METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR NON-INVASIVE GLUCOSE SENSING: SPECTROGRAPH

摘要

A spectrograph designed for the near-infrared spectral region is described for use in a non-invasive sensor for measuring glucose levels in the human body. The spectrograph includes optical converging means (2, 4) and dispersive means (6) mounted and combined with source means (10) and detection means (12). The source means can be a linear input array of optical fibers and the detection means can be a multi-element detector array with long, narrow pixels. Filtered light that has passed through human tissue and, therefore, contains a unique spectral absorption signature, is transmitted to the fiber array of the spectrograph. The radiation is then dispersed into constituent spectral components, each of which is sent to a different pixel of the detector array. The differing signals produced at each pixel are then analyzed to discern the glucose level in the tissue.