A method to measure contamination-free spectra of the human fingernail

Abstract

The present invention refers to a method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail (118) of a living being (119) by at least one spectroscopic measurement, the method comprising: i. arranging a relative position between at least one nail (118) of the living being (119) and the at least one spectrometer device (136) in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device (136) covers at least a portion of a free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118); ii. acquiring at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118); iii. obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail (118) by evaluating the item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118) by using an evaluation unit.

Description

[0001] A method to measure contamination-free spectra of the human fingernail

[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 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] Human fingernail spectra have recently been identified as potential sites for spectroscopically and non-invasively determining human health indicators. Particular attention may be given to protein glycation, such as keratin glycalon, as a consequence of elevated blood glucose levels.

[0007] Tinne Monteyne et .al. describe in Analysis of protein glycation in human fingernail dippings with near-infrared (NiR) spectroscopy as an alternative technique for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, Clin. Chem. Lab Med. 2018; 56(9): 1551-1558 that glycated keratin allows the monitoring of average tissue glucose exposure over previous weeks. In this study, they wanted to explore if near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy could be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for assessing glycation in diabetes mellitus. A total of 52 patients with diabetes mellitus and 107 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. A limited number (n = 21) of nails of healthy subjects were glycated in vitro with 0.278 mol / L, 0.556 mol / L and 0.833 mol / L glucose solution to study the effect of glucose on the nail spectrum. Consequently, the nail clippings of the patients were analyzed using a Thermo Fisher Antaris II Near-IR Analyzer Spectrometer and near infrared (NIR) chemical imaging. Spectral classification (patients with diabetes mellitus vs. healthy subjects) was performed using partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). They conclude that analysis of protein glycation in human fingernail clippings with NIR spectroscopy could be an alternative affordable technique for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

[0008] US 2019 / 117134 A1 relates to a method and a 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.

[0009] When it comes to obtaining spectral information, typically, either milled fingernail clippings are used or the spectral information may be derived from the nail covering the nail bed of an attached finger nail. While the former requires significant sample preparation, the latter may carry significant unwanted spectral imprints from the tissue of the nail bed that reduces the signal quality.

[0010] When striving to obtain a clean fingernail spectrum from a human being without having to clip the fingernail beforehand, one faces the challenge to define a proper measurement spot. Simply using the portion above the nail bed yields a poor spectrum quality, because the light passes through the fingernail and interacts with the nail bed and the finger tissue before it is recorded. As a consequence, the spectrum may contain not just information about the fingernail, but has dominant contributions from the tissue below, too.

[0011] Problem to be solved

[0012] It is therefore desirable to provide 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 device, a computer program comprising and a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium, 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 at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail, such as the protein glycation, in an easy, reliable and / or precise manner. In particular, it may be an object of the present invention to decrease the noise of a spectroscopic signal when measuring the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail, such as protein glycation.

[0014] Summary

[0015] This problem is addressed by 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 with 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. 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.

[0016] 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 is disclosed 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 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, more preferably step Hi., 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 comprising the following steps: i. arranging a relative position between at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least a portion of a free edge of the at least one nail; ii. acquiring at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail; iii. obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail by evaluating the item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail by using an evaluation unit.

[0019] As already disclosed, the method comprises a step of arranging a relative position between at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least a portion of a free edge of the at least one nail.

[0020] 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.

[0021] The term “measurement spot” 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, specifically area, generated by a field of view of the spectrometer device that is located on the sample interface from which the light may be detected.

[0022] The term “field of view” 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 geometrical extent of the observable world that can be viewed by the respective sensor, such as the spectrometer device, specifically the detector of the spectrometer device, more specifically at least one photosensitive element. In particular, the field of view of a photosensitive element may correspond to at least one solid angle under which the respective sensor is sensitive to light, specifically sensitive to detection light generated by the at least one object or a portion thereof.

[0023] The term “sample 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 arbitrary surface, such as measurement surface, at which an object is intended to interact with an optical measurement system, such as the spectrometer device. The measurement surface may be a measurement plane. For interacting with the object, the spectrometer device may emit the illumination light, particularly in a manner that the object generates the detection light. In addition, the spectrometer may receive the detection light. Particularly to allow the interaction with the object as intended, the sample interface may define a measurement pose of the object. When the object assumes the measurement pose, particularly as defined by the sample interface, at least one of: receiving the illumination light by the object and, thereby, generating the detection light is performed in a manner as intended, such as that when the object assumes the measurement pose, the signal-to-noise ratio of the spectrometer device is minimized. At least one imaging plane of the spectrometer device, specifically the detector of the spectrometer device, more specifically at least one photosensitive element may be coinciding with the sample interface.

