Apparatus and process for the non-invasive measurement of optically active compounds

摘要

An apparatus and a process of determining the concentration of an optically active compound in a biological sample are provided. The process measures the entire polarization state of the sample and compares the measured polarization state of the sample to the polarization state of a sample having a known concentration of that compound. The polarization state of the sample is measured after manipulating the polarization state of light entering and leaving the sample and detecting the light leaving the sample. The apparatus contains a source of light, a sample holder for holding the biological sample, a detector, a first polarization manipulator between the light source and the sample holder, a second polarization manipulator between the sample holder and the detector and an analyzer to correlate detected signals with concentration of the optically active compound.