The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 22, 2000
Steven P. Tyrrell, Highland Park, IL (US);
Shannon J. Ebner, Chicago, IL (US);
Biosafe Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for making an optical measurement through a tissue such as skin of a person includes an implantable optical system having an entry window, an exit window, a reference path between the windows and a measurement path between the windows. The reference path includes a reference element with known optical characteristics, and the measurement path is in fluid communication with the body fluids of the person. A first optical signal is directed through the tissue of the person, the entry window, the reference path, the exit window and the tissue of the person to an external optical sensor, and a second optical signal is directed through the same portion of the tissue of the person, the entry window, the measurement path, the exit window and the same portion of the tissue of the person to the external optical sensor. Variations in the optical effects of the tissue on the measurement can be measured with the second optical signal and used to improve measurement accuracy. A blocking element fills a measurement region in the measurement path when measurements are not being made. This blocking element prevents the accumulation of tissue in the measurement region.