Glucose profile in nails

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail (130) of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement, the method comprising: i. acquiring spectral information by using at least one spectrometer device (124) at one or more different measurement position; ii. acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position by using at least one reference position measurement unit (136); and iii. evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail (130), wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of reference information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail (130) is obtained.

Description

[0001] Glucose Profile in Nails

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement, a spectrometer device for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail by spectroscopic measurement, a mobile communication device, a computer program comprising and a non- transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0004] The methods and devices according to the present invention specifically may be employed for example in various areas of daily life, security technology, gaming, traffic technology, production technology, photography such as digital photography or video photography for arts, documentation or technical purposes, safety technology, information technology, agriculture, crop protection, maintenance, cosmetics, medical technology or in the sciences. However, other applications are also possible.

[0005] Background art

[0006] Diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes, typically, requires taking a series of blood samples, which are analyzed to determine their glucose content. Such invasive methods may be undesirable for patients. An attractive alternative may be the non-invasive measurement via infrared spectroscopy. It is known that keratin of nails may be glycated depending on the blood glucose level. The degree of keratin glycation can be measured using infrared spectroscopy as exemplarily described by R. Coopman et al. in Glycation in human fingernail dippings using A TR-FTIR spectrometry, a new marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes meHitus, Clinical Biochemistry 50 (2017), 62-67.

[0007] GB 2 448 546 A relates to an apparatus for acquiring data relative to the protein structure of a fingernail, for example as a means of establishing an analogy with bone condition, compring locating means, preferably in the form of a removable receptacle, for locating a finger of a hand in a fixed location in the apparatus. The apparatus also comprises optical means for generating a beam of light, preferably laser light, and directing the beam onto the nail for irradiation thereof at one or more points, collecting means for collecting radiation scattered by the nail and evaluating means for evaluating the collected radiation by Raman spectroscopy to provide data indicative of the nail structure. The physical and chemical structure of the keratinized tissue may be evaluated with consistent and repeatable results.

[0008] Pooni Kam: 11 Glyconics-DS(TM) 11 , 13 July 2023 (2023-07-13) relates to an affordable needle-free screening with instant results. Glyconics-DS™ uses infrared spectroscopy (an infrared beam) to scan the glycation (sugar-coating) of a person’s nail keratin. Once a person has placed their fingernail under the device and it has been scanned, Glyconics-DS™ then used our proprietary cloud-based algorithm to instantly to assess the user’s diabetes risk as ‘normal’ or ‘elevated’.

[0009] US 2019 / 117134 A1 relates to a method and system for measuring post-translational modification of proteins in a subject. The method comprises recording of infrared radiation within a predetermined wavenumber range and attenuated by an integument of the subject, such that the integument is still attached to the subject. The method further comprises the step of comparing the attenuation of infrared radiation to a predetermined value for deriving information regarding post-translational modification of proteins in the integument.

[0010] The spectroscopic measurement of the glycation of keratin in nails is, typically, done by measuring nail clips. However, as nails grow slowly, the blood glucose level may only be determined with considerable delay. In order to determine a time profile, several measurements over an extended period of time may be required.

[0011] Problem to be solved

[0012] It is therefore desirable to provide methods devices, which at least partially address the above-mentioned technical challenges and at least substantially avoid the disadvantages of known devices.

[0013] In particular, it may be an object of the present invention to enable measuring the blood glucose level with low time delay. Further in particular, it may be an object of the present invention to enable measuring changes of the blood glucose level over time in an easy, reliable and / or precise manner.

[0014] Summary

[0015] This problem is addressed by to the method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement, the spectrometer device for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail by spectroscopic measurement, the mobile communication device, the computer program comprising and the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium described by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments which might be realized in an isolated fashion or in any arbitrary combinations are listed in the dependent claims as well as throughout the specification.

[0016] In a first aspect, a method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement is disclosed. For this aspect, reference may be made to any definition, Embodiment and / or further aspect as disclosed elsewhere herein. The steps for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement may be performed in the given order. A different order, however, may also be feasible. Further, two or more of the method steps may be performed simultaneously. Thereby, the method steps may at least partly overlap in time. Further, the method steps may be performed once or repeatedly. Thus, one or more or even all of the method steps may be performed once or repeatedly. The method may comprise additional method steps, which are not listed herein.

[0017] The method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement may be a computer-implemented method. Alternatively or in addition, at least one of the method steps, preferably any one of the method steps may be performed by using a device comprising at least one processor for executing the steps. The term "computer implemented method" as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a method, which involves at least one apparatus, specifically a computer, or a plurality of apparatus, particularly connected via a computer network. The plurality of apparatus may be connected, particularly for transmitting data, via a network by using at least one connection interface at any one of the apparatuses of the plurality of apparatus. The computer-implemented method may be implemented as at least one computer program that may be provided on a storage medium carrying the computer program, whereby at least one of the steps of the computer-implemented method, specifically at least one of steps, are performed by using the at least one computer program. Preferably any one of the steps may be performed using the at least one computer program. Alternatively, the at least one computer program may be accessible by an apparatus which may be adapted for performing the method via a network, such as via an in-house network, via internet, or via a cloud. With particular regard to the present invention, the present method can, thus, be performed on a programmable apparatus, which is configured for this purpose, such as by providing a computer program, which is configured for such a purpose.

[0018] The method is comprising the following steps: i. acquiring spectral information by using at least one spectrometer device at one or more different measurement positions;

[0019] II. acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position from at least one reference position measurement unit by using at least one connection interface; and ill. evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail, wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of reference information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail is obtained, particularly by using an evaluation unit. As already disclosed, the method comprises a step of acquiring spectral information by using at least one spectrometer device at one or more different measurement position.

[0020] The term “acquiring” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to obtaining and / or gaining possession of something. Acquiring may comprise at least one step of receiving and / or obtaining and / or generating and / or recording.

[0021] The term “spectrometer device” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an optical device configured for acquiring at least one item of spectral information on at least one object. Specifically, the at least one item of spectral information may refer to at least one optical property or optically measurable property which is determined as a function of a wavelength, for one or more different wavelengths. More specifically, the optical property or optically measurable property, as well as the at least one item of spectral information, may relate to at least one property characterizing at least one of a transmission, an absorption, a reflection and an emission of the at least one object, either by itself or after illumination with external light. The at least one optical property may be determined for one or more wavelengths. The spectrometer device specifically may form an apparatus which is capable of recording a signal intensity with respect to the corresponding wavelength of a spectrum or a partition thereof, such as a wavelength interval, wherein the signal intensity may, specifically, be provided as an electrical signal which may be used for further evaluation.

[0022] The term “spectral information”, also referred to as “spectroscopic information” or as “an item of spectral information”, as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an item of information, e.g. on at least one object and / or radiation emitted by at least one object, characterizing at least one optical property of the object, more specifically at least one item of information characterizing, e.g. qualifying and / or quantifying, at least one of a transmission, an absorption, a reflection and an emission of the at least one object. As an example, the at least one item of spectral information may comprise at least one intensity information, e.g. information on an intensity of light being at least one of transmitted, absorbed, reflected or emitted by the object, e.g. as a function of a wavelength or wavelength sub-range over one or more wavelengths, e.g. over a range of wavelengths. Specifically, the intensity information may correspond to or be derived from the signal intensity, specifically the electrical signal, recorded by the spectrometer device with respect to a wavelength or a range of wavelengths of the spectrum. Evaluating the spectral information may comprise evaluating the at least one item of reference information, preferably by using the evaluation unit. The term “measurement position” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a surface on an measurement object, such as the nail, at which the spectral information is obtained. Particularly therefore, the measurement position may be within the field of view, specifically a measurement spot, of the spectrometer device in a manner that detection light may be detected by the at least one detector of the spectrometer device from the measurement position in order to obtain the spectral information. Obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail by evaluating the at least one item of reference information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information may be a step of the method.

