US5515847A — Self-emission noninvasive infrared spectrophotome…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 53 words

A noninvasive infrared spectrophotometer, comprising: means for determining infrared absorption of at least one predetermined constituent of a person's blood from infrared emissions generated and emitted by the person's body; and processing means for calculating a concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent from the infrared absorption determined by said determining means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 53 words

A noninvasive infrared spectrophotometer, comprising: means for determining infrared absorption of at least one predetermined constituent of a person's blood from infrared emissions generated and emitted by the person's body; and processing means for calculating a concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent from the infrared absorption determined by said determining means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 177 words

A noninvasive infrared spectrophotometer for determining a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising: means for detecting infrared energy generated and emitted by the person in a wavelength range including m different wavelengths of at least 2.0 μm, said infrared energy containing energy at each of said n wavelengths which is differently absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent whereby each predetermined constituent readily absorbs infrared energy at at least one of said m wavelengths and minimally absorbs infrared energy at another of said m wavelengths, said detecting means outputting at least one detection signal representative of infrared energy at said m wavelengths which has been emitted by said person and selectively absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent; synchronizing means for synchronizing the detection of said infrared energy emitted by the person with the systolic and diastolic phases of a cardiac cycle of the person; and means for determining the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent of the person's blood from said at least one detection signal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 177 words

A noninvasive infrared spectrophotometer for determining a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising: means for detecting infrared energy generated and emitted by the person in a wavelength range including m different wavelengths of at least 2.0 μm, said infrared energy containing energy at each of said n wavelengths which is differently absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent whereby each predetermined constituent readily absorbs infrared energy at at least one of said m wavelengths and minimally absorbs infrared energy at another of said m wavelengths, said detecting means outputting at least one detection signal representative of infrared energy at said m wavelengths which has been emitted by said person and selectively absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent; synchronizing means for synchronizing the detection of said infrared energy emitted by the person with the systolic and diastolic phases of a cardiac cycle of the person; and means for determining the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent of the person's blood from said at least one detection signal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 2, wherein said diastolic and systolic phases of the cardiac cycle of the person respectively contain diastolic and systolic time intervals, each time interval having a duration of approximately 0.1-10 msec, whereby infrared energy is detected by said detecting means during said diastolic and systolic time intervals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 2, wherein said at least one predetermined constituent includes glucose, said one wavelength is approximately 9.1 μm and said another wavelength is approximately 10.5 μm.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 74 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 4, further comprising an analytical filter wheel including first and second bandpass filters disposed thereon, said analytical filter wheel being disposed between an arterial blood vessel of the person and said at least one infrared detector, said first bandpass filter passing infrared light in a narrow passband centered at approximately 9.1 μm, and said second bandpass filter passing infrared light in a narrow passband centered at approximately 10.5 μm.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 81 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 4, further comprising a first bandpass filter disposed between an arterial blood vessel of the person and said at least one infrared detector, said first bandpass filter passing infrared light in a narrow passband centered at approximately 9.1 μm, and a second bandpass filter disposed between the arterial blood vessel of the person and said at least one infrared detector, said second bandpass filter passing infrared light in a narrow passband centered at approximately 10.5 μm.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 2, wherein said at least one predetermined constituent includes ethyl alcohol, said one wavelength is approximately 3.4 μm and said another wavelength is approximately 4.8 μm.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 74 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 7, further comprising an analytical filter wheel including first and second bandpass filters disposed thereon, said analytical filter wheel being disposed between an arterial blood vessel of the person and said at least one infrared detector, said first bandpass filter passing infrared light in a narrow passband centered at approximately 3.4 μm, and said second bandpass filter passing infrared light in a narrow passband centered at approximately 4.8 μm.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 81 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 7, further comprising a first bandpass filter disposed between an arterial blood vessel of the person and said at least one infrared detector, said first bandpass filter passing infrared light in a narrow passband centered at approximately 3.4 μm, and a second bandpass filter disposed between the arterial blood vessel of the person and said at least one infrared detector, said second bandpass filter passing infrared light in a narrow passband centered at approximately 4.8 μm.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 49 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 2, wherein said synchronizing means includes a cardiac monitor and a plethysmograph sensor connected to well perfused tissue of the person, said cardiac monitor detecting said systolic and diastolic phases of the cardiac cycle of the person from outputs provided by said plethysmograph sensor.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 68 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 10, wherein said plethysmograph sensor comprises a pulsed light emitting diode which directs light through said well perfused tissue of the person and a photodetector which detects the light which has passed through said well perfused tissue of the person, and said cardiac monitor comprises processing means for processing a detection output of said photodetector to determine a phase of said cardiac cycle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 71 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 2, wherein said concentration determining means forms a ratio R 1 =(Sys L1-Dias L1)/(Sys L2-Dias L2), where Sys L1 is a detected systolic phase signal at said one wavelength, Dias L1 is a detected diastolic phase signal at said one wavelength, Sys L2 is a detected systolic phase signal at said another wavelength, and Dias L2 is a detected diastolic phase signal at said another wavelength.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 84 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 12, wherein said concentration determining means calculates the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent (n) of the person's blood in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU2## where: C.C. n is the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent n; B, C x ,y and D z are empirically determined calibration coefficients; m is the number of detection and reference wavelengths used; p is the highest order of polynomial used; and Ln is a natural log function.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 83 words

A spectrophotometer as in claim 2, further comprising a chopper wheel which modulates said infrared energy emitted by the person to a frequency beyond baseband prior to detection by said detecting means, a preamplifier for amplifying said at least one detection signal output by said detecting means, a bandpass filter centered at said frequency beyond baseband which filters said at least one detection signal output by said detecting means, and a synchronous demodulator for demodulating said infrared energy from said frequency beyond baseband.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 81 words