[0024] The free edge of the nail may be attached to the nail. The nail may be attached to the living being, specifically finger and / or toe and / or claw. The living being may be a human and / or an animal, particularly other differing from a human. Particularly when the free edge of the nail may be attached to the nail, the nail is joined to the free edge. Particularly when the free edge of the nail may be attached to the nail, the free edge may be an integral part of the nail. Particularly when the free edge of the nail may be attached to the nail, the free edge may not be separated from the nail, such as by being separated by using a nail clipper and / or a nail scissor. Particularly when the spectral measurement may be performed, the free edge of the nail may be free of a further treatment, particularly a treatment having an effect on the structure of the nail. Particularly when the spectral measurement may be performed, the free edge may not be milled.

[0025] The term “nail” 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 covering on the distal end, such as the tip, of a finger and / or a toe of a living being. Typically, a nail may form at an proximal end of the nail. The nail may be on the upper surface of finger and / or a toe of a living being.

[0026] The term “free edge” 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 refers to a portion of the nail protruding at least one further part of the living being, such as the finger and / or the toe, particularly when the at least one further part of the living being and / or the free edge may be free of at least one deforming external force. The further part of the living being may be different from the finger and / or the toe. The free edge may be free of being, specifically directly, in contact with and / or attached to the at least one further part of the living being, such as the finger and / or the toe, particularly when the further part of the living being and / or the free edge may be free of a deforming external force.

[0027] The term “arrange”, or any grammatical variation thereof, such as “arranging”, 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 bringing at least one arbitrary object to one or more predefined pose, specifically one or more predefined position and / or one or more predefined orientation. The one or more predefined pose may refer to a known pose and / or an in advance selected pose.

[0028] Arranging the relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail may comprise arranging at least one of:

[0029] - the at least one nail of the living being; and

[0030] - the at least one spectrometer device.

[0031] In the arranged relative position, the measurement spot of the spectrometer device may cover at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the free edge of the at least one nail.

[0032] As already disclosed, the measurement spot may be a surface, specifically an area, particularly from which detection light may be received. In case the measurement spot covers the free edge of the at least one nail, the measurement spot may be positioned in a manner that the measurement spot is located on the free edge of the nail. The measurement spot may comprise a first portion and a second portion, particularly wherein the first portion is different from the second portion. When the measurement spot of the spectrometer device may cover at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % of the free edge of the at least one nail, the first portion may be located on the free edge of the nail and / or the second portion may not be located on the free edge of the nail. A ratio between the first portion and the second portion may be 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 %. When the measurement spot of the spectrometer device may cover 100 % of the free edge of the at least one nail, the entire surface, specifically area, of the measurement spot may cover the free edge of the nail.

[0033] The term “relative 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 location an object or point in relation to at least one further object or point. The relative position may describe the spatial relationship between a plurality of objects or points without specifying their absolute location, such as by coordinates in a coordinate system.

[0034] As already disclosed, the method comprises a step of acquiring at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail.

[0035] 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, particularly measurement data of the physical world.

[0036] 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.

[0037] Acquiring at least one item of spectral information may comprise a step of a. illuminating at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail with illumination light by using at least one light emitting element, particularly in order to generate the detection light.

[0038] 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” (NI ) 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. 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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 at least one laser, specifically a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), particularly emitting at least one wavelength in the infrared region. By using a plurality of lasers several wavelengths may be covered.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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 near-infrared spectral range.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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 YaAlgO-^Ce3*); rare-earth-doped Sialons; copper- and aluminium-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Cu,AI).

[0049] 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.

[0050] The illumination light may have a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0051] Acquiring at least one item of spectral information may comprise a step of b. detecting the detection light by using at least one detector, particularly in order to generate at least one detector signal.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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, optionally in dependence of the wavelength, 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.

[0054] When the relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least a portion of a free edge of the at least one nail, at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the detected detection light, particularly the intensity of the detected detection light, may be generated by the free edge of the nail.

[0055] The term “intensity”, also referred to as “radiation intensity” 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 transferred power of electromagnetic radiation, such as light, per unit area. The intensity may be a photon flux per unit area. The area may be on a plane perpendicular to a direction of propagation of the electromagnetic radiation. The intensity may be obtained by the evaluating at least one detector signal.