[0023] Particularly for acquiring spectral information, the method further may comprise a step of emitting illumination light for illuminating the at least one nail to generate detection light from the at least one nail when acquiring the spectral information by using a light emitting element comprised by the spectrometer device. Particularly for acquiring spectral information, the method further may comprises a step of generating at least one detector signal when receiving the detection light from the nail when acquiring the spectral information by using a detector comprised by the spectrometer device, wherein evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail comprises evaluating the at least one detector signal. Particularly for the definition of these features, reference is made to the aspect concerning the spectrometer device.

[0024] As already disclosed, the method comprises a step of acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position from at least one reference position measurement unit by using at least one connection interface.

[0025] The term “connection interface” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an item or element forming a boundary configured for transferring information. In particular, the connection interface may be configured for transferring information from a computational device to a further computational device, such as to send or output information. Alternatively or in addition, the connection interface may be configured for transferring information within a computational device, such as from a component of the computational device to a further component of the computational device. The connection interface may transfer information from the reference position measurement unit to the spectrometer device. The reference position measurement unit may be comprised by the spectrometer device or an external device. The external device may comprise the spectrometer device. The external device may be a mobile device.

[0026] The term “reference position” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a specific spatial point and / or a specific spatial location that is used as an anchor point in order to establish a spatial framework in which at least one elements is spatially categorized. The reference position may be an absolute and / or a relative position. The reference position is determined in order to obtain the measurement position. The measurement position may be a relative and / or an absolute position. The measurement position may be obtained by considering and / or evaluating at least one of: the reference position, at least one item of information derived from the self-motion sensor.

[0027] The measurement position may be obtained by considering and / or evaluating at least one of: a characteristic change in the spectral information, particularly for determining the reference position; an item of information derived by evaluating image data of one or more images recorded by using an image generation unit, wherein the image data comprises information on a captured pattern, wherein the recorded length scale pattern comprises information on a distance and / or on a direction of movement in relation to the reference position.

[0028] The reference position may be at least one characteristic related to the nail and / or at least one characteristic of the nail, such as a visible characteristic on the nail. By evaluating the reference position, an absolute position on the nail may be obtained. The reference position may be obtained by evaluating sensor data of the self-motion sensor. Obtaining the reference position by evaluating sensor data of the self-motion sensor may comprise evaluation a motion pattern recorded by the self-motion sensor and obtaining the reference position by identifying a specific feature in the motion pattern. Exemplarily, the specific feature may be a change of a curved motion to a straight motion indicating the point of transition from the nail bed to the nail. The reference position may be an identifiable point related to or on the nail. The reference position may be identifiable by a visual measurement, such as by a measurement using the image generation unit. Alternatively or in addition, the reference position may be identifiable by a spectroscopic measurement, such as by a measurement using the spectrometer device.

[0029] The at least one reference position may be at least one of:

[0030] - a point of transition from the nail bed to the nail;

[0031] - an free edge of the nail.

[0032] The free edge of the nail may be the free end of the nail.

[0033] The term “reference position measurement unit” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device configured for obtaining at least one reference position, such as an absolute reference position and / or a relative position. The reference position measurement unit may be comprised by the spectrometer device or an external device. The external device may comprise the spectrometer device. The external device may be a mobile device. The reference position measurement unit may be at least one image generation unit, particularly wherein for evaluating the item of reference information on at least one reference position image data captured by the at least one image generation unit is evaluated.

[0034] The term “image data” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a collection of information representing visual content in a digital format. Typically, image data may comprise one or more pixels. The one or more pixels may be arranged in a known manner, particularly a known grid. Any one of the one or more pixels may comprise at least one numerical value defining a color and / or an intensity of the respective pixel. The numerical value may be binary data and / or data of a known color model, such as RGB (Red, Green, Blue) or CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). Alternatively or in addition, the image data may be vector image data. The vector image data may be at least one of: one or more points, one or more lines, one or more curves, and one or more further geometric elements. The image data may comprise information on visible light, particularly having a wavelength between 380 nm and 750 nm.

[0035] The term “image generation unit”, also refer to as “camera”, as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a device having at least one imaging element configured for recording or capturing spatially resolved one-dimensional, two-dimensional or even three-dimensional optical data or information. As an example, the image generation unit may comprise at least one chip, such as at least one CCD chip and / or at least one CMOS chip configured for recording images. For example, the image generation unit may be a color image generation unit, as will be described in detail below, comprising at least three color pixels. The image generation unit may be a color CMOS image generation unit. For example, the image generation unit may comprise black and white pixels and color pixels. The color pixels and the black and white pixels may be combined internally in the image generation unit. The image generation unit may comprise at least one color image generation unit and at least one black and white image generation unit, such as a black and white CMOS. The image generation unit may comprise at least one black and white CMOS chip. The image generation unit generally may comprise a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of image sensors, such as pixels. The image generation unit may be sensitive to visible light, particularly having a wavelength between 380 nm and 750 nm.

[0036] Alternatively or in addition, the reference position measurement unit may be at least one component of the spectrometer device, such as the detector, particularly wherein for evaluating the item of reference information on at least one reference position a characteristic in the spectral information may be evaluated. Alternatively or in addition, particularly when moving the measurement spot of the spectrometer device in a spatial measurement direction from a first measurement position of the one or more different measurement position to at least one further measurement position, for evaluating the item of reference information on at least one reference position a characteristic change in the spectral information may be evaluated.

[0037] By comparing at least two obtained reference positions to at least two expected reference positions, it may evaluated if the movement of the spectrometer device was done in a correct manner by the user. The term “expected spectral information”, as used herein, is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a known reference position. The spectral information may be intended to be obtained at at least one expected measurement position. If the movement of the spectrometer device was done in a correct manner by the user, the spectral information may be obtained at the at least one expected measurement position.

[0038] The characteristic in the spectral information may be at least one of: a peak indicating the presence of water in the object; a peak indicating the presence of keratin in the object . The characteristic change in the spectral information may be the appearance and / or the disappearance of the keratin peak. Alternatively or in addition, the characteristic change in the spectral information may be the appearance and / or the disappearance of the water peak. In an example, the spectrometer device may be moved from the nail bed to the nail. In this case, the appearance of the keratin peak and / or the disappearance of the water peak may indicate the point of transition from the nail bed to the nail. The disappearance of the keratin peak may further indicate the free edge of the nail. The movement may be in an opposite direction.

[0039] As already disclosed, the method comprises a step of evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail, wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of reference information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail is obtained, particularly by using an evaluation unit.

[0040] The term “to evaluate”, as used herein, is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to the process of processing at least one first item of information in order to generate at least one second item of information thereby. Consequently, the term “evaluation unit”, as used herein, is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device or a combination of devices configured to evaluate or process at least one first item of information, in order to generate at least one second item of information thereof. Thus, specifically, the evaluation unit may be configured for processing at least one input signal and to generate at least one output signal thereof. The at least one input signal, as an example, may comprise at least one detector signal provided directly or indirectly by the at least one photosensitive detector.

[0041] As an example, the evaluation unit may be or may comprise one or more integrated circuits, such as one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and / or one or more data processing devices, such as one or more of computers, digital signal processors (DSP), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) preferably one or more microcomputers and / or microcontrollers. Additional components may be comprised, such as one or more preprocessing devices and / or data acquisition devices, such as one or more devices for receiving and / or preprocessing of the detector signals, such as one or more AD-converters and / or one or more filters. Further, the evaluation unit may comprise one or more data storage devices. Further, the evaluation unit may comprise one or more interfaces, such as one or more wireless interfaces and / or one or more wire-bound interfaces.

[0042] The term “item of nail information” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to arbitrary meta information derived by evaluating the spectral information on the nail. The item of nail information may refer to at least one information that may be derived from the spectral information but that is not the spectral information itself. The item of nail information may be generated and / or extracted in order to provide an understanding of and / or a context for the spectral information.

[0043] The item of nail information on the at least one nail may comprises an item of information on a degree of glycation of keratin, particularly at the at least one measurement position. Glycation of keratin may be detected in case the historic average blood glucose level has been elevated. From the degree of glycation of keratin, an historic average blood glucose level may be derived. The degree of glycation of keratin may then indicate an elevated blood glucose level. Further, a concentration of the historic average blood glucose level may be derived by evaluating the degree of glycation of keratin. The blood glucose level may be historic since the glycation of keratin has occurred when the nail grows. The blood glucose level may be average since the nail grows slowly, such as 1 millimeter per month.

[0044] The method may comprise a further step of evaluating a plurality of items of nail information of the at least one item of nail information for obtaining a profile of a blood glucose level over time, particularly for deriving a time stamp of the respective item of nail information by evaluating the related measurement position. The plurality of items of nail information may be obtained at a plurality of different measurement spots. Particularly therefore, the measurement spot of the spectrometer device may be moved in a spatial measurement direction from a first measurement position of the one or more different measurement position to at least one further measurement position. Evaluating a plurality of items of nail information of the at least one item of nail information for obtaining a profile of a blood glucose level over time may comprise evaluating the measurement position of any item of nail information on the at least one nail. As the nail grows, information on the current blood glucose level is deposited in the newly formed part of the nail, particularly imprinted in the degree of glycation of keratin. Information on younger blood glucose levels may, therefore, be derived in the vicinity of the nail bed. Information on older blood glucose levels may be derived in the vicinity of the free edge of the nail.

[0045] Correspondingly, a temporal profile of the blood glucose value may be derived by moving the measurement spot of the spectrometer device in a spatial measurement direction from a first measurement position, particularly at the nail bed, to at least one further measurement position, particularly at the free edge of the nail. A measurement position may translate into a time stamp of the blood glucose level, particularly by considering the growth time and / or speed of the nail. The time stamp may be considered when obtaining the profile of a blood glucose level over time.

[0046] Consequently, obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail further may comprise evaluating an item of direction information on a spatial measurement direction from the reference position to the measurement position.

[0047] Alternatively or in addition, obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail further may comprise evaluating an item of direction information on a spatial measurement direction from a first measurement position of the one or more different measurement position to at least one further measurement position of the one or more different measurement position.

[0048] By considering the item of direction information and / or the item of speed information and / or the reference position, the measurement position.

[0049] The spatial measurement direction may be assumed parallel and / or coaxial to a known measurement path. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more different spatial measurement position may, particularly be assumed, situated on the measurement path. The known measurement path may be parallel and / or coaxial to a direction of growth of the nail, particularly from the nail bed to the free edge of the nail.

[0050] The item of direction information on spatial measurement direction may be acquired by using at least one self-motion sensor. The term “self-motion sensor” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary sensor configured to measure the motion of an object, such as the sensor itself, specifically by measuring the acceleration of the object in order to determine its motion, such as the movement direction. The at least one self-motion sensor may be or may comprise at least one accelerometer. The term “accelerometer” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary sensor configured to measure acceleration, particularly of an object to which the sensor is at least indirectly attached, such as the spectrometer device and / or the mobile device.

[0051] Obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail may comprise evaluating an item of speed information on a spatial measurement speed from the reference position to the measurement position.

[0052] Alternatively or in addition, obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail may comprise evaluating an item of speed information on a spatial measurement speed between the first measurement position of the one or more different measurement position and the at least one further measurement position of the one or more different measurement position.

[0053] The item of speed information on a spatial measurement speed may be acquired by using the at least one self-motion sensor.

[0054] At least one further item of reference information on a further reference position may be acquired by using the reference position measurement unit. Alternatively or in addition, the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed may be obtained by evaluating the item of reference information on the at least one reference position and the further item of reference information on the at least one further reference position.

[0055] The at least one further reference position may be at least one of:

[0056] - a point of transition from the nail bed to the nail;

[0057] - a free edge of the nail.

[0058] The item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed may be further obtained by evaluating an expected distance between the reference position and the further reference position. The expected distance may be a known distance. Alternatively or in addition, for obtaining the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed, the time between obtaining the item of reference information on the at least one reference position and obtaining the further item of reference information on the at least one further reference position may be considered.

[0059] In a further aspect a spectrometer device for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail by spectroscopic measurement is disclosed. For this aspect, reference may be made to any definition, Embodiment and / or further aspect as disclosed elsewhere herein. The spectrometer device may be configured for performing the method as described elsewhere herein. The spectrometer device comprises:

[0060] (1 ) at least one light emitting element configured for emitting illumination light for illuminating the at least one nail in order to generate detection light from the at least one nail;

[0061] (2) at least one detector configured for generating at least one detector signal when receiving the detection light from the nail for acquiring spectral information at one or more different measurement position;

[0062] (3) at least one connection interface configured for acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position from a reference position measurement unit; and

[0063] (4) at least one evaluation unit configured for evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail, wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for each item of nail information on the at least one nail is obtained.

[0064] As already disclosed, the spectrometer device comprises at least one light emitting element configured for emitting illumination light for illuminating the at least one nail in order to generate detection light from the at least one nail.

[0065] As further used herein, the term “light” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to electromagnetic radiation in one or more of the infrared, the visible and the ultraviolet spectral range. Herein, the term “ultraviolet spectral range”, generally, refers to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 1 nm to 380 nm, preferably of 100 nm to 380 nm. Further, in partial accordance with standard ISO-21348 in a valid version at the date of this document, the term “visible spectral range”, generally, refers to a spectral range of 380 nm to 760 nm. The term “infrared spectral range” (IR) generally refers to electromagnetic radiation of 760 nm to 1000 pm, wherein the range of 760 nm to 1 .5 pm is usually denominated as “near infrared spectral range” (NIR) while the range from 1.5 p to 15 pm is denoted as “mid infrared spectral range” (MidlR) and the range from 15 pm to 1000 pm as “far infrared spectral range” (FIR). Preferably, light used for the typical purposes of the present invention is light in the infrared (IR) spectral range, more preferred, in the near infrared (NIR) and / or the mid infrared spectral range (MidlR), especially the light having a wavelength of 1 pm to 5 pm, preferably of 1 pm to 3 pm. This is due to the fact that many material properties or properties on the chemical constitution of many objects may be derived from the near infrared spectral range. It shall be noted, however, that spectroscopy in other spectral ranges is also feasible and within the scope of the present invention.

