Tunable hybrid III-V/IV laser sensor system-on-a chip for real-time monitoring of a blood constituent concentration level

US11696707B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Brolis Sensor Technology, UAB et al. · LT

Inventors

• Augustinas Vizbaras · Vilnius, LT
• Kristijonas Vizbaras · Vilnius, LT
• Ieva Simonyte · Vilnius, LT
• Günther Roelkens · Melle, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 15, 2022
• Grant date: Jul 11, 2023
• Expiry date: Aug 15, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/4087
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A spectroscopic laser sensor based on hybrid III-V/IV system-on-a-chip technology. The laser sensor is configured to either (i) be used with a fiber-optic probe connected to an intravenous/intra-arterial optical catheter for direct invasive blood analyte concentration level measurement or (ii) be used to measure blood analyte concentration level non-invasively through an optical interface attached, e.g., to the skin or fingernail bed of a human. The sensor includes a III-V gain-chip, e.g., an AlGaInAsSb/GaSb based gain-chip, and a photonic integrated circuit, with laser wavelength filtering, laser wavelength tuning, laser wavelength monitoring, laser signal monitoring and signal output sections realized on a chip by combining IV-based semiconductor substrates and flip-chip AlGa1-nAsSb/GaSb based photodetectors and embedded electronics for signal processing. Embodiments of the invention may be applied for real-time monitoring of critical blood analyte concentration levels such as lactates, urea, glucose, ammonia, albumin, etc.