[0056] The intensity may be measured, for example, by at least one of : counting the photons within at least one specific wavelength range and / or at least one specific detector area; using a calorimeter. Then, the measured photon flux through a surface element may be converted into at least one measure selected from at least one of: a voltage; a current, particularly thereby at least one detector signal may be generated. The at least one received measure may then by digitized, such as for creating at least one item of information of the intensity.

[0057] The illumination light may generate transmitted detection light. The detected detection light may be the transmitted detection light. The illumination light may generate reflected detection light. The detected detection light is the reflected detection light. The detected detection light may have a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0058] Acquiring at least one item of spectral information may comprise a step of c. obtaining the at least one item of spectral information by using evaluation unit, particularly by evaluating the at least one detector signal.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] As already disclosed, the method comprises a step of obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail by evaluating the item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail by using an evaluation unit.

[0062] 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 on the nail derived by evaluating the spectral information. The item of nail information may refer to at least one information that may be derived from the item of spectral Infor- mation 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 the item of spectral information in a specific context, such as diabetes care.

[0063] The item of nail information on the at least one nail may comprise an item of information on a degree of glycation of at least one nail protein, such as keratin.

[0064] The term “glycation” 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 at least one chemical reaction that occurs when one or more sugars, particularly in the bloodstream, of the living being bind and / or are attached to one or more proteins and / or one or more fats, particularly without one or more enzymes being involved in the at least one chemical reaction. The term “nail protein” 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 protein comprised by the nail, particularly as a constituent of the nail. The nail protein may form the nail. The term “degree” in this context may refer to at least one value quantitatively and / or qualitatively describing the amount of sugar bound to the nail protein. A blood glucose level that is elevated over time may cause an increased degree of protein glycation. Consequently, the amount of amount of sugar bound to the nail protein may be a measure for the historic average blood glucose level. The historic average blood glucose level may be averaged over a 1 week; 1 month.

[0065] The method may comprise a further step of iv. comparing the item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein to a reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein by using the evaluation unit, particularly for obtaining an historic average blood glucose level of the living being.

[0066] The term “comparing” 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 examining at least one similarity and / or at least one difference between a plurality of items, particularly in a manner that at least one characteristic, feature and / or quality of at least one item in relation to at least one further item.

[0067] The term “reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein” 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 standard and / or a benchmark item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein. The reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein may be considered for providing a consistent and standardized basis for assessing the item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein. The reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein may be used to determine a historic average blood glucose level of the living being, such as an average blood glucose level at a past time. The reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein may be used to determine a historic degree of diabetes of the living being, such as a degree of diabetes at a past time.

[0068] 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. The spectrometer device comprises:

[0069] (1) at least one evaluation unit, wherein the evaluation unit is configured for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail by evaluating an item of spectral information on at least a portion of the free edge of the at least one nail, wherein the spectrometer device is configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail when a relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail. For this aspect, reference may be made to any definition, Embodiment and / or further aspect as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0070] The free edge of the nail may be attached to the nail. The nail may be attached to the living being. The item of nail information on the at least one nail comprises an item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein, such as keratin.

[0071] The evaluation unit may be further configured for comparing the item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein to a reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein, particularly for obtaining an historic average blood glucose level of the living being.

[0072] The spectrometer device may be further configured in a manner that arranging a relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail may comprise arranging at least one of:

[0073] - the at least one nail of the living being; and

[0074] - the at least one spectrometer device.

[0075] In the arranged relative position, the measurement spot of the spectrometer device may cover at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the free edge of the at least one nail.

[0076] For the spectrometer device being configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail, the spectrometer device may further comprise (2) at least one light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element is configured for illuminating at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail with illumination light, particularly in order to generate detection light.

[0077] The illumination light may have a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0078] For the spectrometer device being configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail, the spectrometer device may further comprise

[0079] (3) at least one detector, wherein the detector is configured for detecting the detection light, particularly in order to generate at least one detector signal.

[0080] When the relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least a portion of a free edge of the at least one nail, at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the detected detection light may be generated by the free edge of the nail.

[0081] The illumination light may generate transmitted detection light. The spectrometer device may be configured for detecting detection light that is that transmitted detection light. The illumination light may generate reflected detection light. The spectrometer device may be configured for detecting detection light that is the reflected detection light. The detected detection light may have a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0082] For the spectrometer device being configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail, the evaluation unit may be configured for obtaining the at least one item of spectral information, particularly by evaluating the at least one detector signal.

