Concurrent scanning non-invasive analysis system

Abstract

A non-invasive imaging and analysis system suitable for measuring concentrations of specific components, such as blood glucose concentration and suitable for non-invasive analysis of defects or malignant aspects of targets such as cancer in skin or human tissue, includes an optical processing system which generates a probe and composite reference beam. The system also includes a means that applies the probe beam to the target to be analyzed and modulates at least some of the components of the composite reference beam by means of a micro-mirror array, such that signals corresponding to different depths within the target can be separated by electronic processing. The system combines a scattered portion of the probe beam and the composite beam interferometrically to concurrently acquire information from multiple depths within a target. It further includes electronic control and processing systems.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application, docket number JH050818US1, is a continuation in part of U.S. utility application Ser. No. 11 / 025,698 filed on Dec. 29, 2004 titled “Multiple reference non-invasive analysis system”, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. This application, docket number JH050818US1, claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 602,913 filed on Aug. 19, 2004 titled “Multiple reference non-invasive analysis system”. This application also relates to U.S. utility application Ser. No. 10 / 949,917 filed on Sep. 25, 2004 titled “Compact non-invasive analysis system”, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. This application also relates to U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 10 / 870,121 filed on Jun. 17, 2004 titled “A Non-invasive Analysis System”, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. This applicatio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for a non-invasive imaging and analysis suitable for measuring concentrations of specific components or analytes within a target, such as the concentration of glucose within human tissue and suitable for non-invasive analysis of defects or malignant aspects of targets such as cancer in skin or human tissue. The invention includes an optical source and an optical signal processing system which provides a probe and a composite reference beam. It includes a micro-mirror array that enables sequentially switched mirrors having a large physical separation to be switched at high speed, thus avoiding motion artifacts. It also includes a means that applies the probe beam to the target to be analyzed, recombines the scattered probe beam and the composite reference beam interferometrically and concurrently acquires information from different locations within the target. It further includes electronic control and processing systems.

Problems solved by technology

In the case of analyzing living entities, such as human tissue, undesirable side effects of invasive analysis include the risk of infection along with pain and discomfort associated with the invasive process.

These techniques are vulnerable to inaccuracies due to issues such as, environmental changes, presence of varying amounts of interfering contamination and skin heterogeneity.

These techniques also require considerable processing to de-convolute the required measurement, typically using multi-variate analysis.

These techniques have heretofore produced insufficient accuracy and reliability to be clinically useful.

All of these techniques involve moving parts, which have limited scan speeds and present significant alignment and associated signal to noise ratio related problems.

Motion occurring within the duration of a scan can cause significant problems in correct signal detection.

If motion occurs within a scan duration, motion related artifacts will be indistinguishable from real signal information in the detected signal, leading to an inaccurate measurement.

Long physical scans, for larger signal differentiation or locating reference areas, increase the severity of motion artifacts.

Non-moving part solutions, include acousto-optic scanning, can be high speed, however such solutions are costly, bulky and have significant thermal control and associated thermal signal to noise ratio related problems.

These, however, have polarization rotation related signal to noise ratio problems and also are physically bulky, are expensive, require relatively high voltage control systems and also have the motion related issues.

These aspects cause conventional OCT systems to have significant undesirable signal to noise characteristics and present problems in practical implementations with sufficient accuracy, compactness and robustness for commercially viable and clinically accurate devices.

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