Noninvasive targeting system method and apparatus

1. An apparatus for noninvasive determination of an analyte property of a tissue sample, comprising:

a targeting system configured to perform a measurement related to the tissue sample, wherein said targeting system generates a first signal, wherein said first signal comprises any of:

a capacitance sensor signal;

and

a fluorescence signal;

a measuring system, wherein said measuring system generates a second signal optically representative of the tissue;

a controller, wherein said first signal from said targeting system is used by said controller during positioning of said measuring system relative to the tissue sample; and

a data processing module, wherein said module generates said analyte property using said second signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first signal is a fluorescence signal and said targeting system and said measuring system commonly use at least one optic.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first signal is a fluorescence signal and said targeting system comprises a functional first set of optics, wherein said measuring system comprises a second set of functional optics, and wherein none of said first set of optics is in common with said second set of optics.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said targeting system comprises a physical location within a housing containing at least a portion of said measuring system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said targeting system further comprises a first housing, wherein said measuring system further comprises a second housing, and wherein said first housing is physically separated from said second housing.

6. An apparatus for noninvasive determination of an analyte property of a sample site of a tissue, comprising:

an analyzer, comprising:

a targeting system configured to perform a measurement related to the tissue sample, wherein said targeting system generates a first signal, wherein said first signal comprises any of:

a capacitance sensor signal; and

a fluorescence signal;

a measuring system,

wherein said first signal is used in dynamically positioning said measuring system relative to the sample site; and

wherein said measuring system generates a second signal optically representative of the tissue; and

a data processing module, wherein said module generates said analyte property using said second signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said first signal is a capacitance sensor signal and comprises a representation of a distance between said measuring system and the sample.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said first signal is a fluorescence signal and represents position of said targeting system relative to a non-tissue target, wherein said non-tissue target is imbedded within, positioned on, or attached to the tissue.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said first signal comprises a representation of any of:

a biological feature of the tissue sample;

a chemical feature of the tissue sample;

a physical feature;

a natural component of the tissue sample;

a dermis thickness;

a subcutaneous feature.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a controller used during movement of any of:

said measuring system;

said targeting system;

an actuator; and

the tissue sample.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said measuring system comprises a base module in a first housing and a sample module in a second housing, wherein said first housing and said second housing are physically separated and communicatively linked.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said measuring system further comprises:

a first optic positioned in an optical train after said source; and

a second optic in said optical train configured to be between said first optic and the sample,

wherein said first optic removes a least one heat generating wavelength outside of a range of wavelengths used by said data processing module, and

wherein position of said second optic is configured to be proximate the tissue sample.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said targeting system further comprises a capacitance sensor used to generate said first signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said first signal is a capacitance sensor signal and indicates any of:

distance between a sample probe tip of said measuring system and the sample site of the tissue; and

tilt of a sample probe of said measuring system relative to the sample site of the tissue.

15. A method for noninvasively determining an analyte property of a sample site of a tissue, comprising:

generating a targeting signal related to the tissue using a targeting system, wherein said targeting system comprises a portion of said analyzer, wherein said targeting signal comprises any of:

a capacitance sensor signal; and

a fluorescence signal;

using said targeting signal in positioning a measuring system relative to the sample site;

generating a noninvasive signal using said measuring system, wherein said noninvasive signal optically represents the tissue; and

processing said noninvasive signal to yield said analyte property.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of:

dynamically generating said noninvasive signal during said step of positioning said measuring system.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said step of generating said noninvasive signal comprises spectral data collection during and/or after said step of positioning said measuring system.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein said step of positioning said measuring system comprises movement of at least a portion of said measuring system in space through any of:

an x-axis;

a y-axis;

a z-axis;

rotation; and

tilt,

wherein said x-axis is defined along the length of a body part; said y-axis is defined across the body part; said z-axis is defined as orthogonal to the plane defined by the x- and y-axes; said tilt is an off z-axis alignment of longitudinal orientation a sample probe of the measuring system, wherein longitudinal orientation extends from a tip of said sample probe tip interfacing with a sample site to the opposite end of said sample probe.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said step of generating said noninvasive signal comprises spectral data collection during a time period comprising any of:

no contact of said measuring system with the sample;

proximate contact of said measuring system with the sample;

contact of said measuring system with the sample; and

displacement of at least a portion of the sample by said measuring system.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of:

using said second signal in determination of stress/strain of the tissue.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein said targeting signal targets a depth of the tissue.

22. A method for noninvasively determining an analyte property of a sample site of a tissue, comprising:

generating a targeting signal with a capacitance signal sensor in a targeting system, wherein said targeting system comprises a portion of an analyzer;

using said targeting signal in positioning a measuring system relative to the sample site, wherein said step of positioning said measuring system comprises tilt movement of at least a portion of said measuring system in space,

wherein an x-axis is defined along the length of a body part; a y-axis is defined across the body part; a z-axis is defined as orthogonal to the plane defined by the x- and y-axes; and said tilt is a rotation about said x-axis and/or said y-axis;

generating a noninvasive signal using said measuring system, wherein said noninvasive signal optically represents the tissue; and

processing said noninvasive signal to yield said analyte property.