Apparatus and Method for Pattern Delivery of Radiation and Biological Characteristic Analysis

Abstract

The present invention uses a high signal to noise ratio method and apparatus to analyze a characteristic of a biological object, such as blood glucose level. The method and apparatus can also have surgical applications, such as coagulation or ablation of a pattern on a biological object.

1 . A method for determining a characteristic of a biological object, comprising: 
 detecting a pattern on the biological object;    emitting radiation onto the detected pattern;    collecting at least a portion of radiation that is reflected by the pattern on the object; and    analyzing the collected radiation to determine a characteristic of the biological object.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic includes blood glucose levels.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological object includes an eye.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern includes a blood vessel.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises imaging the biological object with radiation having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the emitted radiation and processing the image based on color.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emitted radiation includes near infrared radiation.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emitting the radiation includes tracking the pattern with the radiation if the pattern is moving.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a biological object, compromising: 
 an imaging detector positioned to receive a first type of reflected radiation from the biological object;    a radiation directing device capable of directing a second type of radiation onto a pattern on the object;    a radiation detection assembly positioned to receive reflected radiation of the second type from the biological object; and    electronics, coupled to the imaging detector, radiation directing device and radiation detection assembly, capable of 
 identifying a pattern on the object using reflected radiation data from the imaging detector,  
 adjusting the radiation directing device to direct the second type of radiation onto the identified pattern, and  
 determining a characteristic of the object using reflected radiation data from the radiation detection assembly.  
   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the characteristic includes blood glucose levels.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the biological object includes an eye.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pattern includes a blood vessel.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the electronics identifies a pattern by processing the image based on color.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the radiation directing device includes a digital micro-mirror.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second type of radiation includes near infrared radiation.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first type of radiation includes blue or green light.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the electronics is further capable of tracking the identified pattern if the pattern is moving.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the radiation detection assembly includes a pixilated detector.  
   
   
       18 . A system for determining a characteristic of a biological object, comprising: 
 a radiation directing engine capable of adjusting a radiation direction device such that emitted radiation is directed onto a pattern on the object;    a feedback engine, communicatively coupled to the radiation directing engine, capable of determining the position of the pattern; and    an analysis engine, capable of determining a characteristic of the object using radiation reflected from the pattern.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the characteristic includes blood glucose levels.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the biological object includes an eye.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the pattern includes a blood vessel.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a pattern selection engine, communicatively coupled to the feedback engine, capable of identifying the pattern on the object.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the feedback engine is further capable tracking the pattern if the pattern is moving.  
   
   
       24 . A system, comprising: 
 means for detecting a pattern on the biological object;    means for emitting radiation onto the detected pattern;    means for collecting at least a portion of radiation that is reflected by the pattern on the object; and    means for analyzing the collected radiation to determine a characteristic of the biological object.    
   
   
       25 . A method, comprising: 
 detecting a pattern on a biological object; and    emitting radiation onto the detected pattern.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the radiation has a wavelength used for coagulation.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the radiation has a wavelength used for ablation.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the radiation has a wavelength used for analysis.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus, compromising: 
 an imaging detector positioned to receive a first type of reflected radiation from a biological object;    a radiation directing device adjustable to direct a second type of radiation onto a pattern on the object; and    electronics, coupled to the imaging detector and radiation directing device, capable of 
 identifying a pattern on the object using reflected radiation data from the imaging detector, and  
 adjusting the radiation directing device to direct the second type of radiation onto the identified pattern.  
   
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the second type of radiation has a wavelength used for coagulation.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the second type of radiation has a wavelength used for ablation.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the second type of radiation has a wavelength used for analysis.  
   
   
       33 . A system, comprising: 
 a pattern selection engine capable of identifying a pattern on a biological object;    a feedback engine, communicatively coupled to the pattern selection engine, capable of determining the position of the pattern; and    a radiation directing engine, communicatively coupled to the feedback engine, capable of adjusting a radiation directing device such that emitted radiation emitted is directed onto a pattern on a biological object.    
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the radiation has a wavelength used for coagulation.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the radiation has a wavelength used for ablation.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the radiation has a wavelength used for analysis.  
   
   
       37 . A system, comprising: 
 means for detecting a pattern on a biological object; and    means for emitting radiation onto the detected pattern.