US5779631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spectrophotometer for measuring the metabolic condition of a subject
Assignee: Non Invasive Technology Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1998-07-14
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract One preferred embodiment utilizes differential measurement of radiation that migrated in two migration paths between two source (100) detector (110) pairs placed on the head in a manner that each path is localized in a portion of one hemisphere. The present invention also provides in various embodiments of spectrophotometer systems for in vivo examination of a tissue of a human by measuring changes in electromagnetic radiation scattered and absorbed in a migration path in the tissue. Generally, the spectrophotometer systems comprise a light source for introducing the radiation into the tissue, a detector for detecting radiation that has migrated in the tissue, processing means for processing signals of the detected radiation to create processed data, and evaluation means for determining physiological or pathophysiological changes in the tissue of interest. The present invention also provides for determining the metabolic condition of an aerobically stressed portion of tissue such as the muscle tissue of an exercising person.
Inventors
- 👤 Britton Chance
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/145; A61B5/14546; A61B5/14532; A61B5/1455; A61B5/14551; A61B5/14552; A61B5/14553; A61B5/1459; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6828; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6853; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; A61B2503/00; A61B2503/06; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/0233; A61B2562/0242; A61B5/6824; A61B5/72; A61B5/7235; A61B5/7253; A61B5/7257
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A spectrophotometer for measuring a condition of a biological tissue of a subject, comprising: a body-conformable support constructed to be mounted on the skin of the subject; a light source optically connected to an input port located in said support; a light detector optically connected to a detection port included in said support in a laterally spaced-apart arrangement from said input port establishing photon lateral-scatter paths through the tissue of interest; an adjustable mechanism constructed to vary the spacing between said input port and said detection port by moving one of said ports relative to said support, the spacing between said ports being several centimeters and being adapted to extend along a surface of the examined tissue, said spacing determining the depth of penetration of the introduced light migrating over lateral scatter-paths in said tissue; an opaque barrier included in said body-conformable support and exposed for contact with the skin, said barrier influencing the lateral scatter paths by preventing substantially detection of light migrating laterally in subcutaneous layers; and a processor, including circuitry receiving a wavelength specific detection signal from said detector, constructed and arranged to determine a condition of the examined tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A spectrophotometer for measuring a condition of a biological tissue of a subject, comprising: a body-conformable support constructed to be mounted on the skin of the subject; a light source optically connected to an input port located in said support; a light detector optically connected to a detection port included in said support in a laterally spaced-apart arrangement from said input port establishing photon lateral-scatter paths through the tissue of interest; an adjustable mechanism constructed to vary the spacing between said input port and said detection port by moving one of said ports relative to said support, the spacing between said ports being several centimeters and being adapted to extend along a surface of the examined tissue, said spacing determining the depth of penetration of the introduced light migrating over lateral scatter-paths in said tissue; an opaque barrier included in said body-conformable support and exposed for contact with the skin, said barrier influencing the lateral scatter paths by preventing substantially detection of light migrating laterally in subcutaneous layers; and a processor, including circuitry receiving a wavelength specific detection signal from said detector, constructed and arranged to determine a condition of the examined tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 1 further comprising a second light source optically connected to said input port included in said support, said first light source constructed to introduce into the tissue radiation of a first selected wavelength and said second light source constructed to introduce into the tissue radiation of a second selected wavelength.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 1 further comprising a second light source optically connected to second input port included in said support, said first and second light source constructed to introduce into the tissue radiation of a selected wavelength.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 2 or 3 further comprising electronic control circuitry, operatively connected to said light sources and said detector, constructed to flash alternately said sources at a selected frequency and trigger said detector to collect light emitted by each said source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said source emits a wavelength sensitive to an exogenous pigment or an endogenous pigment present in the examined tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 5 wherein said endogenous pigment is hemoglobin and said condition is oxygenation of hemoglobin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said source is constructed to emit visible or NIR radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 1 further comprising a second light detector connected to a second detection port included in said support; said light source emitting broad spectrum light and said first and second light detectors detecting wavelength specific radiation, emitted from said source, which migrated over said lateral-scatter paths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 8 including electronic control circuitry, operatively connected to said light sources and said detectors, constructed to flash said light sources at selected intervals and activate detection at said intervals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 9 wherein said intervals are unrelated to a frequency of heart beats of the subject.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 1, 3 or 8 wherein said light source and said light detector elements are located in an arrangement establishing, for each wavelength, at least two adjacent, substantially symmetric photon lateral-scatter paths through the targeted tissue.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 1 wherein said processor includes analog circuitry that processes said signal in an analog form.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 1 wherein said processor includes digital circuitry that processes said signal in a digital form.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The spectrophotometer of claim 1 switchably connected to a phase modulation spectrophotometer employed to calibrate data determined by said processor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-13 | 2002-01-12 | 2002-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-13 | 2006-01-12 | 2006-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-13 | 2010-01-12 | 2010-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |