Patent · US Expired

Light probe for a near-infrared body chemistry measurement instrument

US6134458A · kind A · utility

53Cited by
7References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 1998
Grant dateOct 17, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 15, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/0059
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A light probe method and apparatus is provided for an infrared body chemistry measurement instrument. The light probe includes an illumination ring of a light-conducting material, having facets on an exterior circumferential surface, and an inner circumferential surface at about a forty-five degree angle, infrared light emitting devices positioned at each facet, a coaxially located optical detector, a shielding ring coaxially located between the optical detector and the illumination ring, and a cover having a central opening which exposes the optical detector, the shielding ring, and the illumination ring, wherein a length dimension of the light probe is less than a diameter dimension. The method includes radially illuminating an illumination ring with infrared light, redirecting the infrared light to an axial direction perpendicular to the radially inward direction, conducting the infrared light through the illumination ring and into a body part under test, and receiving reflected and scattered light in an optical detector concentric with the illumination ring.

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