Abstract: Spectroscopic system and spectrometers including an optical bandpass filter unit having a plurality of bandpass regions and a spatial encoding unit for encoding discrete frequencies of light passing through the optical filter. The incorporation of the encoding unit allows the spectrometer system to use a detector having one or a small number of elements, rather than using a more expensive detector array typically used with filter-based spectrometers. The system can also include an integrating chamber that collects the light that is not transmitted through the bandpass filter unit, and redirects this light to strike the filter unit again, resulting in a significant increase in the optical power passing through the filter. The integrating chamber maximizes the return of the reflected light to the filter assembly and minimizes optical losses. The integrating chamber may be an orthogonal design to preserve the optical geometric characteristics of the light entering the chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing and/or maintaining the prediction capability over time of a multivariate calibration model designed for quantitative optical spectroscopic measurement of attributes or analytes in bodily tissues, bodily fluids or other biological samples, which are particularly useful when the spectral absorbance of the attribute or analyte is small relative to the background. The present invention provides an optically similar reference sample to capture the characteristics of instrument and environmental variation and to reduce the effect of such variation on the measurement capability of the model. The optically similar reference is preferably stable over time and is designed such that its optical properties are sufficiently matched to the sample of interest that instrument and environmental variations are captured in the same manner in both the test sample of interest and the optically similar reference sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively measuring the concentration of an analyte, particularly blood analyte in blood. The method utilizes spectrographic techniques in conjunction with means for equilibrating the concentration of the analyte between the vascular system fluid compartment of the test area and the other tissue fluid compartment. An improved optical interface between a sensor probe and a skin surface or tissue surface of the body containing the blood to be analyzed. Multiple readings during the equilibration period are taken and utilized to show the direction and rate of charge of concentration of the analyte in the blood which is useful in optimizing therapeutic response to the collected data.

Abstract: An interferometer spectrometer that has reduced alignment sensitivity is described herein. Parallelism of an output ray pair formed by a single input ray is not affected by variations in relative alignment of the components. In comparison to other compensated interferometer designs, lateral separation errors in the output ray pair due to optical component misalignment are reduced. The reduced alignment sensitivity may be accomplished by utilizing simple planar components that are common to both light paths. The reduced alignment sensitivity and simplicity in design provides a more compact and more robust interferometer, with reduced manufacturing costs associated therewith. An elliptical field of view light source that utilizes an array of collimator lenses is also described. The light source provides a more compact design than a single circular collimator lens of the same area, and is suitable for single channel or multi-channel use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-invasive measurement of glucose in human tissue by quantitative infrared spectroscopy to clinically relevant levels of precision and accuracy. The system includes six subsystems optimized to contend with the complexities of the tissue spectrum, high signal-to-noise ratio and photometric accuracy requirements, tissue sampling errors, calibration maintenance problems, and calibration transfer problems. The six subsystems include an illumination subsystem, a tissue sampling subsystem, a calibration maintenance subsystem, an FTIR spectrometer subsystem, a data acquisition subsystem, and a computing subsystem.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively measuring a biological attribute, such as the concentration of an analyte, particularly a blood analyte in tissue such as glucose. The method utilizes spectrographic techniques in conjunction with an improved subject-tailored calibration model. In a calibration phase, calibration model data is modified to reduce or eliminate subject-specific attributes, resulting in a calibration data set modeling within- subject physiological variation, sample location, insertion variations, and instrument variation. In a prediction phase, the prediction process is tailored for each target subject separately using a minimal number of spectral measurements from each subject.