[0066] Consequently, the term “light emitting element”, also referred to as an “illumination source”, as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device configured for generating or providing light, specifically “illumination light” in the sense of the above- mentioned definition for the term “light”. The light emitting element specifically may be or may comprise at least one electrical light source.

[0067] As further used herein, the term “detection light” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to light that is generated by the object, particularly generated in an interaction of the illumination light with the object, such as scattering, reflecting and / or transmitting. The detection light may be illumination light that is reflected and / or scattered back through the sample interface to the at least one detector. At least a portion of the illumination light may be transmitted and / or absorbed by the object in a manner that it is not detected by the at least one detector.

[0068] The light emitting element may be a thermal radiator. The thermal radiator may be selected from an incandescent lamp or a thermal infrared emitter. The term “incandescent lamp” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an electric light having a heatable element, such as a wire filament heated, which is capable of being heated to a temperature at which it emits light, especially infrared light. Since the incandescent lamp can, therefore, be considered as a thermal emitter within the infrared spectral range, an emission power of the incandescent lamp decreases with increasing wavelength. The thermal radiator may be selected from an incandescent lamp or a thermal infrared emitter. The term “thermal infrared emitter” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a micro-machined thermally emitting device, which comprises a radiation emitting surface as the light emitting element that emits the optical radiation to be monitored.

[0069] Alternatively or in addition, the light emitting element may be a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based emitter. The term “microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based emitter” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary apparatus configured for generating and / or emitting light comprising at least one element, wherein the element is associated with MEMS technology. MEMS technology, typically, involves the manufacture of mechanical and / or electrical elements on a microscale, typically between below 1 pm or 10 pm or 20 pm or 50 pm. Alternatively or in addition, the light emitting element may be a laser, specifically a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), particularly emitting at least one wavelength in the infrared region.

[0070] The term “vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a semiconductor laser diode configured for laser beam emission perpendicular with respect to a top surface. VCSELs are generally known to the skilled person such as from WO 2017 / 222618 A.

[0071] Alternatively or in addition, the radiation emitting element may be a light-emitting diode (LED), specifically a LED emitting light that is at least partially located in the infrared spectral range. Alternatively or in addition, a LED emitting light that is illuminating a luminescent material, specifically a phosphor, for light-conversion of light generated by the LED, wherein the luminescent material generates converted light that is at least partly located in the nearinfrared spectral range.

[0072] The term “light-emitting diode” or briefly “LED”, as used herein, is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an optoelectronic semiconductor device capable of emitting light when an electrical current flows through the device. The optoelectronic semiconductor device may be configured for generating the light due to various physical processes, including one or more of spontaneous emission, induced emission, decay of metastable excited states and the like. Thus, as an example, the light-emitting diode, may comprise one or more of: a light-emitting diode based on spontaneous emission of light, in particular an organic light emitting diode, a light-emitting diode based on superluminescence (sLED), or a laser diode (LD) In the following, without narrowing the possible embodiments of the light-emitting diode to any of the before-mentioned physical principles or setups, the abbreviation “LED” will be used for any type of light-emitting diode.

[0073] Specifically, the LED may comprise at least two layers of semiconductor material, wherein light may be generated at at least one interface between the at least two layers of semiconductor material, specifically due to a recombination of positive and negative electrical charges, e.g. due to electron-hole recombination. The at least two layers of semiconductor material may have differing electrical properties, such as at least one of the layers being an n-doped semiconductor material and at least one of the layers being a p-doped semiconductor material. Thus, as an example, the LED may comprise at least one pn- junction and / or at least one pin-set up. It shall be noted, however, that other device structures are feasible, too. The at least one semiconductor material may specifically be or may comprise at least one inorganic semiconducting material. It shall be noted, however, that organic semiconducting materials may be used additionally or alternatively. Generally, the LED may convert electrical current into light, specifically light that is at least partially located in the infrared spectral range. Alternatively or in addition, LED may convert electrical current into light into primary light, more specifically into blue primary light. The LED, thus, specifically may be a blue LED. The LED may be configured for generating the primary light, particularly for the light-conversion in the phosphor, also referred to as the “pump light”. Thus, the LED may also be referred to as the “pump LED”. The LED specifically may comprise at least one LED chip and / or at least one LED die. Thus, the semiconductor element of the LED may comprise an LED bare chip.

[0074] The term “luminescence” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to the process of spontaneous emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat. Specifically, luminescence may refer to a cold-body radiation. More specifically, the luminescence may be initiated or excited by irradiation of light, in which case the luminescence is also referred to as “photoluminescence”. The property of a material being capable of performing luminescence, in the context of the present invention, is referred to by the adjective “luminescent”. The at least one luminescent material specifically may be a photoluminescent material, i.e. a material which is capable of emitting light after absorption of photons or excitation light. Specifically, the luminescent material may have a positive Stokes shift, which generally may refer to the fact that the secondary light is red-shifted with respect to the primary light.

[0075] The at least one luminescent material, thus, may form at least one converter, also referred to as a light converter, transforming primary light into secondary light having different spectral properties as compared to the primary light. Specifically, a spectral width of the secondary light may be larger than a spectral width of the primary light, and / or a center of emission of the secondary light may be shifted, specifically red-shifted, compared to the primary light. Specifically, the at least one luminescent material may have an absorption in the ultraviolet and / or blue spectral range and an emission in the near-infrared and / or infrared spectral range. Thus, generally, the luminescent material or converter may form at least one component of the phosphor LED converging primary light or pump light, specifically in the blue spectral range, into light having a longer wavelength, e.g. in the near-infrared or infrared spectral range.

[0076] The luminescent material, specifically, may, thus, form at least one converter or light converter. The luminescent material may form at least one of a converter platelet, a luminescent and specifically a fluorescent coating on the LED and phosphor coating on the LED. The luminescent material may, as an example, comprise one or more of the following materials: Cerium-doped YAG (YAG:Ce3+, or Y3AI50i2:Ce3+); rare-earth-doped Sialons; copper- and aluminium-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Cu,AI). The LED and the luminescent material, together, may form a so-called “phosphor LED”. Consequently, the term “phosphor light-emitting diode” or briefly “phosphor LED”, as used herein, is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a combination of at least one light-emitting diode configured for generating primary light or pump light, and at least one luminescent material, also referred to as a “phosphor”, configured for light-conversion of the primary light generated by the light-emitting diode. The phosphor LED may form a packaged LED light source, including the LED die, e.g. a blue LED emitting blue pump light, as well as the phosphor, which, as an example, fully or partially coats the LED, which is, as an example, configured for converting the primary light or blue light into light having differing spectral properties, specifically into near-infrared light. Generally, the phosphor LED may be packaged in one housing or may be unpackaged. Thus, the LED and the at least one luminescent material for light-conversion of the primary light generated by the light-emitting diode may specifically be housed in a common housing. Alternatively, however, the LED may also be an unhoused or bare LED which may fully or partially be covered with the luminescent material, such as by disposing one or more layers of the luminescent material on the LED die. The phosphor LED, generally, may form an emitter or light source by itself.

[0077] The light emitting element may emit infrared radiation. The illumination light may have a spectral range at least partially located in the near-infrared spectral range, specifically in the spectral range from 1 to 3 pm, preferably from 1.3 to 2.5 pm, more preferably from 1 .5 to 2.2 pm.