[0083] The spectrometer device may be configured for performing the method as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0084] The at least one detector may comprise a plurality of photosensitive elements sensitive to differing wavelength intervals. Alternatively or in addition, the at least one detector may comprise a plurality of photosensitive element sensitive to a specific wavelength interval. Alternatively or in addition, the at least one detector may comprise a single photosensitive element sensitive to a specific wavelength interval.

[0085] The spectrometer device may further comprise at least one wavelength-selective element, wherein the wavelength-selective element may be disposed in at least one of:

[0086] - a beam path of the illumination light; or

[0087] - a beam path of the detection light. The at least one wavelength-selective element may be 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. Alternatively or in addition, particularly in case the at least one detector may comprise a single or a plurality of photosensitive elements sensitive to the specific wavelength interval, the wavelength-selective element may be configured such that each of the photosensitive elements may be exposed to the same spectral range of the detection light. Alternatively or in addition, particularly in case the at least one detector may comprise a single or a plurality of photosensitive element sensitive to the specific wavelength interval, the wavelength interval of the illumination light generated by the light emitting element may be shifted, such as by tuning the light emitting element. Alternatively or in addition, particularly in case the at least one detector may comprise a single or a plurality of photosensitive elements sensitive to the specific wavelength interval, the wavelength interval of the detection light may be shifted such as by being tuned by using the wavelength-selective element.

[0088] 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.

[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. 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.

[0090] 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.

[0091] 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.

[0092] The light emitting element may be at least one of:

[0093] - a thermal radiator;

[0094] - a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based emitter;

[0095] - at least one laser, specifically a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), particularly emitting at least one wavelength in the infrared region;

[0096] - 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.

[0097] In a further aspect a mobile device is disclosed, wherein the mobile device comprises a spectrometer device as disclosed elsewhere herein. For this aspect, reference may be made to any definition, Embodiment and / or further aspect as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0098] 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.

[0099] 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.

[0100] 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 any one of the steps ill. and iv. 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. The evaluation unit may perform the steps ill. and iv..

[0101] 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 any one of the steps ill. and iv. 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. The evaluation unit may perform the steps Hi. and iv..

[0102] As used herein, the “computer-readable storage medium” specifically may refer to non-transi- tory data storage means, such as a hardware storage medium having stored thereon computerexecutable 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 readonly memory (ROM).

[0103] 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.

[0104] 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, nonwithstanding the fact that the respective feature or element may be present once or more than once.

[0105] 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.

[0106] 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.

[0107] In particular, the present invention enables measuring the protein glycation in an easy, reliable and / or precise manner. Further in particular, the present invention enables decreasing the noise of a spectroscopic signal when measuring the protein glycation.

[0108] It may be proposed to measure the fingernail on the free edge portion to

[0109] 1 . typically, gather orders of magnitude more light, and

[0110] 2. typically, obtain a spectrum that is free from contributions of constituents other than the fingernail itself.

[0111] The former may be achieved both in diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (e.g. by using a Multi Purpose Analyzer for performing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, at least one Fiber probe or at least one handheld near infrared scanners) or in transmission spectroscopy using an appropriate spectrometer hardware (e.g., an illumination and collection fiber on the top and / or bottom of the nail; or the other way around).

[0112] Summarizing and without excluding further possible embodiments, the following embodiments may be envisaged:

[0113] 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. arranging a relative position between at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least a portion of a free edge of the at least one nail; ii. acquiring at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail;

[0114] Hi. obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail by evaluating the item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail by using an evaluation unit.

[0115] Embodiment 2: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the free edge of the nail is attached to the nail and the nail is attached to the living being.

[0116] Embodiment 3: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the item of nail information on the at least one nail comprises an item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein, such as keratin.

[0117] Embodiment 4: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the method comprises a further step of iv. comparing the item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein to a reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein by using the evaluation unit, particularly for obtaining an historic average blood glucose level of the living being.

[0118] Embodiment 5: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein arranging a relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail comprises arranging at least one of:

[0119] - the at least one nail of the living being; and

[0120] - the at least one spectrometer device.

[0121] Embodiment 6: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein, in the arranged relative position, the measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the free edge of the at least one nail.

[0122] Embodiment 7: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein acquiring at least one item of spectral information comprises a step of a. illuminating at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail with illumination light by using at least one light emitting element, particularly in order to generate the detection light. Embodiment 8: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the illumination light has a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0123] Embodiment 9: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein acquiring at least one item of spectral information comprises a step of b. detecting the detection light by using at least one detector, particularly in order to generate at least one detector signal.

[0124] Embodiment 10: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein, when the relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least a portion of a free edge of the at least one nail, at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the detected detection light is generated by the free edge of the nail.

