Abstract: A probe for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The probe may include a capacitive measuring apparatus that includes at least two coplanar electrodes, an adjustment device to adjust a spatial separation between the electrodes, and a separation device. The separation device may maintain a substantially constant distance between the at least two coplanar electrodes and the test object during test measurements.

Abstract: A probe for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The probe may include a capacitive measuring apparatus that includes at least two coplanar electrodes, an adjustment device to adjust a spatial separation between the electrodes, and a separation device. The separation device may maintain a substantially constant distance between the at least two coplanar electrodes and the test object during test measurements.

Abstract: A probe for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The probe may include a capacitive measuring apparatus that includes at least two coplanar electrodes, an adjustment device to adjust a spatial separation between the electrodes, and a separation device. The separation device may maintain a substantially constant distance between the at least two coplanar electrodes and the test object during test measurements.

Abstract: A method for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The method uses a database with predetermined reference values and a probe that comprises a capacitive measuring apparatus with at least two coplanar electrodes. The method includes the operations of placing the at least two coplanar electrodes into a first position that is at a predetermined distance from the test object, performing a capacitive measurement to determine an effective dielectric constant, retrieving a reference value of the predetermined reference values from the database based on the test object and the predetermined distance, and detecting imperfections in the test object based on a comparison of the effective dielectric constant with the reference value.

Abstract: A probe for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The probe may include a capacitive measuring apparatus that includes at least two coplanar electrodes, an adjustment device to adjust a spatial separation between the electrodes, and a separation device. The separation device may maintain a substantially constant distance between the at least two coplanar electrodes and the test object during test measurements.

Abstract: A method for non-intrusively detecting imperfections in a test object made from metallic, non-conductive, and/or composite materials. The method uses a database with predetermined reference values and a probe that comprises a capacitive measuring apparatus with at least two coplanar electrodes. The method includes the operations of placing the at least two coplanar electrodes into a first position that is at a predetermined distance from the test object, performing a capacitive measurement to determine an effective dielectric constant, retrieving a reference value of the predetermined reference values from the database based on the test object and the predetermined distance, and detecting imperfections in the test object based on a comparison of the effective dielectric constant with the reference value.

Abstract: A heart monitor for use as a non-invasive screening tool for identifying potential atrial fibrillation in patients comprises a sensor for producing an output waveform of the patient's actual sinus rhythm, a processing unit arranged to store the normalized waveform of an ideal sinus rhythm and to compare the actual and ideal sinus rhythm waveforms and to produce an output dependant on the difference on a display. The value of the output is indicative of whether the patient is atrial fibrillation or other cardiac arrhythmia.

Abstract: An optical assembly and method for the non-invasive determination of a concentration of an analyte in a tissue sample is disclosed. The assembly comprises an optical arrangement comprising a first optical interface for reflecting light incident thereon and a second optical interface for reflecting light incident thereon. The second interface comprises an interface between an optical element of the arrangement and the tissue sample under investigation. The light reflected from the first and second interfaces is arranged to combine to generate an interference pattern characteristic of a difference in phase between light reflected from the first interface with the light reflected from the second interface.

Abstract: An optical assembly and method for the non-invasive determination of a concentration of an analyte in a tissue sample is disclosed. The assembly comprises an optical arrangement comprising a first optical interface for reflecting light incident thereon and a second optical interface for reflecting light incident thereon. The second interface comprises an interface between an optical element of the arrangement and the tissue sample under investigation. The light reflected from the first and second interfaces is arranged to combine to generate an interference pattern characteristic of a difference in phase between light reflected from the first interface with the light reflected from the second interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of at least one analyte in the blood of a patient, which includes a light source generating broadband light and a light-transmission arrangement having a plurality of transmitting fibers is positioned for simultaneously transmitting multiple wavelengths of the broadband light from the light source to the blood of the patient. The measurement apparatus further includes an optical fiber arrangement having a plurality of light detector fibers for leading multi-wavelength light, in spectrally unseparated form, transmitted through, or reflected from, the blood and a light detection arrangement for receiving the multi-wavelength light in its spectrally unseparated form from the optical fiber arrangement, for spectrally decomposing the received light, and for determining amplitudes of selected wavelengths of the decomposed light.

Abstract: A heart monitor for use as a non-invasive screening tool for identifying potential atrial fibrillation in patients comprises a sensor for producing an output waveform of the patient's actual sinus rhythm, a processing unit arranged to store the normalised waveform of an ideal sinus rhythm and to compare the actual and ideal sinus rhythm waveforms and to produce an output dependant on the difference on a display. The value of the output is indicative of whether the patient is atrial fibrillation or other cardiac arrhythmia.

