Method and apparatus for monitoring blood constituent levels in biological tissue
US8204566B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/441
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In accordance with the invention, a low coherence interferometer is used to non-invasively monitor the concentration of glucose in blood by shining a light over a surface area of human or animal tissue, continuously scanning the light over a two dimensional area of the surface, collecting the reflected light from within the tissue and constructively interfering this reflected light with light reflected along a reference path to scan the tissue in depth. Since the reflection spectrum is sensitive to glucose concentration at particular wavelengths, measurement and analysis of the reflected light provides a measure of the level of glucose in the blood. The measurement of glucose is taken from multiple depths within blood-profused tissue, and sensitivity is preferably enhanced by the use of multiple wavelengths. Noise or speckle associated with this technique is minimized by continuously scanning the illuminated tissue in area and depth.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.