A method of noninvasively measuring a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising the steps of: detecting infrared emissions generated and emitted by a person's body; determining infrared absorption of at least one predetermined constituent of a person's blood from said infrared emissions generated and emitted by the person's body and detected in said detecting step; and calculating the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent from the infrared absorption determined in said determining step.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 81 words

A method of noninvasively measuring a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising the steps of: detecting infrared emissions generated and emitted by a person's body; determining infrared absorption of at least one predetermined constituent of a person's blood from said infrared emissions generated and emitted by the person's body and detected in said detecting step; and calculating the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent from the infrared absorption determined in said determining step.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 170 words

A method of noninvasively measuring a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising the steps of: detecting infrared energy generated and emitted by the person in a wavelength range including m different wavelengths of at least 2.0 μm, said infrared energy containing energy at each of said n wavelengths which is differently absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent whereby each predetermined constituent readily absorbs infrared energy at at least one of said m wavelengths and minimally absorbs infrared energy at another of said m wavelengths, and outputting at least one detection signal representative of infrared energy at said m wavelengths which has been emitted by said person and selectively absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent; synchronizing the detection of said infrared energy emitted by the person with the systolic and diastolic phases of a cardiac cycle of the person; and determining the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent of the person's blood from said at least one detection signal.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 170 words

A method of noninvasively measuring a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising the steps of: detecting infrared energy generated and emitted by the person in a wavelength range including m different wavelengths of at least 2.0 μm, said infrared energy containing energy at each of said n wavelengths which is differently absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent whereby each predetermined constituent readily absorbs infrared energy at at least one of said m wavelengths and minimally absorbs infrared energy at another of said m wavelengths, and outputting at least one detection signal representative of infrared energy at said m wavelengths which has been emitted by said person and selectively absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent; synchronizing the detection of said infrared energy emitted by the person with the systolic and diastolic phases of a cardiac cycle of the person; and determining the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent of the person's blood from said at least one detection signal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method as in claim 16, wherein said diastolic and systolic phases of the cardiac cycle of the person respectively contain diastolic and systolic time intervals, said synchronizing step including the step of determining said diastolic and systolic time intervals, whereby said detecting step is performed during said systolic and diastolic time intervals.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 73 words

A method as in claim 16, wherein said concentration determining step includes the step of forming a ratio R=(Sys L1-Dias L1)/(Sys L2-Dias L2), where Sys L1 is a detected systolic phase signal at said one wavelength, Dias L1 is a detected diastolic phase signal at said one wavelength, Sys L2 is a detected systolic phase signal at said another wavelength, and Dias L2 is a detected diastolic phase signal at said another wavelength.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 88 words

A method as in claim 18, wherein said concentration determining step includes the step of calculating the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent (n) of the person's blood in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU3## where: C.C. n is the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent n; B, C x ,y and D z are empirically determined calibration coefficients; m is the number of detection and reference wavelengths used; p is the highest order of polynomial used; and Ln is a natural log function.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 42 words

A method as in claim 16, comprising the further steps of applying a pressure cuff to an appendage of the person and inflating said pressure cuff to a predetermined pressure in synchrony with the detection of infrared energy in said detecting step.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 149 words

A noninvasive infrared spectrophotometer for determining a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising: means for detecting infrared energy generated and emitted by the person in a wavelength range including n different wavelengths of at least 2.0 μm, said infrared energy containing energy at each of said wavelengths which is differently absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent whereby each predetermined constituent readily absorbs infrared energy at at least one of said n wavelengths and minimally absorbs infrared energy at another of said n wavelengths, said detecting means outputting at least one detection signal representative of infrared energy at said n wavelengths which has been emitted by said person and selectively absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent; and means for determining the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent of the person's blood from said at least one detection signal.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 149 words

A noninvasive infrared spectrophotometer for determining a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising: means for detecting infrared energy generated and emitted by the person in a wavelength range including n different wavelengths of at least 2.0 μm, said infrared energy containing energy at each of said wavelengths which is differently absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent whereby each predetermined constituent readily absorbs infrared energy at at least one of said n wavelengths and minimally absorbs infrared energy at another of said n wavelengths, said detecting means outputting at least one detection signal representative of infrared energy at said n wavelengths which has been emitted by said person and selectively absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent; and means for determining the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent of the person's blood from said at least one detection signal.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 146 words

A method of noninvasively measuring a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising the steps of: detecting infrared energy generated and emitted by the person in a wavelength range including n different wavelengths of at least 2.0 μm, said infrared energy containing energy at each of said n wavelengths which is differently absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent whereby each predetermined constituent readily absorbs infrared energy at at least one of said n wavelengths and minimally absorbs infrared energy at another of said n wavelengths, and outputting at least one detection signal representative of infrared energy at said n wavelengths which has been emitted by said person and selectively absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent; and determining the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent of the person's blood from said at least one detection signal.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 146 words

A method of noninvasively measuring a concentration of at least one predetermined constituent in a person's blood, comprising the steps of: detecting infrared energy generated and emitted by the person in a wavelength range including n different wavelengths of at least 2.0 μm, said infrared energy containing energy at each of said n wavelengths which is differently absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent whereby each predetermined constituent readily absorbs infrared energy at at least one of said n wavelengths and minimally absorbs infrared energy at another of said n wavelengths, and outputting at least one detection signal representative of infrared energy at said n wavelengths which has been emitted by said person and selectively absorbed by said at least one predetermined constituent; and determining the concentration of said at least one predetermined constituent of the person's blood from said at least one detection signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-05-14	1999-11-13	2000-05-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-05-14	2003-11-13	2004-05-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-05-14	2007-11-13	2008-05-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Self-emission noninvasive infrared spectrophotometer

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