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Non-invasive detection of analytes in a comples matrixRelated Patent Categories: Radiant Energy, Invisible Radiant Energy Responsive Electric Signalling, Infrared Responsive, With Means To Transmission-test Contained Fluent MaterialNon-invasive detection of analytes in a comples matrix description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080023634, Non-invasive detection of analytes in a comples matrix. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/745,092, filed Dec. 23, 2003 (PRN 0001 PA), now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/436,761, filed Dec. 27, 2002. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the determination of the concentration of various analytes of interest in various complex matrices. The invention is applicable in a broad range of chemical analyses in a variety of fields including, but not limited to, non-invasive blood analysis and other medical applications, food and pharmaceutical industries, environmental monitoring, industrial safety, etc. In the analysis of blood, blood glucose concentration and measurements of cholesterol and tryglicerides concentrations in blood are of significant importance. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method and system for determining the concentration of analytes of interest in complex matrices, for example, glucose in blood, is provided. Analytical radiation is generated and directed onto a portion of a specimen containing the analytes of interest. The wavelength of the analytical radiation is scanned over a broad analytical spectral range and over a relatively short duration of diagnostic time. The analytical radiation attenuated by the specimen is collected. Subsequently, the amount of collected radiation attenuated by the specimen is correlated to the concentration of the analyte of interest in the specimen. The concentration of the analyte of interest in the specimen then may then be displayed on an output display device as well as used as input into an analyte control device, such as an insulin pump. Multivariate analysis techniques may be used to relate measured spectra to the concentration of the analyte of interest. [0004] Other embodiments of the present invention may be utilized to overcome the problem of insufficient signal-to-noise ratio in measurements of glucose and other analytes of interest in the specimen. An increase in signal-to-noise ratio allows measurements to be taken within a relatively short duration of diagnostic time, which helps to eliminate problems associated with hardware and specimen noise. [0005] It is an object of the present invention to meet the well perceived need for a simple and reliable method of measurements of analytes in complex matrices, as well as the need for a portable, rugged device for non-invasive measurements of blood constituents, in particular, blood glucose monitoring in diabetic subjects. [0006] It is another object of the present invention to use the present invention in contexts where the rather weak absorptivity of some compounds, e.g., glucose, imposes challenging requirements on the signal-to-noise ratio in the spectra for analysis. [0007] Other objects of the present invention will be apparent in light of the description of the invention embodied herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawing in which: [0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for detecting an analyte in a specimen according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0010] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0011] Referring to FIG. 1, a system 10 for detecting an analyte in a specimen 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. It is contemplated that specimens according to the present invention may comprise biological or non-biological specimens. Biological specimens according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, specimens characterized by a cardiac cycle. A variety of non-biological specimens are contemplated by the present invention including, but not limited to, water, food, air, etc. Analytes of interest may include components ordinarily present in the specimen of interest, e.g., glucose in blood or tissue, or components that represent pollutants or contaminants in a specimen of interest. [0012] The system 10 comprises a radiation source 20 and a detector 40. In one embodiment, both the radiation source 20 and the detector 40 are portable and rugged. The radiation source 20 may be, for example, a laser, an optical parametric oscillator (OPO), or a light emitting diode (LED). The radiation source 20 may be a single broadly tunable laser. Suitable lasers, include, but are not limited to, a semiconductor laser diode, a fiber laser, a solid state laser, a quantum cascade laser, or a color center laser. Semiconductor lasers are compact and power efficient and allow the system 10 to be more readily portable. Cr doped ZnSe, ZnS, or CdS lasers are also contemplated because of particular advantages in the context of wavelength scanning. In one embodiment, the radiation source 20 is an external cavity semiconductor laser diode. In addition, the radiation source 20 may employ the Littman-Metcalf, Littrow, or any other suitable external cavity configuration. [0013] The radiation source 20 is configured to generate analytical radiation and scan over an analytical spectral range. The analyte of interest present within the specimen 30 has unique absorption spectrum within the analytical spectral range. For example, glucose in blood is characterized by an absorption spectrum that includes absorption lines at about 1.56 .mu.m, 2.15 .mu.m, 2.27 .mu.m, and 2.32 .mu.m, each within a source spectral range of between 900 nm and 2700 nm. [0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the radiation source 20 scans a wavelength of the analytical radiation over the analytical spectral range over a predetermined diagnostic time period. The duration of the diagnostic time period is relatively short. For example, in embodiments where the specimen is biological and is characterized by a cardiac cycle, the diagnostic time period is no greater than the duration of the cardiac period of the specimen. For example, a cardiac period of a human typically ranges from about 0.3 to about 2 seconds. Typically, the duration of the diagnostic time period is a fraction of the cardiac period (e.g., less than one half of the cardiac period). For example, the duration of the diagnostic time period may be 0.01 second in the case of determining blood glucose concentration in a human. [0015] The analytical radiation emitted by the radiation source 20 may define a relatively narrow spectral line with a width of less than about 20 nm. Preferably, the spectral line width is about 1 nm. The analytical spectral range may from between about 900 nm and about 2700 nm and should be broad enough to discriminate the contributions of any other analytes present in the specimen 30. In the case of blood glucose, the range is broad enough to discriminate from the contributions of the other analytes in the human body, such as, for example, urea, proteins and other similar analytes. An analytical spectral range from about 2050 nm to about 2400 nm may be suitable in many contexts. The radiation source 20, in addition, may also be configured to control the width of the analytical spectral range. [0016] The radiation source 20 delivers the analytical radiation to the specimen 30. The detector 40, in turn, collects the radiation reflected from, scattered from, or transmitted through the specimen 30 of the analytical radiation. Collection of radiation transmitted through the specimen 30 is most suitable for specimen areas that are relatively thin. For example, if the specimen 30 is human, the transmissions can be collected from the ear, the web area between the thumb and index finger, skin pinch on the back of the hand, or in any other similar thin area of the body where transmissions may be collected through the specimen 30. Radiation reflected or scattered from a nail of a finger or toe is another potential site of collection of the analytical radiation if the specimen 30 is human. [0017] In another embodiment, the radiation source 20 may be configured to utilize optics to aid in directing the analytical radiation onto the specimen 30. In the same vein, the detector 40 may also be configured to utilize optics to aid in collections of the attenuated analytical radiation from the specimen 30. [0018] In yet another embodiment, conduits are used to deliver the analytical radiation to the specimen 30 as well as to collect the reflected, scattered, or transmitted radiation from the specimen 30. A conduit 24 delivers the analytical radiation from the source 20 to the specimen 30. Another conduit 32 collects the reflected, scattered, or transmitted radiation from the specimen 30 to the detector 40. [0019] The conduits 24, 32 may be, for example, a fiber optic bundle. Because the conduits 24, 32 need to be highly transparent for wavelengths as long as 2700 nm, the material used for the conduits 24, 32 can be for example, ultra-low OH silica, quartz, sapphire, ZBLAN glass, or any similar suitable material. ZBLAN is fluorine combined with the metals zirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum, and sodium (Zr, Ba, La, Al, and Na, hence its name). The use of the fiber optic bundle conduits 24, 32 has the advantage of allowing for relatively remote placement of the system 10. The conduits 24, 32 may also be air, the tissue of the specimen 30 itself, or any suitable transmission medium. Continue reading about Non-invasive detection of analytes in a comples matrix... Full patent description for Non-invasive detection of analytes in a comples matrix Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Non-invasive detection of analytes in a comples matrix patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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