[0078] As already disclosed, the spectrometer comprises at least one detector configured for generating at least one detector signal when receiving the detection light from the nail for acquiring spectral information at one or more different measurement position

[0079] The verb “to detect” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to the process of at least one of determining, measuring and monitoring at least one parameter, qualitatively and / or quantitatively, such as at least one of a physical parameter, a chemical parameter and a biological parameter. Specifically, the physical parameter may be or may comprise an electrical parameter. Consequently, the term “photosensitive detector”, or “detector” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device configured for detecting, i.e. for at least one of determining, measuring and monitoring, at least one parameter, qualitatively and / or quantitatively, such as at least one of a physical parameter, a chemical parameter and a biological parameter. The at least one detector may be configured for generating at least one detector signal, more specifically at least one electrical detector signal, such as an analogue and / or a digital detector signal, the detector signal providing information on the at least one parameter measured by the detector. The detector signal may directly or indirectly be provided by the at least one detector to the evaluation unit, such that the at least one detector and the evaluation unit may be directly or indirectly connected. The detector signals may be used as a “raw” detector signal and / or may be processed or preprocessed before further used, e.g. by filtering and the like. Thus, the at least one detector may comprise at least one processing device and / or at least one preprocessing device, such as at least one of an amplifier, an analogue / digital converter, an electrical filter and a Fourier transformation.

[0080] The at least one detector may be configured for detecting light propagating from the object to the spectrometer device or more specifically to the at least one detector of the spectrometer device. The at least one detector may be configured for determining at least one optical parameter, such as an intensity and / or a power of light by which at least one sensitive area of the detector is irradiated. More specifically, the at least one detector may comprise at least one photosensitive element and / or at least one optical sensor, such as at least one of a photodiode, a photocell, a photosensitive resistor, a phototransistor, a thermophile sensor, a photoacoustic sensor, a pyroelectric sensor, a photomultiplier and a bolometer. The at least one detector, thus, may be configured for generating at least one detector signal, more specifically at least one electrical detector signal, in the above-mentioned sense, providing information on at least one optical parameter, such as the power and / or intensity of light by which the detector or a sensitive area of the detector is illuminated. The at least one detector may be a Lead Sulfide (PbS) detector.

[0081] The detector may comprise a plurality of photosensitive elements sensitive to differing wavelength intervals, particularly, thereby, each photosensitive element may generate at least one detector signal. Particularly consequently, a first photosensitive element may detect light within a first wavelength range and a second photosensitive element may detect light within a second wavelength range, wherein the first and the second wavelength range are different from each other, particularly in a manner that wavelength ranges do not overlap. There may be a third photosensitive elements having a further different, particularly not overlapping, wavelength range, and so on. The at least one detector may comprise a plurality of photosensitive elements sensitive to differing wavelength intervals.

[0082] The spectrometer device further may comprise at least one wavelength-selective element, wherein the wavelength-selective element may be disposed in at least one of:

[0083] - a beam path of the illumination light; or

[0084] - a beam path of the detection light.

[0085] The at least one the wavelength-selective element may be configured and / or may be arranged in a manner that any photosensitive element of the plurality of photosensitive elements is exposed to an individual spectral range of detection light from the nail.

[0086] As used herein, the term “wavelength-selective element” is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary optical element which interacts with differing spectral portions of incident light in a different manner, e.g. by having at least one wavelength-dependent optical property, such as at least one wavelength-dependent optical property selected from the list consisting of a degree of reflection, a direction of reflection, a degree of refraction, a direction of refraction, an absorption, a transmission, an index of refraction.

[0087] The wavelength-selective element may be configured such that each of the photosensitive detectors may be exposed to the same spectral range of the detection light. The wavelength- selective element may be selected from the group of a tunable wavelength-selective element and a wavelength-selective element having a fixed transmission spectrum. By using a tunable wavelength selective element, as an example, differing wavelength ranges may be selected sequentially, whereas, by using a wavelength-selective element having a fixed transmission spectrum, the selection of the wavelength ranges may be fixed and may, however, be dependent e.g. on a detection position, thereby allowing, as an example, in the detection light beam path, for simultaneously exposing different detectors and / or different photosensitive detectors of the detector to differing spectral ranges of light.

[0088] Thus the at least one wavelength-selective element may comprise at least one of a filter, a grating, a prism, a plasmonic filter, a diffractive optical element and a metamaterial. More specifically, the spectrometer device may comprise at least one wavelength-selective element disposed in a beam path of the light from the object, i.e. in the beam path of the detection light, wherein the wavelength-selective element, specifically may be configured such that each of the photosensitive detectors is exposed to an individual spectral range of the light from the object. As an example, a variable wavelength-selective element may be used, the transmission of which depends on a position on the wavelength-selective element, such that, when the variable wavelength-selective element is placed on top of the array of photosensitive detectors, the individual photosensitive detectors are exposed to differing spectral ranges of the incident light, specifically the detection light from the object.

[0089] The wavelength-selective element may be selected from the group of a tunable wavelength- selective element and a wavelength-selective element having a fixed transmission spectrum. The wavelength-selective element may be or may comprise at least one of: a length variable filter; a static filter; a tunable filter, particularly a MEMS Fabry-Perot cavity; an optical lens; a diffractive element.

[0090] In a further aspect, a mobile device is disclosed, wherein the mobile device comprises a spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding claims referring to a spectrometer device. For this aspect, reference may be made to any definition, Embodiment, claim and / or aspect as disclosed herein.

[0091] The term “mobile device” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a mobile electronics device more specifically to a mobile communication device, configured for providing access to at least one telecommunication network, such as a cell phone, smart phone or a wearable. The mobile device may be a portable device.

[0092] The term “portable” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to the property of at least one object of being moved by human force, such as by a single user. Specifically, the object characterized by the term “portable” may have a weight not exceeding 10 kg, specifically not exceeding 5 kg, more specifically not exceeding 1 kg or even not exceeding 500 g. Additionally or alternatively, the dimensions of the object characterized by the term “portable” may be such that the object extends by no more than 0.3 m into any dimension, specifically by no more than 0.2 m into any dimension. The object, specifically, may have a volume of no more than 0.03 m3, specifically of no more than 0.01 m3, more specifically no more than 0.001 m3or even no more than 500 mm3. In particular, as an example, the portable spectrometer device may have dimensions of e.g. 10 mm by 10 mm by 5 mm. Specifically, the portable spectrometer device may be part of a mobile device or may be attachable to a mobile device, such as a notebook computer, a tablet, a cell phone, such as a smart phone, a smartwatch and / or a wearable computer, also referred to as “wearable”, e.g. a body borne computer such as a wrist band or a watch. In particular, the a weight of the spectrometer device, specifically the portable spectrometer device, may be in the range from 1 g to 100 g, more specifically in the range from 1 g to 10 g.

