Apparatus and method for easing use of a spectrophotometric based noninvasive analyzer
View Patent ↗A placement guide apparatus with an improved hydration inducing plug used in coupling a noninvasive analyzer to a sampling site to determine analyte in the human body is disclosed. The hydration inducing plug includes at least one fluoropolymer that may be used as a coupling agent. The guide apparatus may further include an automated or semi-automated coupling fluid delivery system. Use of either of these couplers mitigates issues associated with related technology and enhances noninvasive analyte measurements, such as a near-IR diffuse reflectance based noninvasive glucose concentration analyzer.
1. A placement guide used for coupling of an optical probe of an optically based noninvasive glucose concentration analyzer to a sample site of a skin sample, said optical probe comprising at least one optical incident member for delivering incident photons into the sample site and an optical collection member for collecting photons emerging from the sample site, said guide comprising:
a mount having a contact surface at one end;
an aperture, defined by said mount, which is adapted to receive said optical probe during use, wherein an area defined by said aperture comprises the sample site; and
a hydration inducing plug covering said aperture, wherein an outer surface of said hydration inducing plug aligns with said contact surface of said mount, said outer surface adapted to be in proximate contact with the sample site during use;
wherein said hydration inducing plug acts as an optical interface between said optical probe and the sample site when said optical probe is coupled into said aperture, and
wherein said hydration inducing plug has an aperture formed in its center thereof, wherein upon said optical probe being coupled with said guide, said optical collection member of said optical probe is coupled into said aperture and is adapted to have direct contact with the sample site, while said optical incident member of said optical probe is adapted to maintain direct contact with a surrounding area of said hydration inducing plug.
2. The guide of claim 1 , wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a hydrophobic material.
3. The guide of claim 1 , wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a fluoropolymer material.
4. The guide of claim 1 , wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises multiple layers.
5. The guide of claim 4 , wherein each of said layers comprises its own physical properties.
6. The guide of claim 1 , wherein said mount comprises a plurality of channels for delivery of a coupling fluid, each of said channels being connected to a coupling fluid reservoir, said coupling fluid spreading between the outer surface of said hydration inducing plug and the skin surface of the sample site during use.
7. The guide of claim 1 , wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a hydrophobic near-IR transmissive material from 1100 to 1900 nm.
8. The guide of claim 1 , wherein said hydration inducing plug comprises a material index of refraction matched to said contact surface of said mount.