Multiplexed noninvasive analyzer apparatus and method of use thereof

Abstract

A noninvasive analyzer apparatus and method of use thereof is described using a plurality of time resolved sample illumination zones coupled to at least one two-dimensional detector array monitoring a plurality of detection zones. Control of illumination times and/or patterns along with selected detection zones yields pathlength resolved groups of spectra. Sectioned pixels and/or zones of the detector are optionally filtered for different light throughput as a function of wavelength. The pathlength resolved groups of spectra are subsequently analyzed to determine an analyte property. Optionally, in the mapping and/or collection phase, incident light is controllably varied in time in terms of any of: sample probe position, incident light solid angle, incident light angle, depth of focus, energy, intensity, and/or detection angle. Optionally, one or more physiological property and/or model property related to a physiological property is used in the analyte property determination.

1 . An apparatus for noninvasively determining an analyte concentration of a subject, comprising:
 a near-infrared noninvasive vibrational spectroscopy analyzer, comprising:
 a sample interface; 
 a photon transport system comprising at least one optic configured for at least one:
 transporting photons to an illumination zone proximate said sample interface; and 
 collecting photons from a detection zone proximate said sample interface; 
 
 a first two-dimensional detector array; 
 a second two-dimensional detector array, both said first two-dimensional detector array and said second two-dimensional detector array positioned proximate at least one of the illumination zone and the detection zone; and 
 a controller, of said analyzer, configured to receive simultaneously collected signals from both said first two-dimensional detector array and said second two-dimensional detector array, the signals used in calculation of the analyte concentration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing, said housing substantially enclosing all of said source, said photon transport system, and said first two-dimensional detector array, said first two-dimensional detector array comprising an m by n array of detector elements, wherein m and n comprise positive integers greater than four,   wherein said photon transport system comprises optics directing photons along a z-axis to a sample region along an x,y-plane, the x,y-plane perpendicular to the z-axis,   wherein said first two-dimensional detector array comprises a two-dimensional near-infrared detector array.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said first two-dimensional detector array and said second two-dimensional detector array positioned on opposite sides of a mean photon path center of the illumination zone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said first two-dimensional detector array positioned along a first vector from a mean optical center of the illumination zone, said second two-dimensional detector array positioned along a second vector from the mean optical center of the illumination zone, said first vector and said second vector forming an angle between twenty and two hundred degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said first two-dimensional detector array comprising a larger number of detectors than said second two-dimensional detector array. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said first two-dimensional detector array comprising a set of detectors comprising indium, gallium, and arsenide, said second two-dimensional detector array comprising at least one of a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , a center of said first two-dimensional detector array comprising a position along a vector from a center of said illumination zone, said first two-dimensional detector comprising at least one column of detectors rotated at least ten degrees off of the vector. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an array of optics, individual optical elements of said array of optics respectively optically coupled to rows of detector elements of said two-dimensional detector array.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a two-dimensional optical transmittance filter array,   wherein a first filter of said two-dimensional optical transmittance filter array optically couples to a first line of detector elements of said two-dimensional detector array,   wherein a second filter of said two-dimensional transmittance filter array optically couples to a second line of detector elements of said two-dimensional detector array,   wherein, at at least one wavelength in the range of 1500 to 1800 nm, said first filter comprises a first filter transmittance differing from a second filter transmittance of said second filter by at least thirty percent.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said near-infrared noninvasive vibrational spectroscopy analyzer further comprising:
 a first optical filter comprising transmittance of at least sixty percent of light in a wavelength range of 1100 to 1350 nm and transmittance of less than twenty percent in a wavelength range of 1500 to 1750 nm, said first optical filter optically coupled to a first group of detectors of said two-dimensional detector array; and   a second optical filter comprising transmittance of at least sixty percent of light in a wavelength range of 1500 to 1700 nm and transmittance of less than twenty percent in a wavelength range of 1100 to 1300 nm, said second optical filter optically coupled to a second group of detectors of said two-dimensional detector array.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said first two-dimensional detector array comprising:
 a first number of detectors in a first row; and   a second number of detectors in a second row, said second number less than said first number.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first optical filter comprising a first transmittance profile; and   a second optical filter comprising a second transmittance profile, the second transmittance profile different from said the first transmittance profile,   wherein said first optical filter optically covers a first region of said first two-dimensional detector array, and   wherein said second optical filter optically covers a second region of said first two-dimensional detector array.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said near-infrared noninvasive vibrational spectroscopy analyzer further comprising:
 a two-dimensional transmittance filter array in an optical path of said analyzer, comprising:
 a first filter comprising a first fifty percent cut-on transmittance inflection point at a first wavelength in a range of 1200 to 2500 nanometers; 
 a second filter comprising a second fifty-percent cut-on transmittance inflection at a second wavelength, said second wavelength at least one hundred nanometers shorter than said first wavelength, 
 said first filter positioned closer to the illumination zone than said second filter. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , said two-dimensional transmittance filter array both substantially co-planar and in contact with said two-dimensional detector array. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a two-dimensional near-infrared detector optic array, each element of said two-dimensional detector optic array optically coupled to at least one detector element of said two-dimensional detector array.   
     
     
         16 . A method for noninvasively determining an analyte concentration of a subject, comprising:
 providing a sample interface;   using a photon transport system comprising at least one optic for at least one:
 transporting photons to an illumination zone proximate said sample interface; 
 collecting photons from a detection zone proximate said sample interface; 
   collecting a first set of signals using a first two-dimensional detector array;   collecting a second set of signals using a second two-dimensional detector array, both said first two-dimensional detector array and said second two-dimensional array positioned in a common housing of a noninvasive vibrational spectroscopy analyzer proximate at least one of the illumination zone and the detection zone   receiving, to a processor, the first set of signals and the second set of signals; and   using the signals in calculation of the analyte concentration.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 positioning both said first two-dimensional detector array and said second two-dimensional detector array within ten centimeters of the subject during use of said analyzer.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 using a first detector gain setting for a detector element of said first two-dimensional detector array; and   simultaneously using a second detector gain setting for a detector element of said second two-dimensional detector array, said second gain setting at least ten percent larger than said first detector gain setting.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 using a first integration time for a first detector of said first two-dimensional detector array; and   using a second integration time for a second detector of said first two-dimensional detector array, said second detector positioned further from a center of said detection zone than said first detector, said second integration time at least ten percent larger than said first integration time.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 using a first optical filter coupled to a first sub-set of detectors of said first two-dimensional detector array; and   using a second optical filter coupled to a second sub-set of said first two-dimensional detector array, wherein a fifty percent cut-on wavelength of said first filter differs from a fifty percent cut-on wavelength of said second optical filter by at least two hundred nanometers.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 communicating the signals to a personal communication device;   using said personal communication device in a process of calculating the analyte concentration.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 extracting spectroscopic features related to optical pathlength; and   using said features in calculation of the analyte concentration.