[0093] In a further aspect, a computer program comprising instructions is disclosed which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit of the spectrometer device as disclosed elsewhere herein, cause the spectrometer device to perform, particularly step ill. of, the method as disclosed elsewhere herein. For this aspect, reference may be made to any definition, Embodiment and / or further aspect as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0094] In a further aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is disclosed, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit of the spectrometer device as disclosed elsewhere herein, cause the spectrometer device to perform, particularly step ill. of, the method as disclosed elsewhere herein. For this aspect, reference may be made to any definition, Embodiment and / or further aspect as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0095] As used herein, the “computer-readable storage medium” specifically may refer to non- transitory data storage means, such as a hardware storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions. The stored computer-executable instruction may be associate with the computer program. The computer-readable data carrier or storage medium specifically may be or may comprise a storage medium such as a random-access memory (RAM) and / or a read-only memory (ROM). As used herein, the terms “have”, “comprise” or “include” or any arbitrary grammatical variations thereof are used in a non-exclusive way. Thus, these terms may both refer to a situation in which, besides the feature introduced by these terms, no further features are present in the entity described in this context and to a situation in which one or more further features are present. As an example, the expressions “A has B”, “A comprises B” and “A includes B” may both refer to a situation in which, besides B, no other element is present in A (i.e. a situation in which A solely and exclusively consists of B) and to a situation in which, besides B, one or more further elements are present in entity A, such as element C, elements C and D or even further elements.

[0096] Further, it shall be noted that the terms “at least one”, “one or more” or similar expressions indicating that a feature or element may be present once or more than once typically are used only once when introducing the respective feature or element. In most cases, when referring to the respective feature or element, the expressions “at least one” or “one or more” are not repeated, notwithstanding the fact that the respective feature or element may be present once or more than once.

[0097] Further, as used herein, the terms "preferably", "more preferably", "particularly", "more particularly", "specifically", "more specifically" or similar terms are used in conjunction with optional features, without restricting alternative possibilities. Thus, features introduced by these terms are optional features and are not intended to restrict the scope of the claims in any way. The invention may, as the skilled person will recognize, be performed by using alternative features. Similarly, features introduced by "in an embodiment of the invention" or similar expressions are intended to be optional features, without any restriction regarding alternative embodiments of the invention, without any restrictions regarding the scope of the invention and without any restriction regarding the possibility of combining the features introduced in such way with other optional or non-optional features of the invention.

[0098] The method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement, the spectrometer device for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail by spectroscopic measurement, the mobile device, the computer program comprising and the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention, in one or more of the above-mentioned embodiments and / or in one or more of the embodiments described in further detail below, provide a large number of advantages over known devices and methods of similar kind.

[0099] In particular, the present invention enables measuring the blood glucose level with low time delay. Further in particular, the present invention enables measuring changes of the blood glucose level over time in an easy, reliable and / or precise manner.

[0100] By moving spectrometer device along the growth direction of a nail the degree of glycation of the keratin in the nail may be determined in order to obtain a profile of the blood glucose level over time. One of the challenges may be to reliably determine the position at which each measurement was done. In principle, the position may be determined by using an image generation unit. However, for the spectroscopic measurements, a device needs to be placed in close proximity to the nail, so even in case an image generation unit is present, e.g. in a smartphone comprising an image generation unit and a spectrometer device, the image generation unit may obtain unusable images.

[0101] The following two options, alone or in combination, may overcome this problem:

[0102] Firstly, when moving the spectrometer along and / or against the growth direction of the nail, two characteristic spectral changes may occur: the transition from the bed of nails (skin) to the nail itself and the transition from the edge of the nail to air. By evaluating these two spectral changes, it may be made sure that the movement was done in a correct manner by the user. By evaluating the time difference between these two transitions, the movement speed assuming a constant movement may allowing determining the position at which a respective measurement was done.

[0103] The spectrometer device may include a self-motion sensor, e.g. a gyroscope. Such a selfmotion sensor is, typically, comprised by smartphones, so this solution is particularly cost efficient. The self-motion sensor may determine the movement speed and / or direction, in a manner that the position for each measurement may be calculated, if a reference position for the start of the measurement is known. A reference position may be obtained by using an image generation unit and / or at least one characteristic change in the spectral information as described elsewhere herein.

[0104] Summarizing and without excluding further possible embodiments, the following embodiments may be envisaged:

[0105] Embodiment 1 : A method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement, the method comprising: i. acquiring spectral information by using at least one spectrometer device at one or more different measurement positions; ii. acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position from at least one reference position measurement unit by using at least one connection interface; and ill. evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail, wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of reference information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail is obtained, particularly by using an evaluation unit. Embodiment 2: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the item of nail information on the at least one nail comprises an item of information on a degree of glycation of keratin.

[0106] Embodiment 3: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the method comprises a further step of evaluating a plurality of items of nail information of the at least one item of nail information for obtaining a profile of a blood glucose level over time.

[0107] Embodiment 4: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein evaluating a plurality of items of nail information of the at least one item of nail information for obtaining a profile of a blood glucose level over time comprises evaluating the measurement position of any item of nail information on the at least one nail.

[0108] Embodiment 5: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one reference position is at least one of:

[0109] - a point of transition from the nail bed to the nail;

[0110] - an free edge of the nail.

[0111] Embodiment 6: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the reference position measurement unit is at least one of:

[0112] - at least one image generation unit, particularly wherein for evaluating the item of reference information on at least one reference position image data captured by the at least one image generation unit is evaluated;

[0113] - at least one component of the spectrometer device, such as the detector, particularly wherein for evaluating the item of reference information on at least one reference position a characteristic in the spectral information is evaluated;

[0114] - at least one self-motion sensor, particularly wherein for evaluating the item of reference information on the at least one reference position a motion pattern is evaluated.

[0115] Embodiment 7: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail further comprises evaluating an item of direction information on a spatial measurement direction from the reference position to the measurement position.

[0116] Embodiment 8: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail further comprises evaluating an item of direction information on a spatial measurement direction from a first measurement position of the one or more different measurement position to at least one further measurement position of the one or more different measurement position.

[0117] Embodiment 9: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the spatial measurement direction is assumed parallel and / or coaxial to a known measurement path, particularly wherein the one or more different spatial measurement position are situated on the measurement path.

[0118] Embodiment 10: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein known measurement path is parallel and / or coaxial to a direction of growth of the nail from the nail bed to the free edge of the nail.

[0119] Embodiment 11 : The method according to any one of the three preceding Embodiment, wherein the item of direction information on spatial measurement direction is acquired by using at least one self-motion sensor.

[0120] Embodiment 12: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one self-motion sensor comprises at least one accelerometer.

[0121] Embodiment 13: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail comprises evaluating an item of speed information on a spatial measurement speed from the reference position to the measurement position.

[0122] Embodiment 14: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail comprises evaluating an item of speed information on a spatial measurement speed between the first measurement position of the one or more different measurement position and the at least one further measurement position of the one or more different measurement position.

[0123] Embodiment 15: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein at least one further item of reference information on a further reference position is acquired by using the reference position measurement unit, wherein the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed is obtained by evaluating the item of reference information on the at least one reference position and the further item of reference information on the at least one further reference position.

[0124] Embodiment 16: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one further reference position is at least one of:

[0125] - a point of transition from the nail bed to the nail; a free edge of the nail.

[0126] Embodiment 17: The method according to any one of the three preceding

[0127] Embodiments, wherein the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed is further obtained by evaluating an expected distance between the reference position and the further reference position.

[0128] Embodiment 18: The method according to any one of the three preceding

[0129] Embodiments, wherein the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed is acquired by the at least one self-motion sensor.

[0130] Embodiment 19: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the method further comprises a step of emitting illumination light for illuminating the at least one nail to generate detection light from the at least one nail when acquiring the spectral information by using a light emitting element comprised by the spectrometer device.

