Hemoglobin Spectrometer with Optical Diffusers for Scattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spectroscopic systems face challenges in accurately measuring hemoglobin parameters in whole blood due to strong optical scattering, which leads to light loss and nonlinear absorbance, making it difficult to collect sufficient light and expand the upper absorbance measurement range, and requires new algorithms to handle blood settling effects and non-uniform light sources.
Innovation Solution
The system uses a prism-based spectrometer with optical diffusers to scramble the spatial light distribution, increasing light collection and absorbance measurement range, and employs a kernel-based orthogonal projection to latent structures (KOPLS) mapping function to process absorbance data, while maintaining thermal stability and reducing measurement errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional spectroscopic systems are used to measure whole blood, then the measurement process is simple, but strong optical scattering causes light loss and nonlinear absorbance, making accurate measurement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional direct transmission spectroscopy to time-resolved frequency domain spectroscopy, adding the time/frequency dimension to the measurement. This allows separation of ballistic, quasi-ballistic, and diffuse photon paths, enabling accurate absorbance measurement despite scattering by analyzing photons at different flight times and frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical frequency domain reflectometer (OFDR) as an intermediary device that modulates light frequency and measures phase shifts. This intermediary system converts the scattering problem into a frequency-domain measurement, where scattering effects can be distinguished from absorption effects through frequency analysis.
2Measurement precision
If conventional spectroscopic systems are used, then the system design is simple, but the upper absorbance measurement range cannot be expanded due to light loss
Solution Approach 1:
By moving to frequency domain measurement, the system can extract absorbance information from the frequency-dependent phase shifts of modulated light. This dimensional change allows measurement of higher absorbance values that would otherwise be lost to scattering, as the frequency modulation encodes additional information about photon paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic frequency modulation of the light source and time-resolved detection, making the measurement system adaptive. The system dynamically adjusts measurement parameters based on photon flight time and frequency response, enabling extended measurement range while managing system complexity through intelligent control.
3Productivity
If whole blood is measured directly, then sample preparation is avoided, but blood settling effects and non-uniform light sources require new algorithms to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency domain measurement acts as an intermediary that is insensitive to spatial non-uniformities in the sample. By measuring phase shifts of modulated light rather than direct intensity, the system automatically compensates for blood settling and non-uniform light distribution without requiring additional algorithms or sample preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional intensity-based detection with frequency/phase-based detection. This substitution transforms the measurement from being sensitive to spatial variations (requiring algorithmic correction) to being inherently insensitive to such variations, as phase shifts encode absorption information independent of spatial distribution.
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
This approach allows for accurate measurement of hemoglobin parameters in whole blood with improved light collection, reduced measurement errors, and faster spectral acquisition times, achieving high correlation with lysed blood scans and maintaining precise wavelength accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
prism-based spectrometer
Implementation Method 2
optical diffusers to scramble the spatial light distribution
Implementation Method 3
absorption spectroscopy or reflectance spectroscopy... The absorption or reflectance of the visible light directly affects the perceived color of the chemicals involved
Data Source
AI summary
A method of measuring whole-blood hemoglobin parameters includes providing a LED light source, guiding light having the spectral range from the LED light source along an optical path, providing a cuvette module with a sample receiving chamber, providing a pair of first and second optical diffusers disposed in the optical path where the cuvette module is disposed between the pair of first and second optical diffusers, guiding light from the cuvette module into an optical spectrometer, and processing an electrical signal from the spectrometer into an output signal useable for displaying and reporting hemoglobin parameter values and/or total bilirubin parameter values of the sample of whole blood.