Wearable Raman OCT Spectrometer for Skin Analyte Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-invasive analyte measurement techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy, face challenges in accurately quantifying analyte concentrations in skin tissue due to variations in skin geometry, requiring cumbersome calibration and are limited by the size and cost of existing devices, which are not suitable for wearable or simultaneous multi-location measurements.
Innovation Solution
A wearable system integrating a Raman spectrometer, OCT spectrometer, and infrared spectrometer with read-out electronics to determine analyte concentrations in skin tissue, using a combination of Raman, OCT, and IR spectroscopy to account for local tissue variations and provide fast, reproducible measurements, packaged in a compact and affordable device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If Raman spectroscopy is used to measure analyte concentration in skin tissue, then molecular identification capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to skin geometry variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces OCT and IR spectroscopy as intermediary measurement techniques to characterize skin tissue geometry and optical properties. These intermediary measurements provide correction factors that mediate between the Raman spectroscopy signal and the actual analyte concentration, accounting for variations in skin thickness, layer structure, and optical scattering properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent measures and utilizes multiple optical parameters including skin layer thickness, scattering coefficient, absorption coefficient, and refractive index. By detecting these parameters through OCT and IR spectroscopy and using them to correct the Raman signal, the system adapts to individual skin variations and improves measurement precision without requiring separate calibration for each individual.
2Measurement precision
If calibration steps are performed for each individual to account for skin geometry variations, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary automated characterization of skin tissue geometry and optical properties using OCT and IR spectroscopy before the Raman measurement. This preliminary action captures all necessary correction parameters in advance, allowing the subsequent Raman-based analyte concentration measurement to be performed rapidly without iterative calibration steps for each individual.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically measuring skin tissue parameters through OCT and IR spectroscopy and using these measurements to correct the Raman signal. The device serves itself by extracting all necessary correction factors from the tissue being measured, eliminating the need for external calibration procedures or user intervention.
3Measurement precision
If microscopes are used in OCT-Raman systems, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges OCT spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy into a single integrated measurement platform. By combining these techniques in one device, the patent eliminates the need for separate microscope systems for each measurement type, reducing overall device complexity, size, and cost while maintaining the capability to perform simultaneous morphological and molecular measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal measurement device that performs multiple functions: OCT for morphological imaging, IR for tissue composition analysis, and Raman for molecular identification. This multi-functional device replaces multiple specialized instruments, making the system more compact, affordable, and suitable for wearable applications while maintaining measurement precision.
4Device complexity
If single-location measurement is performed, then device simplicity is maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to inability to perform simultaneous multi-location measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement process into multiple independent spectral channels (OCT, IR, and Raman spectroscopy) that can simultaneously probe different aspects of the tissue at the same location. This segmentation allows parallel information extraction without requiring multiple physical measurement locations or sequential scanning, maintaining device simplicity while improving measurement throughput.
Data Source
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AI summary
An integrated circuit (100) is presented, comprising: a first optical unit comprising: a RAMAN spectrometer (102); an OCT spectrometer (103); an interferometer (104) optically coupled to the OCT spectrometer; and a light coupler (105), positioned to couple scattered and reflected light from illuminated tissue into the RAMAN and OCT spectrometer (102, 103); and an imaging region (106) optically coupled to the RAMAN and OCT spectrometer (102, 103). Further, a system and method to measure the concentration of an analyte in tissue is presented.