reflected mid-IR beam to determine said blood glucose level. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for determining the blood glucose level in a human being using a glucose measurement device, comprising the steps of:
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a.) irradiating a human body region substantially free of cholesterol, water, gamma globulin, albumin, and blood with light containing at least a mid-IR component so to produce a reflected mid-IR beam indicative of the blood glucose level in said human being, and b.) detecting and analyzing said reflected mid-IR beam to determine said blood glucose level. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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Specification