Abstract: An interferometer spectrometer that has reduced alignment sensitivity is described herein. Parallelism of an output ray pair formed by a single input ray is not affected by variations in relative alignment of the components. In comparison to other compensated interferometer designs, lateral separation errors in the output ray pair due to optical component misalignment are reduced. The reduced alignment sensitivity may be accomplished by utilizing simple planar components that are common to both light paths. The reduced alignment sensitivity and simplicity in design provides a more compact and more robust interferometer, with reduced manufacturing costs associated therewith. An elliptical field of view light source that utilizes an array of collimator lenses is also described. The light source provides a more compact design than a single circular collimator lens of the same area, and is suitable for single channel or multi-channel use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing biometric determinations using optical spectroscopy of tissue. The biometric determinations that are disclosed include determination or verifications of identity, estimation of age, estimation of sex, determination of sample liveness and sample authenticity. The apparatuses disclosed are based upon discrete light sources such as light emitting diodes, laser diodes, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and broadband sources with multiple narrow-band optical filters. The multiple light sources are encoded in a manner that the tissue response for each source can be efficiently measured. The light sources are spaced at multiple distances from a detector to contribute differing information to the biometric determination task as do light sources with different wavelength characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a biological attribute, such as the concentration of an analyte, particularly a blood analyte in tissue such as glucose. The method utilizes spectrographic techniques in conjunction with an improved instrument-tailored calibration model. In a calibration phase, calibration model data is modified to reduce or eliminate instrument-specific attributes, resulting in a calibration data set modeling intra-instrument variation. In a prediction phase, the prediction process is tailored for each target instrument separately using a minimal number of spectral measurements from each instrument.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively measuring the concentration of an analyte, particularly blood analyte in blood. The method utilizes spectrographic techniques in conjunction with means for equilibrating the concentration of the analyte between the vascular system fluid compartment of the test area and the other tissue fluid compartment. An improved optical interface between a sensor probe and a skin surface or tissue surface of the body containing the blood to be analyzed. Multiple readings during the equilibration period are taken and utilized to show the direction and rate of charge of concentration of the analyte in the blood which is useful in optimizing therapeutic response to the collected data.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. A specular control device is provided that can discriminate between diffusely reflected light that is reflected from selected depths or layers within the tissue. The specular control device permits a spectroscopic analyzer to receive the diffusely reflected light that is reflected from, for example, a first layer or depth within the tissue, while preventing the remaining diffusely reflected light from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer. Furthermore, the specular control device may prevent the specularly reflected light (e.g. surface reflected light) from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for non-invasive tissue urea concentrations during or subsequent to hemodialysis using near-infrared spectroscopy are discussed. Near-infrared tissue spectra can be obtained by projecting near-infrared radiation into skin on the underside of human forearms and capturing the light reflected back and out through the tissue. An index matching medium is used to couple the tissue to the analyzer. The tissue spectrum collected preferably includes primarily diffuse reflected light reflected from the inner dermis. Multiple tissue spectra of known urea concentration are used to build a model from which the urea concentration of an unknown sample can be devised. The model is based on a partial least squares algorithm applied to multiple tissue scans and concomitant blood sample urea measurements. This model is then applied to an unknown tissue spectra.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively measuring the concentration of an analyte, particularly blood analyte in blood. The method utilizes spectrographic techniques in conjunction with equilibrating the concentration of the analyte between the vascular system fluid compartment of the test area and the other tissue fluid compartment. An improved optical interface between a sensor probe and a skin surface or tissue surface of the body containing the blood to be analyzed. Multiple readings during the equilibration period are taken and utilized to show the direction and rate of charge of concentration of the analyte in the blood which is useful in optimizing therapeutic response to the collected data.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. A specular control device is provided that can discriminate between diffusely reflected light that is reflected from selected depths or layers within the tissue. The specular control device permits a spectroscopic analyzer to receive the diffusely reflected light that is reflected from, for example, a first layer or depth within the tissue, while preventing the remaining diffusely reflected light from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer. Furthermore, the specular control device may prevent the specularly reflected light (e.g. surface reflected light) from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for non-invasive tissue urea concentrations during or subsequent to hemodialysis using near-infrared spectroscopy are discussed. Near-infrared tissue spectra can be obtained by projecting near-infrared radiation into skin on the underside of human forearms and capturing the light reflected back and out through the tissue. An index matching medium is used to couple the tissue to the analyzer. The tissue spectrum collected preferably includes primarily diffuse reflected light reflected from the inner dermis. Multiple tissue spectra of known urea concentration are used to build a model from which the urea concentration of an unknown sample can be devised. The model is based on a partial least squares algorithm applied to multiple tissue scans and concomitant blood sample urea measurements. This model is then applied to an unknown tissue spectra.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively measuring a biological attribute, such as the concentration of an analyte, particularly a blood analyte in tissue such as glucose. The method utilizes spectrographic techniques in conjunction with an improved subject-tailored calibration model. In a calibration phase, calibration model data is modified to reduce or eliminate subject-specific attributes, resulting in a calibration data set modeling within--subject physiological variation, sample location, insertion variations, and instrument variation. In a prediction phase, the prediction process is tailored for each target subject separately using a minimal number of spectral measurements from each subject.

Abstract: A method for non-invasively measuring the concentration of an analyte, particularly blood analyte in blood. The method utilizes spectrographic techniques in conjunction with an improved optical interface between a sensor probe and a skin surface or tissue surface of the body containing the blood to be analyzed. An index-matching medium is disclosed to improve the interface between the sensor probe and skin surface during spectrographic analysis. In a preferred embodiment, the blood analyte concentration in blood is quantified utilizing a partial squares analysis relative to a model incorporating analysis of plural known blood samples.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for, preferably, determining noninvasively and in vivo pH in a human. The non-invasive method includes the steps of: generating light at three or more different wavelengths in the range of 1000 nm to 2500 nm; irradiating blood containing tissue; measuring the intensities of the wavelengths emerging from the blood containing tissue to obtain a set of at least three spectral intensities v. wavelengths; and determining the unknown values of pH. The determination of pH is made by using measured intensities at wavelengths that exhibit change in absorbance due to histidine titration. Histidine absorbance changes are due to titration by hydrogen ions. The determination of the unknown pH values is performed by at least one multivariate algorithm using two or more variables and at least one calibration model. The determined pH values are within the physiological ranges observed in blood containing tissue.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. A specular control device is provided that can discriminate between diffusely reflected light that is reflected from selected depths or layers within the tissue. The specular control device permits a spectroscopic analyzer to receive the diffusely reflected light that is reflected from, for example, a first layer or depth within the tissue, while preventing the remaining diffusely reflected light from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer. Furthermore, the specular control device may prevent the specularly reflected light (e.g. surface reflected light) from reaching the spectroscopic analyzer.

Abstract: A method for non-invasively measuring the concentration of an analyte, particularly blood analyte in blood. The method utilizes spectrographic techniques in conjunction with an improved optical interface between a sensor probe and a skin surface or tissue surface of the body containing the blood to be analyzed. An index-matching medium is disclosed to improve the interface between the sensor probe and skin surface during spectrographic analysis. In a preferred embodiment, the blood analyte concentration in blood is quantified utilizing a partial squares analysis relative to a model incorporating analysis of plural known blood samples.