Apparatus and method for easing use of a spectrophotometric based noninvasive analyzer
First Claim
1. A method for collecting data used in determining glucose using an optically based noninvasive glucose analyzer, the method comprising the steps of:
- coupling an optical probe of said noninvasive glucose analyzer with a placement guide which is coupled to a sampling skin;
delivering incident photons into a sampling site in said sampling skin; and
collecting photons emerging from said sampling site;
wherein said optical probe comprises at least one optical incident member for delivering incident photons into said sampling site and an optical collection member for collecting photons emerging from said sampling site; and
wherein said guide comprises;
a mount having a contact surface at one end, at least a portion of said contact surface being in contact with said sampling skin;
an aperture, defined by said mount, which is adapted to receive said optical probe, wherein an area defined by said aperture comprises said sampling site; and
a hydration inducing plug securely attached, from said aperture, to said mount at said one end, wherein an outer surface of said hydration inducing plug is aligned with said contact surface of said mount, said outer surface being in direct contact with said sampling site;
wherein said hydration inducing plug acts an optical interface between said optical probe and said sampling site when said optical probe is coupled into said aperture, andwherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a fluoropolymer material.
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Accused Products
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.
35 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for collecting data used in determining glucose using an optically based noninvasive glucose analyzer, the method comprising the steps of:
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coupling an optical probe of said noninvasive glucose analyzer with a placement guide which is coupled to a sampling skin; delivering incident photons into a sampling site in said sampling skin; and collecting photons emerging from said sampling site; wherein said optical probe comprises at least one optical incident member for delivering incident photons into said sampling site and an optical collection member for collecting photons emerging from said sampling site; and wherein said guide comprises; a mount having a contact surface at one end, at least a portion of said contact surface being in contact with said sampling skin; an aperture, defined by said mount, which is adapted to receive said optical probe, wherein an area defined by said aperture comprises said sampling site; and a hydration inducing plug securely attached, from said aperture, to said mount at said one end, wherein an outer surface of said hydration inducing plug is aligned with said contact surface of said mount, said outer surface being in direct contact with said sampling site; wherein said hydration inducing plug acts an optical interface between said optical probe and said sampling site when said optical probe is coupled into said aperture, and wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a fluoropolymer material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for collecting data used in determining glucose using an optically based noninvasive glucose analyzer, the method comprising the steps of:
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coupling an optical probe of said noninvasive glucose analyzer with a placement guide which is coupled to a sampling skin; delivering incident photons into a sampling site in said sampling skin; and collecting photons emerging from said sampling site; wherein said optical probe comprises at least one optical incident member for delivering incident photons into said sampling site and an optical collection member for collecting photons emerging from said sampling site; and wherein said guide comprises; a mount having a contact surface at one end, at least a portion of said contact surface being in contact with said sampling skin; an aperture, defined by said mount, which is adapted to receive said optical probe, wherein an area defined by said aperture comprises said sampling site; and a hydration inducing plug securely attached, from said aperture, to said mount at said one end, wherein an outer surface of said hydration inducing plug is aligned with said contact surface of said mount, said outer surface being in direct contact with said sampling site; wherein said hydration inducing plug acts an optical interface between said optical probe and said sampling site when said optical probe is coupled into said aperture, wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises multiple layers, and wherein each of said layers comprises its own physical properties.
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19. A method for collecting data used in determining glucose using an optically based noninvasive glucose analyzer, the method comprising the steps of:
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coupling an optical probe of said noninvasive glucose analyzer with a placement guide which is coupled to a sampling skin; delivering incident photons into a sampling site in said sampling skin; and collecting photons emerging from said sampling site; wherein said optical probe comprises at least one optical incident member for delivering incident photons into said sampling site and an optical collection member for collecting photons emerging from said sampling site; and wherein said guide comprises; a mount having a contact surface at one end, at least a portion of said contact surface being in contact with said sampling skin; an aperture, defined by said mount, which is adapted to receive said optical probe, wherein an area defined by said aperture comprises said sampling site; and a hydration inducing plug securely attached, from said aperture, to said mount at said one end, wherein an outer surface of said hydration inducing plug is aligned with said contact surface of said mount, said outer surface being in direct contact with said sampling site; wherein said hydration inducing plug acts an optical interface between said optical probe and said sampling site when said optical probe is coupled into said aperture, and wherein said optical collection member of said optical probe is coupled into said aperture and has direct contact with said sampling site, while a small space is maintained between said hydration inducing plug and said optical incident member of said optical probe.
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Specification