Compact apparatus for noninvasive measurement of glucose through near-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

The invention involves the monitoring of a biological parameter through a compact analyzer. The preferred apparatus is a spectrometer based system that is attached continuously or semi-continuously to a human subject and collects spectral measurements that are used to determine a biological parameter in the sampled tissue. The preferred target analyte is glucose. The preferred analyzer is a near-IR based glucose analyzer for determining the glucose concentration in the body.

1 . An apparatus for noninvasive measurement of an analyte property using spectroscopy, comprising: 
 a sample module; that is positioned proximate to a sample site during collection of a sample spectrum;    a base module, physically separated from said sample module, said base module and said sample module each comprising a wireless communication system for communication there between; and    a source located in said sample module;    said base module comprising means for any of generating said analyte property using said spectrum and recording said analyte property generated from said sample spectrum.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said wireless communication system comprising a two-way wireless communication system.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said base module is worn by a person.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , said base module comprising a remote display and receiving unit.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , said base module comprising a data processing system.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sample module comprising a data collection system.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , said sample module further comprising: 
 an optic that is positioned in close proximity to said sample site to reduce specular reflectance.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , said sample module further comprising: 
 a detector array.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a first optic located in an optical train after said source to remove photonic heat from said optical train; and    a second optic located in said optical train after said first optic and before a sample site.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said first optic and said second optic removes source light otherwise detected by said detector as second order light from said grating.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said detector array is optically coupled to a wavelength separation device.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said analyte property comprising: 
 glucose concentration.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , said analyzer either continuously or semi-continuously monitoring said glucose concentration.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 means for enhancing equilibration in glucose concentration between said sample site and finger blood glucose concentration.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 means for bias correcting at least one of spectra (X) and glucose concentration data (Y).    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sample module either continuously or semi-continuously samples said sample site in an automated fashion, wherein time between sampling comprises any of about: 
 seconds;    one minute;    five minutes;    ten minutes;    twenty minutes;    a half hour; and    one hour.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said source comprising an incandescent lamp.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said source comprising at least one light emitting diode.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for automated delivery of a coupling fluid to said sample site prior to sampling.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for optically detecting proximate contact of said sample module with said sample site.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for performing an indirect determination of said analyte property using said sample spectrum.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for measuring a reference spectrum and a wavelength standardization spectrum through spectroscopic measurement of a minimally absorbing substance and a material with known and immutable spectral absorbance bands.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said base module further comprising: 
 means for calibrating to an individual or a group of individuals based upon a calibration data set comprised of paired data points of processed spectral measurements and reference biological parameter values.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sample module is replaceably attached to a docking station: 
 wherein said docking station comprises a computer and an analyte property management center; and    wherein said analyte property management center keeps track of events occurring over time.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for taking any of continuous and semi-continuous measurements when said sample module is in proximate contact with said sample site.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sample module is supported by said sample site during collection of said sample spectrum.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said spectroscopy comprising near-infrared spectroscopy.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sample module further comprising: 
 a Fabry-Perot interferometer.    
     
     
         29 . A method for noninvasive measurement of an analyte property using near-infrared spectroscopy, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an analyzer for collecting a near-infrared spectrum of a human tissue sample site; and    estimating said analyte property through application of a multivariate calibration model on said spectrum;    wherein the step of providing said analyzer comprises the steps of:    providing a base module and a sample module that is positioned proximate a sample site during collection of a sample spectrum, and:    that is physically separated from said base module, said base module and said sample module each comprise a wireless communication system for communication there between; and    providing a source located in said sample module;    said base module either of generating said analyte property using said spectrum and recording said analyte property generated from said sample spectrum.