APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EASING USE OF A SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC BASED NONINVASIVE ANALYZER
A noninvasive glucose concentration analyzer having an optical probe with incident and collection optics and a channel for coupling fluid delivery is disclosed. Fluid is delivered through the channel to a skin tissue site that is subsequently optically sampled using the analyzer.
1 . An apparatus for noninvasive glucose concentration analysis of tissue/blood of a sample site of skin, comprising:
an optical based analyzer comprising an optical probe, wherein said optical probe comprises a tip, wherein said optical probe comprises at least one optical incident member for delivering incident photons, wherein said optical probe comprises at least one optical collection member for collecting photons,
wherein said optical probe comprises at least one channel for delivery of a coupling fluid.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said channel leads through said optical probe to the sample site.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an end of said channel proximately contacts the skin during use.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir connected to a first end of said channel, wherein a second end of said channel leads to the sample site.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising means for maintaining said coupling fluid, housed in said reservoir, at about skin temperature during use.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an automated delivery system for delivery of said coupling fluid to the sample site during use.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a mechanical pump integrated into said automated delivery system.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said channel runs radially inwardly toward a center of the sample site.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said channel controls movements of said coupling fluid to the sample site along a surface of the skin.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said channel comprises a tunnel in said optical probe.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein during use said optical fluid flows through said channel and spreads between said tip and the sample site.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a wall of said channel is completed by the skin when said tip of said optical probe proximately contacts the skin during use.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a fluoropolymer coating on said tip.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a barrier, wherein said barrier circumscribes the sample site to direct the coupling fluid to the sample site.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one channel comprises a plurality of channels having openings around the sample site.
16 . A method for noninvasive glucose concentration analysis of tissue/blood of a sample site of skin, comprising:
using an analyzer comprising an optical probe, wherein said optical probe comprises a tip, wherein said optical probe comprises at least one optical incident member for delivering incident photons, wherein said optical probe comprises at least one optical collection member for collecting photons; and
delivering optical fluid through a channel in said optical probe during use.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said channel leads through said optical probe to the sample site.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising a step of proximately contacting an end of said channel with the skin during use.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein a reservoir connects to a first end of said channel, wherein a second end of said channel leads radially inward relative to the center axis of the optical probe.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising a step of maintaining said coupling fluid, housed in said reservoir, at about skin temperature during use.
21 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising a step of automatically delivering said coupling fluid to the sample site during use.
22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said channel controls movements of said coupling fluid to the sample site along a surface of the skin.
23 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said step of delivering optical fluid through said channel results in said optical fluid flowing through said channel and spreading over the sample site.
24 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising a step of using said analyzer to noninvasively optically sampling the sample site.