[0125] Embodiment 11 : The method according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, wherein the illumination light generates transmitted detection light, wherein the detected detection light is the transmitted detection light.

[0126] Embodiment 12: The method according to any one of the three preceding Embodiments, wherein the illumination light generates reflected detection light, wherein the detected detection light is the reflected detection light.

[0127] Embodiment 13: The method according to any one of the four preceding Embodiments, wherein the detected detection light has a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0128] Embodiment 14: The method according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein acquiring at least one item of spectral information comprises a step of c. obtaining the at least one item of spectral information by using evaluation unit, particularly by evaluating the at least one detector signal.

[0129] Embodiment 15: A spectrometer device for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail by spectroscopic measurement, wherein the spectrometer device comprises (1) at least one evaluation unit, wherein the evaluation unit is configured for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail by evaluating an item of spectral information on at least a portion of the free edge of the at least one nail, wherein the spectrometer device is configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail when a relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail. Embodiment 16: The spectrometer device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the free edge of the nail is attached to the nail and the nail is attached to the living being.

[0130] Embodiment 17: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the item of nail information on the at least one nail comprises an item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein, such as keratin.

[0131] Embodiment 18: The spectrometer device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the evaluation unit is further configured for comparing the item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein to a reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein, particularly for obtaining an historic average blood glucose level of the living being.

[0132] Embodiment 19: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the spectrometer device is further configured in a manner that arranging a relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail comprises arranging at least one of:

[0133] - the at least one nail of the living being; and

[0134] - the at least one spectrometer device.

[0135] Embodiment 20: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein, in the arranged relative position, the measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the free edge of the at least one nail.

[0136] Embodiment 21 : The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein, for the spectrometer device being configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail, the spectrometer device further comprises

[0137] (2) at least one light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element is configured for illuminating at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail with illumination light, particularly in order to generate detection light.

[0138] Embodiment 22: The spectrometer device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the illumination light has a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0139] Embodiment 23: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein, for the spectrometer device being configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail, the spectrometer device further comprises

[0140] (3) at least one detector, wherein the detector is configured for detecting the detection light, particularly in order to generate at least one detector signal.

[0141] Embodiment 24: The spectrometer device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein, when the relative position between the at least one nail of the living being and the at least one spectrometer device is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device covers at least a portion of a free edge of the at least one nail, at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the detected detection light is generated by the free edge of the nail.

[0142] Embodiment 25: The spectrometer device according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the illumination light generates transmitted detection light, wherein the spectrometer device is configured for detecting detection light that is that transmitted detection light.

[0143] Embodiment 26: The spectrometer device according to any one of the three preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the illumination light generates reflected detection light, wherein the spectrometer device is configured for detecting detection light that is the reflected detection light.

[0144] Embodiment 27: The spectrometer device according to any one of the four preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the detected detection light has a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0145] Embodiment 28: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein, for the spectrometer device being configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge of the at least one nail, the evaluation unit is configured for obtaining the at least one item of spectral information, particularly by evaluating the at least one detector signal.

[0146] Embodiment 29: The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the spectrometer device is configured for performing the method according to any one of the preceding method Embodiments.

[0147] Embodiment 30: The spectrometer device according to any one of the seven preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device, wherein the at least one detector comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements sensitive to differing wavelength intervals.

[0148] Embodiment 31 : The spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding 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:

[0149] - a beam path of the illumination light; or

[0150] - a beam path of the detection light.

[0151] Embodiment 32: The spectrometer device according to the preceding Embodiments 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.

[0152] Embodiment 33: 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:

[0153] - a thermal radiator;

[0154] - a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based emitter;

[0155] - at least one laser, specifically a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), particularly emitting at least one wavelength in the infrared region;

[0156] - 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.

[0157] Embodiment 34: A mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises a spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectrometer device.

[0158] Embodiment 35: 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 any one of the steps ill. and iv. of, the method according to any one of the method Embodiments.

[0159] Embodiment 36: 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 any one of the steps ill. and iv. of, the method according to any one of the method Embodiments.

[0160] Short description of the Figures Further optional features and embodiments will be disclosed in more detail in the subsequent description of embodiments, preferably in conjunction with the dependent claims. Therein, the respective optional features may be realized in an isolated fashion as well as in any arbitrary feasible combination, as the skilled person will realize. The scope of the invention is not restricted by the preferred embodiments. The embodiments are schematically depicted in the Figures. Therein, identical reference numbers in these Figures refer to identical or functionally comparable elements.