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of at least one analyte in the blood of a patient, which includes a light source generating broadband light and a light-transmission arrangement having a plurality of transmitting fibers is positioned for simultaneously transmitting multiple wavelengths of the broadband light from the light source to the blood of the patient. The measurement apparatus further includes an optical fiber arrangement having a plurality of light detector fibers for leading multi-wavelength light, in spectrally unseparated form, transmitted through, or reflected from, the blood and a light detection arrangement for receiving the multi-wavelength light in its spectrally unseparated form from the optical fiber arrangement, for spectrally decomposing the received light, and for determining amplitudes of selected wavelengths of the decomposed light.

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of at least one analyte in the blood of a patient, which includes a light source generating broadband light and a light-transmission arrangement having a plurality of transmitting fibers is positioned for simultaneously transmitting multiple wavelengths of the broadband light from the light source to the blood of the patient. The measurement apparatus further includes an optical fiber arrangement having a plurality of light detector fibers for leading multi-wavelength light, in spectrally unseparated form, transmitted through, or reflected from, the blood and a light detection arrangement for receiving the multi-wavelength light in its spectrally unseparated form from the optical fiber arrangement, for spectrally decomposing the received light, and for determining amplitudes of selected wavelengths of the decomposed light.

Abstract: Oxygenation of a subject's blood is determined by sensing an absorption spectrum of light directed either invasively or non-invasively into the blood, and then calculating an oxygenation value by evaluating a cost function of the remitted spectrum relative to at least two pre-determined reference absorption spectra representing different, known levels of blood oxygenation. The source of light preferably uses stable, long-life, white LEDs, in which case white-balancing of the remitted spectrum can be accomplished by pre-determining and storing the spectrum of the LEDs, one time for all, and then adjusting the remitted spectrum accordingly to compensate for deviations of the LED spectrum from the constant ideal.

Abstract: Oxygenation of a subject's blood is determined by sensing an absorption spectrum of light directed either invasively or non-invasively into the blood, and then calculating an oxygenation value by evaluating a cost function of the remitted spectrum relative to at least two pre-determined reference absorption spectra representing different, known levels of blood oxygenation. The source of light preferably uses stable, long-life, white LEDs, in which case white-balancing of the remitted spectrum can be accomplished by predetermining and storing the spectrum of the LEDs, one time for all, and then adjusting the remitted spectrum accordingly to compensate for deviations of the LED spectrum from the constant ideal.

Abstract: A method for monitoring blood oxygen saturation (SO2) includes the steps of calculating an estimate of SO2 in the blood and correcting the estimate by a scaling factor. A preferred embodiment of the method includes the steps of transmitting light containing a plurality of wavelengths into the blood; measuring a remitted spectrum over the plurality of wavelengths; calculating a measured blood absorption spectrum from the remitted spectrum; estimating local rates of change in the measured blood absorption spectrum at a plurality of the wavelengths; and calculating the estimate of SO2 as a function of absolute values of the local rates of change of the measured blood absorption spectrum.

Abstract: A method for monitoring oxygenation of blood includes the steps of transmitting light containing a plurality of wavelengths into blood and measuring a remitted spectrum over the plurality of-wavelengths. A measured blood absorption spectrum is then calculated from the remitted spectrum and local rates of change in the measured blood absorption spectrum are estimated at a plurality of the wavelengths, including at least one isobestic wavelength. An estimate of blood oxygen saturation (SO2) is calculated as a function of absolute values of the local rates of change of the measured blood absorption spectrum.

Abstract: There is described a device for the non-invasive measurement of one or more analytes in blood in a patient's body part which comprises a light transmitter comprising a plurality of transmitting fibres positioned to transmit light to the body part and a light detector comprising a plurality of light detector fibres position to detect light transmitted through or reflected from the body part. The device especially utilises the non-pulsatile element of a patient's blood. There is also described a method of measuring blood glucose levels and a device programmed so as to calculate one or more of the haemoglobin index, the oxygen index and the blood oxygen saturation.

Abstract: A method for monitoring oxygenation of blood includes the steps of transmitting light containing a plurality of wavelengths into blood and measuring a remitted spectrum over the plurality of-wavelengths. A measured blood absorption spectrum is then calculated from the remitted spectrum and local rates of change in the measured blood absorption spectrum are estimated at a plurality of the wavelengths, including at least one isobestic wavelength. An estimate of blood oxygen saturation (SO2) is calculated as a function of absolute values of the local rates of change of the measured blood absorption spectrum.

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of at least one analyte in the blood of a patient, which includes a light source generating broadband light and a light-transmission arrangement having a plurality of transmitting fibers is positioned for simultaneously transmitting multiple wavelengths of the broadband light from the light source to the blood of the patient. The measurement apparatus further includes an optical fiber arrangement having a plurality of light detector fibers for leading multi-wavelength light, in spectrally unseparated form, transmitted through, or reflected from, the blood and a light detection arrangement for receiving the multi-wavelength light in its spectrally unseparated form from the optical fiber arrangement, for spectrally decomposing the received light, and for determining amplitudes of selected wavelengths of the decomposed light.