[0131] Embodiment 20: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the method further comprises a step of generating at least one detector signal when receiving the detection light from the nail when acquiring the spectral information by using a detector comprised by the spectrometer device, wherein evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail comprises evaluating the at least one detector signal.

[0132] Embodiment 21 : A spectrometer device for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail by spectroscopic measurement, the spectrometer device comprising:

[0133] (1 ) at least one light emitting element configured for emitting illumination light for illuminating the at least one nail in order to generate detection light from the at least one nail;

[0134] (2) at least one detector configured for generating at least one detector signal when receiving the detection light from the nail for acquiring spectral information at one or more different measurement position;

[0135] (3) at least one connection interface configured for acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position from a reference position measurement unit; and

[0136] (4) at least one evaluation unit configured for evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail, wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for each item of nail information on the at least one nail is obtained. Embodiment 22: The spectrometer device according to the preceding Embodiment referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the spectrometer device is configured for performing the method according to any one of the method Embodiments.

[0137] Embodiment 23: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the at least one detector comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements sensitive to differing wavelength intervals.

[0138] Embodiment 24: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding

[0139] Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the spectrometer device further comprises at least one wavelength-selective element, wherein the wavelength-selective element is disposed in at least one of:

[0140] - a beam path of the illumination light; or

[0141] - a beam path of the detection light.

[0142] Embodiment 25: The spectrometer device according to the preceding Embodiment referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the at least one the wavelength-selective element is configured and / or arranged in a manner that any photosensitive element of the plurality of photosensitive elements is exposed to an individual spectral range of detection light from the nail.

[0143] Embodiment 26: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the light emitting element is at least one of:

[0144] - a thermal radiator;

[0145] - a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based emitter;

[0146] - a laser, specifically a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), particularly emitting at least one wavelength in the infrared region;

[0147] - a light-emitting diode (LED), particularly o a LED emitting light that is at least partially located in the infrared spectral range and / or o a LED illuminating a phosphor for light-conversion of light generated by the LED, wherein the luminescent material generates converted light that is at least partly located in the near-infrared spectral range.

[0148] Embodiment 27: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the light emitting element is emitting infrared radiation.

[0149] Embodiment 28: A mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises a spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device. Embodiment 29: A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit of the spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, cause the spectrometer device to perform, particularly step iii. of, the method according to any one of the method Embodiments.

[0150] Embodiment 30: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer- readable storage medium including instructions which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit of the spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, cause the spectrometer device to perform, particularly step iii. of, the method according to any one of the method Embodiments.

[0151] Brief description of the figures

[0152] Further optional details and features of the invention are evident from the description of preferred exemplary embodiments which follows in conjunction with the dependent claims. In this context, the particular features may be implemented in an isolated fashion or in combination with other features. The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments are shown schematically in the figures. Identical reference numerals in the individual figures refer to identical elements or elements with identical function, or elements which correspond to one another with regard to their functions.

[0153] In the Figures:

[0154] Figure 1 shows an exemplary method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail of a living;

[0155] Figure 2 shows a schematic of an exemplary spectrometer device for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail; and

[0156] Figure 3 shows schematics of exemplary spectra of a nail.

[0157] Detailed description of the embodiments

[0158] Figure 1 shows, an exemplary method 110 for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail 130 of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement.

[0159] The method 110 is comprising the following steps: i. in a step 112, acquiring spectral information by using at least one spectrometer device 124 at one or more different measurement position; ii. in a step 114, acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position from at least one reference position measurement unit 136 by using at least one connection interface 137; and iii. in a step 116, evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail 130, wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of reference information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail 130 is obtained, particularly by using an evaluation unit 138.

[0160] The item of nail information on the at least one nail 130 may comprise an item of information on a degree of glycation of keratin and / or an item of information on a blood glucose level. The method may comprise a further step 118 of evaluating a plurality of items of nail information of the at least one item of nail information for obtaining a profile of a blood glucose level over time. Evaluating a plurality of items of nail information of the at least one item of nail information for obtaining a profile of a blood glucose level over time may comprise evaluating the measurement position of any item of nail information on the at least one nail 130, particularly for deriving a time stamp of the respective item of nail information by evaluating the related measurement position.

[0161] As may be derived from Figure 3, the at least one reference position may be at least one of:

[0162] - a point of transition 146 from the nail bed to the nail 130;

[0163] - an free edge 148 of the nail 130.

[0164] The reference position measurement unit 136 may be at least one image generation unit (as indicated in Figure 2), particularly wherein for evaluating the item of reference information on at least one reference position image data captured by the at least one image generation unit is evaluated.

[0165] Alternatively or in addition, the reference position measurement unit 136 may be at least one component of the spectrometer device 124, such as the detector, particularly wherein for evaluating the item of reference information on at least one reference position a characteristic in the spectral information is evaluated. In other words, the spectrometer device 124 or the respective component may be used as the reference position measurement unit 136. Alternatively or in addition, the reference position measurement unit 136 may be at least one self-motion sensor, particularly of the spectrometer device 124.

[0166] Particularly using the spectrometer device 124, specifically the detector, as the reference position measurement unit 136 may be possible, since the spectral information derived at different positions on the nail 130 show specific characteristic that may help to identify a respective reference position. To illustrate this, three different spectra 150 are depicted in Figure 3. In each spectra 150, the wavelength is depicted on a horizontal axis 152. The intensity of the detection light 131 is illustrated on a vertical axis 154. The position at which the spectra are obtained is illustrated by the arrows, pointing towards the nail 130. A typical measurement path having a measurement direction 156 is illustrated by an arrow denoted by reference number 156. Alternatively or in addition, the measurement direction 156 may be in the opposite direction.

[0167] As may further be derived from Figure 1 , obtaining the measurement position, particularly in step 116, for any item of nail information on the at least one nail 130 further may comprise evaluating an item of direction information on a spatial measurement direction from the reference position to the measurement position

[0168] Alternatively or in addition, obtaining the measurement position, particularly in step 116, for any item of nail information on the at least one nail 130 further may comprise evaluating an item of direction information on a spatial measurement direction from a first measurement position of the one or more different measurement position to at least one further measurement position of the one or more different measurement position.

[0169] The spatial measurement direction may be assumed parallel and / or coaxial to a known measurement path. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more different spatial measurement position may be situated on the measurement path. A known measurement path may be parallel and / or coaxial to a direction of growth of the nail from the nail bed to the free edge of the nail 130. The item of direction information on spatial measurement direction may be acquired by using at least one self-motion sensor. The at least one self-motion sensor may comprise at least one accelerometer.

[0170] Obtaining the measurement position, particularly in step 116, for any item of nail information on the at least one nail 130 may comprise evaluating an item of speed information on a spatial measurement speed from the reference position to the measurement position.

[0171] Alternatively or in addition, obtaining the measurement position, particularly in step 116, for any item of nail information on the at least one nail 130 may comprise evaluating an item of speed information on a spatial measurement speed between the first measurement position of the one or more different measurement position and the at least one further measurement position of the one or more different measurement position.

[0172] At least one further item of reference information on a further reference position may be acquired by using the reference position measurement unit 136. Alternatively or in addition, the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed may be obtained by evaluating the item of reference information on the at least one reference position and the further item of reference information on the at least one further reference position. The at least one further reference position may be at least one of:

[0173] - a point of transition 146 from the nail bed to the nail 130; a free edge 148 of the nail 130.