[0161] In the Figures:

[0162] Figure 1 shows several spectra obtained at differing measurement position on a nail;

[0163] Figure 2 shows exemplary method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail;

[0164] Figure 3 shows exemplary transmitted detection light and reflected detection light; and

[0165] Figure 4 shows exemplary spectrometer device for obtaining at least one item of nail information.

[0166] Detailed description of the embodiments

[0167] Figure 1 shows different spectra 110 of a nail 118 of a living being 119, specifically a human, derived at differing measurement position on the nail 118. 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 118, from which the item of spectral information is obtained. Particularly therefore, the measurement position may be within the field of view, specifically within a measurement spot, of the spectrometer device 136 in a manner that detection light 146 may be detected by the at least one detector 152 of the spectrometer device 136 from the measurement position in order to obtain the item of spectral information.

[0168] On the horizontal axis 112 the wavelength in nanometer is depicted. On the vertical axis 114 the negative logarithm of the reflectance or the absorbance is depicted. The measurement positions on the nail for each spectrum is indicated by the numbers 1 to 11 in the Figure of the nail 116 within Figure 1 . The spectrum 110 that corresponds to a specific measurement position is then indicated by the numbers 1 to 11.

[0169] The spectra 110 with the numbers 1 , 2, 3, 7 and 8 are obtained at the nail bed 158. These spectra 110 show a significantly higher absorbance when compared to the remaining spectra with the numbers 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11 that are obtained at the free edge 160. The significantly higher absorbance results in an up to two order of magnitudes less signal strength, owing to, among others, a clear and strong water absorption imprint.

[0170] This leads to the circumstance that the noise levels are increasingly impactful with increasing wavelength. Beyond a wavelength of around 2000 nm, the spectral appearance is strongly dominated by noise for the spectra 110 with the numbers 1 , 2, 3, 7 and 8 obtained at the nail bed 158. In the absence of a strong water signal, such as it is the case for the remaining spectra 110 with the numbers 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11 , clean and almost noise-free signals of the fingernail itself are obtained. This is particularly true in the interesting 1st overtone regime around 1900 nm.

[0171] In Figure 2, an exemplary method 120 for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail 118 of a living being 119 by at least one spectroscopic measurement is shown. The method comprises the following steps: i. in a step 122, arranging a relative position between at least one nail 118 of the living being 119 and the at least one spectrometer device 136 in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device 136 covers at least a portion of a free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118;

[0172] II. in a step 124, acquiring at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118; ill. in a step 126, obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail 118 by evaluating the item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118 by using an evaluation unit 140.

[0173] The free edge 160 of the nail 118 may be attached to the nail. The nail 118 may be attached to the living being 119. The item of nail information on the at least one nail 118 may comprise an item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein, such as keratin.

[0174] The method may comprise a further step of iv. in a step 128, comparing the item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein to a reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein by using the evaluation unit 140, particularly for obtaining an historic average blood glucose level of the living being 119.

[0175] Arranging the relative position between the at least one nail 118 of the living being 119 and the at least one spectrometer device 136 in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device 136 covers at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118 may comprise arranging at least one of:

[0176] - the at least one nail 118 of the living being 119; and

[0177] - the at least one spectrometer device 136. In the arranged relative position, the measurement spot of the spectrometer device 136 may cover at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118.

[0178] Acquiring at least one item of spectral information may comprise a step of a. in a step 130, illuminating at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118 with illumination light 144 by using at least one light emitting element 142, particularly in order to generate the detection light 146.

[0179] The illumination light 144 may have a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0180] Acquiring at least one item of spectral information may comprise a step of b. in a step 132, detecting the detection light 146 by using at least one detector 152, particularly in order to generate at least one detector 152 signal.

[0181] The detected detection light 146 may have a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0182] When the relative position between the at least one nail 118 of the living being 119 and the at least one spectrometer device 136 is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device 136 covers at least a portion of a free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118, at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the detected detection light 146 may be generated by the free edge 160 of the nail 118.

[0183] As may be derived from the lower portion of Figure 3, the illumination light 144 may generate transmitted detection light 146. The detected detection light 146 may be the transmitted detection light 146. Alternatively or in addition, the illumination light 144 may generate reflected detection light 146, as may be derived from the upper portion of Figure 3. The detected detection light 146 may be the reflected detection light 146.

[0184] As further shown in Figure 2, acquiring at least one item of spectral information may comprise a step of c. in a step 134, obtaining the at least one item of spectral information by using evaluation unit 140, particularly by evaluating the at least one detector 152 signal.

