Blood Analysis Spectrometer with Vertical Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current healthcare approaches are inadequate for frequent, accurate, and painless blood measurements, relying on expensive and infrequent laboratory tests that limit the ability to monitor health and wellness effectively, especially for preventive measures and personalized care.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for frequent, reliable blood measurements using a small blood sample collector and spectrometer that allows for whole blood reagentless spectroscopy, enabling quantitative measurements of blood chemistry with minimal blood volume, allowing for more frequent and accurate health monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional laboratory blood panels are used, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement frequency decreases and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/chemical laboratory blood analysis methods with spectroscopic measurement. The spectrometer uses light absorption principles to measure blood chemistry parameters non-invasively or with minimal blood sample, eliminating the need for complex laboratory processing and enabling frequent home-based measurements while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the measurement parameters by using optical absorption coefficients at different wavelengths to detect blood chemistry. By measuring light absorption at multiple wavelengths and analyzing the spectral data, the system can determine various blood parameters (glucose, cholesterol, etc.) without traditional chemical reagents, enabling rapid and repeated measurements.
2Measurement precision
If frequent blood measurements are performed, then health monitoring accuracy is improved, but blood sample volume requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional blood analysis requiring large blood volumes with spectroscopic measurement that can analyze blood chemistry with minimal sample. The spectrometer measures light absorption properties of blood, allowing accurate health marker detection from small blood drops or even non-invasively through tissue, eliminating the need for frequent large blood draws.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates an optical copy or spectral fingerprint of the blood sample. By measuring the absorption spectrum of blood at multiple wavelengths, the system captures all necessary chemical information in a non-destructive manner, allowing repeated measurements from the same or minimal blood sample without consuming large volumes.
3Reliability
If traditional blood collection methods are used, then measurement reliability is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional needle-based blood collection with spectroscopic measurement. The system can analyze blood through minimal contact methods, such as placing a small blood drop on a sensor or even measuring through intact skin, eliminating pain and complexity of traditional venipuncture while maintaining measurement reliability through consistent spectral analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables users to perform their own blood analysis at home without requiring medical personnel. The device is designed for easy operation where users can collect minimal blood sample themselves (or use non-invasive measurement) and the spectrometer automatically performs the analysis, making the process simple and reliable for non-experts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to track changes in health markers with in-home spectroscopic measurements, motivating lifestyle experiments and providing actionable insights for improving health through frequent, painless, and accurate blood analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The blood collector and spectrometer can be configured for whole blood reagentless spectroscopy, in which the blood sample separates within the container when the collector has been placed on the receptacle of the spectrometer.
Implementation Method 2
The container can be configured for placement in the spectrometer receptacle with the elongate axis extending toward a vertical direction in order to improve gravimetric separation of the blood sample.
Data Source
AI summary
A blood sample collector can be used to collect a blood sample from a subject. The blood sample collector can be placed in a receptacle of a spectrometer to measure spectral data from the blood sample while the blood sample separates. The container may comprise a window to allow light such as infrared light to pass through the container, with the blood sample at least partially separating within the container between spectral measurements, which can provide improved accuracy of the measurements and additional information regarding the sample. The container may comprise an elongate axis and the container configured for placement in the spectrometer receptacle with the elongate axis extending toward a vertical direction in order to improve gravimetric separation of the blood sample. The spectrometer can be configured to measure the blood sample at a plurality of heights along the sample as the sample separates.