Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Means for analyzing liquid or solid sample
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-20
2001-03-06
Snay, Jeffrey (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Means for analyzing liquid or solid sample
C422S082110, C436S095000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06197257
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a sensor device and more particularly to a micro sensor device which may be employed in a variety of sensor applications to monitor, sense, or measure a concentration of a material within a sample.
There are numerous applications in which a device is used to monitor or detect a concentration of material within a substance. For example, it may be required to know the concentration of a chemical in a sample of material such as knowing the concentration of sodium, calcium, or some other chemical composition in a sample. Monitoring or detecting a concentration of a substance typically requires a set up of relatively complex, sensitive, and expensive equipment or instrumentation. Sometimes space requirements make it difficult to use the set up of complex equipment and it would be advantageous to have equipment which has small dimensions and is easily transportable. Additionally, such complex equipment may not provide results which are of a high resolution.
One known and important application for monitoring a concentration of a material within a sample deals with checking blood glucose for diabetics. There are at least two known techniques for monitoring blood glucose levels in humans. The first technique is invasive which involves extracting samples with the use of needles or syringes. Typically, for the invasive method, a patient employs a small lancet device which is used to prick or puncture a finger. Blood is then collected onto a strip which has incorporated therein a chemical reagent. The strip is then placed inside of a device that optically reads the chemical reaction of the blood on the strip and converts this to a blood glucose level. It has been found very important to control glucose levels in diabetics to reduce any complications associated with diabetes. Many samples or finger pricks may be required to be taken for analysis during the course of a day. Self monitoring of blood glucose by a patient is therefor very important in the treatment of diabetes. Since finger pricking or lancing is required for self monitoring levels of glucose in a patient, many patients avoid this because it is painful and inconvenient. Therefore, a less invasive procedure would be desirable. The second technique is known as noninvasive and does not require that the skin be punctured. The noninvasive technique typically involves a devices which uses near infrared light to detect blood glucose levels. These devices measure a glucose concentration in blood or an organism's tissue by use of an optical device without the need to collect blood or fracturing a part of the organism's tissue. Although these devices use noninvasive methods, in that no blood is collected, none of these devices have been commercially accepted or viable.
The present invention is designed to obviate and overcome many of the disadvantages and shortcomings associated with the prior use of complex testing and monitoring equipment. Additionally, the present invention is simple to use, provides extremely quick results and high resolution, and is easily transportable. The present invention uses relatively inexpensive components which results in a commercially viable product. Further, the micro sensor device of the present invention is relatively noninvasive since it does not require the drawing of blood and provides immediate results which does not require related blood processing such as centrifugation, storage, transportation, and other time consuming testing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a micro sensor device for measuring a concentration of a substance within a sample which comprises an integrated sensor head having a tip portion adapted to be inserted into a sample, a light source for emitting a beam of light into and through the tip portion with the tip portion capable of interacting with a substance within a sample to produce a reflected pattern of light, and a detector for receiving the reflected pattern of light, and a body portion coupled to the integrated sensor head, the body portion comprising a processor operatively connected to the light source and the detector, the processor for controlling the light source for emitting the beam of light, for receiving the pattern of reflected light from the detector, and for processing the reflected pattern of light to determine the concentration of a substance within a sample.
Another example of the present invention is a micro sensor device for measuring a concentration of a substance within a sample which comprises a first integrated sensor head having a tip portion adapted to be inserted into a sample, a second integrated sensor head coupled to the first integrated sensor head, the second integrated sensor head comprising a light source for emitting a beam of light into and through the first integrated sensor head and the tip portion with the tip portion capable of interacting with a substance within a sample to produce a reflected pattern of light, and a detector for receiving the reflected pattern of light, and a body portion coupled to the second integrated sensor head, the body portion comprising a processor operatively connected to the light source and the detector, the processor for controlling the light source for emitting the beam of light, for receiving the pattern of reflected light from the detector, and for processing the reflected pattern of light to determine the concentration of a substance within a sample.
A further example of the present invention is a micro sensor device for measuring a concentration of at least two different substances within a sample comprising an integrated sensor head having a tip portion adapted to be inserted into a sample, a light source for emitting a beam of light into and through the tip portion with the tip portion capable of interacting with at least two different substances within a sample to produce a first pattern of reflected light and a second pattern of reflected light, and a first detector for receiving the first pattern of reflected light and a second detector for receiving the second pattern of reflected light, and a body portion coupled to the integrated sensor head, the body portion comprising a processor operatively connected to the light source and the detectors, the processor for controlling the light source for emitting the beam of light, for receiving the patterns of reflected light from the detectors, and for processing the patterns of reflected light to determine the concentration of at least two different substances within a sample.
In light of the foregoing comments, it will be recognized that a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved sensor device which is hand held, portable, and easy to operate.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device which has a tip portion of an extremely small size so that when it is inserted into a hand of a patient little or no sensation will be produced or detected.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device which is of simple construction and design and which can be easily employed with highly reliable results.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device which is accurate and provides readings in a short time period.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device which is compact in design and is easily transportable for personal use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device having a tip portion which interfaces to electronic components without using any optical interconnects or optical splitter devices.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device which contains few parts or components and is easy to fabricate or construct.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after considering the following detailed specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 4637403 (1987-01-01), Garcia et al.
patent: 5029583 (1
Coburn LLP Thompson
Microsense of St. Louis, LLC
Snay Jeffrey
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