[0185] In Figure 4 an exemplary spectrometer device 136 for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail 118 by spectroscopic measurement is shown. The exemplary spectrometer device 136 is comprised by an exemplary mobile device 138. The spectrometer device 136 comprises:

[0186] (1) at least one evaluation unit 140, wherein the evaluation unit 140 is configured for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail 118 by evaluating an item of spectral information on at least a portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118, wherein the spectrometer device 136 is configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118 when a relative position between the at least one nail 118 of the living being 119 and the at least one spectrometer device 136 is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device 136 covers at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118.

[0187] The free edge 160 of the nail 118 may be attached to the nail 118. The nail 118 may be attached to the living being 119. The item of nail information on the at least one nail 118 comprises an item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein, such as keratin.

[0188] The evaluation unit 140 may be further configured for comparing the item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein to a reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein, particularly for obtaining an historic average blood glucose level of the living being 119.

[0189] The spectrometer device 136 140 may be further configured in a manner that arranging a relative position between the at least one nail 118 of the living being 119 and the at least one spectrometer device 136 in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device 136 covers at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one 118 nail may comprise arranging at least one of:

[0190] - the at least one nail 118 of the living being 119; and

[0191] - the at least one spectrometer device 136.

[0192] In the arranged relative position, the measurement spot of the spectrometer device 136 may cover at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118.

[0193] For the spectrometer device 136 being configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118, the spectrometer device 136 may further comprise

[0194] (2) at least one light emitting element 142, wherein the light emitting element 142 is configured for illuminating at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118 with illumination light 144, particularly through a measurement window 148 and / or a sample interface 150, particularly in order to generate detection light 146.

[0195] The illumination light 144 may have a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm. For the spectrometer device 136 being configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118, the spectrometer device 136 may further comprise

[0196] (3) at least one detector 152, wherein the detector 152 is configured for detecting the detection light 146, particularly in order to generate at least one detector 152 signal.

[0197] When the relative position between the at least one nail 118 of the living being 119 and the at least one spectrometer device 136 is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device 136 covers at least a portion of a free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118, at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the detected detection light 146 may be generated by the free edge 160 of the nail 118.

[0198] The illumination light 144 may generate transmitted detection light 146. The spectrometer device 136 may be configured for detecting detection light 146 that is that transmitted detection light 146.

[0199] The illumination light 144 may generate reflected detection light 146. The spectrometer device 136 may be configured for detecting detection light 146 that is the reflected detection light 146.

[0200] The detected detection light 146 may have a wavelength between 300 nm and 3000 nm, specifically 800 nm and 3000 nm.

[0201] For the spectrometer device 136 being configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge 160 of the at least one nail 118, the evaluation unit 140 may be configured for obtaining the at least one item of spectral information, particularly by evaluating the at least one detector 152 signal.

[0202] The spectrometer device 136 may be configured for performing the method as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[0203] The at least one detector 152 may comprise a plurality of photosensitive element 154s 154 sensitive to differing wavelength intervals. Alternatively or in addition, the at least one detector 152 may comprise a single or a plurality of photosensitive element 154s 154 sensitive to a specific wavelength interval.

[0204] The spectrometer device 136 may further comprise at least one wavelength-selective element 156, wherein the wavelength-selective element 156 may be disposed in at least one of:

[0205] - a beam path of the illumination light 144; or

[0206] - a beam path of the detection light 146. The at least one the wavelength-selective element 156 may be configured and / or arranged in a manner that any photosensitive element 154 of the plurality of photosensitive element 154s is exposed to an individual spectral range of detection light 146 from the nail 118. Alternatively or in addition, particularly in case the at least one detector 152 may comprise a single photosensitive element 154 sensitive to a specific wavelength interval, the wavelength interval of the illumination light 144 generated by the light emitting element 142 may be tuned.

[0207] The light emitting element 142 may be at least one of:

[0208] - a thermal radiator;

[0209] - a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based emitter;

[0210] - at least one laser, specifically a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), particularly emitting at least one wavelength in the infrared region;

[0211] - 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.

[0212] In addition, a computer program comprising instructions is disclosed (not depicted) which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit 140 of the spectrometer device 136 as elsewhere disclosed herein, cause the spectrometer device 136 to perform, particularly any one of the steps ill. and iv. of, the method as elsewhere disclosed herein.

[0213] In addition, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is disclosed (not depicted), the computer-readable storage medium including instructions which, when the program is executed by the evaluation unit 140 of the spectrometer device 136 as elsewhere disclosed herein, cause the spectrometer device 136 to perform, particularly any one of the steps ill. and iv. of, the method as elsewhere disclosed herein.

