Short-wave infrared super-continuum lasers for early detection of dental caries

• US 9,757,040 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammed N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Tarifur
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Md M
• Application Number:
  US15/357,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20170071474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 356300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/02 specially adapted for a particular organ or body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• 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 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/104 Monochromatic plural sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1208 Prism and grating
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2826 Multispectral imaging, e.g. filter imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 : using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/108 : for measurement in the infrared range
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/14 : using refracting elements, e.g. prisms G01J3/18, G01J3/26 take precedence prisms per se G02B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/1838 : Holographic gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 : Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 : Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 : Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/453 : by correlation of the amplitudes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 : by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3595 : using FTIR
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/399 : Diode laser
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/35 : using infrared light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 : for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 : using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/39 : using tunable lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/85 : Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 : Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 : Capsules; Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 : Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/061 : Sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/06113 : Coherent sources; lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 : LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/08 : Optical fibres; light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 : Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/129 : Using chemometrical methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 : Food
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/025 : Fruits or vegetables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/15 : Medicinal preparations ; Physical properties thereof, e.g. dissolubility drug screening with animal cells G01N33/5008
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/442 : Resins, plastics
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0092 : Nonlinear frequency conversion, e.g. second harmonic generation [SHG] or sum- or difference-frequency generation outside the laser cavity nonlinear frequency conversion per se G02F1/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/06758 : Tandem amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/302 : in an optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A wearable device for use with a smart phone or tablet includes a measurement device having a plurality of LEDs generating a near-infrared input optical beam that measures physiological parameters. The measurement device includes lenses configured to receive and to deliver the input beam to skin which reflects the beam. The measurement device includes a reflective surface configured to receive and redirect the light from the skin, and a receiver configured to receive the reflected beam. The light source is configured to increase a signal-to-noise ratio of the input beam reflected from the skin by increasing the light intensity from the LEDs and modulation of the LEDs. The measurement device is configured to generate an output signal representing a non-invasive measurement on blood contained within the skin. The wearable device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the smart phone or tablet which receives and processes the output signal.

Claims

1. A wearable device for use with a smart phone or tablet, the wearable device comprising:

a measurement device including a light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for measuring one or more physiological parameters, the measurement device configured to generate, by modulating at least one of the LEDs having an initial light intensity, an input optical beam having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

the measurement device comprising one or more lenses configured to receive and to deliver a portion of the input optical beam to tissue, wherein the tissue reflects at least a portion of the input optical beam delivered to the tissue;

the measurement device further comprising a reflective surface configured to receive and redirect at least a portion of light reflected from the tissue;

the measurement device further comprising a receiver configured to;

capture light while the LEDs are off and convert the captured light into a first signal and

capture light while at least one of the LEDs is on and convert the captured light into a second signal, the captured light including at least a portion of the input optical beam reflected from the tissue;

the measurement device configured to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the input optical beam reflected from the tissue by differencing the first signal and the second signal;

the light source configured to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the input optical beam reflected from the tissue by increasing the light intensity relative to the initial light intensity from at least one of the LEDs;

the measurement device further configured to generate an output signal representing at least in part a non-invasive measurement on blood contained within the tissue; and

the wearable device configured to communicate with the smart phone or tablet, the smart phone or tablet comprising a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a display, a voice input module, a speaker, and a touch screen, the smart phone or tablet configured to receive and to process at least a portion of the output signal, wherein the smart phone or tablet is configured to store and display the processed output signal, wherein at least a portion of the processed output signal is configured to be transmitted over a wireless transmission link.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to be synchronized to the modulation of the at least one of the LEDs.

3. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising a remote device configured to receive over the wireless transmission link an output status comprising the at least a portion of the processed output signal, to process the output status to generate processed data and to store the processed data, and wherein the remote device is capable of storing a history of at least a portion of the output status over a specified period of time, and

wherein the remote device is further configured to transmit at least a portion of the processed data to one or more other locations, wherein the one or more other locations is selected from the group consisting of the smart phone or tablet, a doctor, a healthcare provider, a cloud-based server and one or more designated recipients.

4. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is located a first distance from a first one of the LEDs and a different distance from a second one of the LEDs such that the receiver can capture a third signal from the first LED and a fourth signal from the second LED, and wherein the output signal is generated in part by comparing the third and fourth signals.

5. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the receiver further comprises one or more filters in front of one or more detectors to select a fraction of the one or more optical wavelengths.

6. A method of measuring physiological information, the method comprising providing a wearable device for use with a smart phone or tablet, the smart phone or tablet comprising a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a display, a voice input module, a speaker, and a touch screen, the wearable device being capable of performing all of the steps comprising:

generating an input optical beam having one or more optical wavelengths using a light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) by modulating at least one of the LEDs, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;

delivering a portion of the input optical beam to tissue using one or more lenses;

receiving and reflecting, by a reflective surface, at least a portion of the input optical beam reflected from the tissue;

capturing light while the LEDs are off and converting the light into a first signal;

capturing light while the at least one of the LEDs is on and converting the captured light into a second signal, the captured light including at least a portion of the input optical beam reflected from the tissue;

increasing a signal-to-noise ratio of the input optical beam reflected from the tissue and the reflective surface by increasing a light intensity from at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes and by differencing the light captured while the at least one LED is on and the light captured while the LEDs are off;

generating an output signal representing at least in part a non-invasive measurement on blood contained within the tissue; and

transmitting at least a portion of the output signal to the smart phone or tablet for processing to generate a processed output signal and for transmitting from the smart phone or tablet at least a portion of the processed output signal over a wireless transmission link.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiving a portion of the input optical beam is synchronized to the modulating of the at least one of the LEDs.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving at a remote device an output status comprising the at least a portion of the processed output signal transmitted over the wireless transmission link;

storing at the remote device a history of at least a portion of the output status over a period of time;

processing the output status at the remote device to generate processed data;

storing the processed data at the remote device; and

transmitting from the remote device at least a portion of the processed data to one or more other locations, wherein the one or more other locations is selected from the group consisting of the smart phone or tablet, a doctor, a healthcare provider, a cloud-based server and one or more designated recipients.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the input optical beam comprises a third signal and a fourth signal, the receiving further comprising receiving the third signal from a first one of the LEDs located at a first distance and receiving the fourth signal from a different one of the LEDs located at a distance different from the first distance.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiving further comprises filtering to select a fraction of the one or more optical wavelengths.