Patent · US Expired

Non-invasive infrared absorption spectrometer for measuring glucose or other constituents in a human or other body

US6025597A · kind A · utility

101Cited by
38References
67Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 23, 1997
Grant dateFeb 15, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 23, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/35
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A noninvasive infrared spectrometer which includes an infrared detector system for measuring the intensity, wavelength, and time varying nature of infrared energy emanating from deep layers within a body. Before detection, the energy emanating from deep within the body passes through layers of that body in the presence of a natural or induced thermal gradient. The measured infrared energy is processed into an absorption spectra and then into a concentration of at least one constituent of the body which concentration may be strongly dependent on the depth into the body. In one embodiment the temperature gradient is induced by chilling the surface of the body to provide a clearer indication of the infrared absorption levels of the deeper constituents. Other embodiments describe the sequential or simultaneous heating and cooling of the heterogenous body to induce and capture the transient infrared absorption spectral information.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.