[0214] List of reference numbers

[0215] 110 spectrum of a nail

[0216] 112 horizontal axis

[0217] 114 vertical axis

[0218] 116 figure of the nail

[0219] 118 nail

[0220] 119 living being

[0221] 120 method for obtaining at least one item of nail information

[0222] 122 arranging a relative position

[0223] 124 acquiring at least one item of spectral information

[0224] 126 obtaining the at least one item of nail information

[0225] 128 comparing the item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein

[0226] 130 illuminating at least the portion of the free edge

[0227] 132 detecting the detection light

[0228] 134 obtaining the at least one item of spectral information

[0229] 136 spectrometer device

[0230] 138 mobile device

[0231] 140 evaluation unit

[0232] 142 light emitting element

[0233] 144 illumination light

[0234] 146 detection light

[0235] 148 measurement window

[0236] 150 sample interface

[0237] 152 detector

[0238] 154 photosensitive element

[0239] 156 wavelength-selective element

[0240] 158 nail bed

[0241] 160 free edge

Claims

Claims1 . A method for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail (118) of a living being (119) by at least one spectroscopic measurement, the method comprising: i. arranging a relative position between at least one nail (118) of the living being (119) and the at least one spectrometer device (136) in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device (136) covers at least a portion of a free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118), wherein the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118) is a portion of the at least one nail (118) protruding at least one of: a finger; a toe of the living being (119); ii. acquiring at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118); ill. obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail (118) by evaluating the item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118) by using an evaluation unit.

2. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the free edge (160) of the nail (118) is attached to the nail (118) and the nail (118) is attached to the living being (119).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the item of nail information on the at least one nail (118) comprises an item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein.

4. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the method comprises a further step of iv. comparing the item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein to a reference item of information on a degree of glycation of nail protein by using the evaluation unit for obtaining an historic average blood glucose level of the living being (119).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein acquiring at least one item of spectral information comprises a step of a. illuminating at least the portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118) with illumination light (144) by using at least one light emitting element (142) in order to generate detection light (146).

6. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein acquiring at least one item of spectral information comprises a step of b. detecting the detection light (146) by using at least one detector (152) in order to generate at least one detector (152) signal.

7. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein, when the relative position between the at least one nail (118) of the living being (119) and the at least one spectrometer device (136) is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device (136) covers at least a portion of a free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118), at least 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, 90 %, 95 % or 100 % of the detected detection light (146) is generated by the free edge (160) of the nail (118).

8. The method according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the illumination light (144) generates transmitted detection light (146) by interacting with at least the portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118), wherein the detected detection light (146) is the transmitted detection light (146).

9. The method according to any one of the three preceding claims, wherein the illumination light (144) generates reflected detection light (146) by interacting with at least the portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118), wherein the detected detection light (146) is the reflected detection light (146).

10. The method according to any one of the four preceding claims, wherein acquiring at least one item of spectral information comprises a step of c. obtaining the at least one item of spectral information by using an evaluation unit by evaluating the at least one detector (152) signal.11 . A spectrometer device (136) for obtaining at least one item of nail information on at least one nail (118) by spectroscopic measurement, wherein the spectrometer device (136) comprises(1 ) at least one evaluation unit, wherein the evaluation unit is configured for obtaining the at least one item of nail information on the at least one nail (118) by evaluating an item of spectral information on at least a portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118), wherein the spectrometer device (136) is configured for acquiring the at least one item of spectral information on at least the portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118) when a relative position between the at least one nail (118) of the living being (119) and the at least one spectrometer device (136) is arranged in a manner that a measurement spot of the spectrometer device (136) covers at least the portion of the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118), wherein the free edge (160) of the at least one nail (118) is a portion of the at least one nail (118) protruding at least one of: a finger; a toe of the living being (119).

12. The spectrometer device (136) according to the preceding claim referring to a spectrometer device (136), wherein the spectrometer device (136) is configured for performing the method according to any one of the preceding method claims.

13. A mobile device (138), wherein the mobile device comprises a spectrometer device (136) according to any one of the preceding claims referring to a spectrometer device (136).

14. 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 claims referring to a spectrometer device (136), cause the spectrometer device (136) to perform, particularly at least one of the steps Hi. and iv. 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 of the spectrometer device according to any one of the preceding claims referring to a spectrometer device (136), cause the spectrometer device (136) to perform, particularly at least one of the steps ill. and iv. of, the method according to any one of the method claims.

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