[0174] The item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed may be further obtained by evaluating an expected distance between the reference position and the further reference position. Alternatively or in addition, the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed may be acquired by the at least one self-motion sensor.

[0175] The method further may comprise a step 120, particularly as a part of step 112, of emitting illumination light 128 for illuminating the at least one nail 130 to generate detection light 131 from the at least one nail 130 when acquiring the spectral information by using a light emitting element 126 comprised by the spectrometer device 124.

[0176] The method further may comprises a step 122, particularly as a part of step 112, of generating at least one detector signal when receiving the detection light 131 from the nail 130 when acquiring the spectral information by using a detector comprised by the spectrometer device 124. Evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail 130, particularly in step 116, may comprise evaluating the at least one detector signal.

[0177] In Figure 2, an exemplary spectrometer device 124 for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail 130 by spectroscopic measurement is shown. The exemplary spectrometer device 124 may be comprised by a mobile device 144. The spectrometer device 124 may be configured for performing the method 110 as described elsewhere herein.

[0178] The spectrometer device 124 comprising:

[0179] (1) at least one light emitting element 126 configured for emitting illumination light 128 for illuminating the at least one nail 130, particularly through a measurement window 132, in order to generate detection light 131 from the at least one nail 130;

[0180] (2) at least one detector 134 configured for generating at least one detector signal when receiving the detection light 131 , particularly through a measurement window 132, from the nail 130 for acquiring spectral information at one or more different measurement positions;

[0181] (3) at least one connection interface 137 configured for acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position from a reference position measurement unit 136; and

[0182] (4) at least one evaluation unit 138 configured for evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail 130, wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for each item of nail information on the at least one nail 130 is obtained. The at least one detector 134 may comprise a plurality of photosensitive elements 140 sensitive to differing wavelength intervals. The spectrometer device 124 further may comprise at least one wavelength-selective element 142, wherein the wavelength-selective element 142 may be disposed in at least one of:

[0183] - a beam path of the illumination light 128; or

[0184] - a beam path of the detection light 131 (as exemplarily depicted in Figure 2).

[0185] The at least one the wavelength-selective element 142 may be configured and / or may be arranged in a manner that any photosensitive element of the plurality of photosensitive elements 140 is exposed to an individual spectral range of detection light 131 from the nail 130.

[0186] The light emitting element 126 may be at least one of:

[0187] - a thermal radiator;

[0188] - a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based emitter;

[0189] - a laser, specifically a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), particularly emitting at least one wavelength in the infrared region;

[0190] - a light-emitting diode (LED), particularly o a LED emitting light that is at least partially located in the infrared spectral range and / or o a LED illuminating a phosphor for light-conversion of light generated by the LED, wherein the luminescent material generates converted light that is at least partly located in the near-infrared spectral range.

[0191] The light emitting element 126 may be emitting infrared radiation.

[0192] A computer program comprising instructions is further disclosed (not depicted) which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit 138 of the spectrometer device 124 as disclosed elsewhere herein, cause the spectrometer device 124 to perform, particularly step ill. of, the method 110 as disclosed elsewhere herein. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is further disclosed (not depicted), the computer-readable storage medium including instructions which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit 138 of the spectrometer device 124 as disclosed elsewhere herein, cause the spectrometer device 124 to perform, particularly step ill. of, the method as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0193] List of reference numbers

[0194] 110 method for obtaining at least one item of nail information

[0195] 112 acquiring spectral information

[0196] 114 acquiring at least one item of reference information

[0197] 116 evaluating the spectral information

[0198] 118 obtaining a profile of a blood glucose level over time

[0199] 120 emitting illumination light for illuminating the at least one nail

[0200] 122 generating at least one detector signal when receiving the detection light

[0201] 124 spectrometer device

[0202] 126 light emitting element

[0203] 128 illumination light

[0204] 130 nail

[0205] 131 detection light

[0206] 132 measurement window

[0207] 134 detector

[0208] 136 reference position measurement unit

[0209] 137 connection interface

[0210] 138 evaluation unit

[0211] 140 photosensitive elements

[0212] 142 wavelength-selective element

[0213] 144 mobile device

[0214] 146 point of transition

[0215] 148 free edge

[0216] 150 spectrum

[0217] 152 horizontal axis

[0218] 154 vertical axis

[0219] 156 measurement direction

Claims

Claims1 . A method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail (130) of a living being by at least one spectroscopic measurement, the method comprising: i. acquiring spectral information by using at least one spectrometer device (124) at one or more different measurement positions; ii. acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position from at least one reference position measurement unit (136) by using at least one connection interface (137); and iii. evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail (130), wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of reference information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail (130) is obtained by using an evaluation unit (138).

2. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the item of nail information on the at least one nail (130) comprises an item of information on a degree of glycation of keratin.

3. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the method comprises a further step of evaluating a plurality of items of nail information of the at least one item of nail information for obtaining a profile of a blood glucose level over time.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reference position measurement unit (136) is at least one of:- at least one image generation unit;- at least one component of the spectrometer device (124);- at least one self-motion sensor.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail (130) further comprises evaluating an item of direction information on a spatial measurement direction from the reference position to the measurement position.

6. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the measurement direction is assumed at least one of: parallel; coaxial, to a known measurement path, wherein the known measurement path is at least one of: parallel; coaxial, to a direction of growth of the nail (130) from the nail bed to the free edge (148) of the nail (130).

7. The method according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the item of direction information on spatial measurement direction is acquired by using at least one self-motion sensor.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein obtaining the measurement position for any item of nail information on the at least one nail (130) comprises evaluating an item of speed information on a spatial measurement speed from the reference position to the measurement position.

9. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one further item of reference information on a further reference position is acquired by using the reference position measurement unit (136), wherein the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed is obtained by evaluating the item of reference information on the at least one reference position and the further item of reference information on the at least one further reference position.

10. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed is further obtained by evaluating an expected distance between the reference position and the further reference position.11 . The method according to any one of the three preceding claims, wherein the item of speed information on the spatial measurement speed is acquired by the at least one self-motion sensor.

12. A spectrometer device (124) for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail by spectroscopic measurement, the spectrometer device (124) comprising:(1 ) at least one light emitting element (126) configured for emitting illumination light for illuminating the at least one nail (130) in order to generate detection light (131 ) from the at least one nail (130);(2) at least one detector (134) configured for generating at least one detector (134) signal when receiving the detection light (131) from the nail (130) for acquiring spectral information at one or more different measurement position;(3) at least one connection interface (137) configured for acquiring at least one item of reference information on at least one reference position from a reference position measurement unit (136); and(4) at least one evaluation unit (138) configured for evaluating the spectral information for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail (130), wherein, by evaluating the at least one item of information on the at least one reference position when evaluating the spectral information, the measurement position for each item of nailinformation on the at least one nail (130) is obtained by using the evaluation unit (138).

13. A mobile device (144), wherein the mobile device (144) comprises a spectrometer device (124) according to the preceding claim referring to a spectrometer device (124).

14. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit (138) of the spectrometer device (124) according to any one of the preceding claims referring to a spectrometer device (124), cause the spectrometer device (124) to perform, particularly step ill. of, the method according to any one of the method claims.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit (138) of the spectrometer device (124) according to any one of the preceding claims referring to a spectrometer device (124), cause the spectrometer device (124) to perform, particularly step ill. of, the method according to any one of the method claims.

Images