Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An in-vitro method for determining the concentration of one or more clinical analytes comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a volume of a fluid sample comprising interstitial fluid; (b) contacting a portion of said sample on a plane of an optically clear first window; (c) placing a second optically clear window in contact with the first window to thereby sandwich the sample between the windows; (d) shining a known wavelength of light from the mid-infrared spectrum for an uncontrolled path length through said windows and said sample in a path perpendicular to said plane; (e) measuring a spectrophotometric property of said light; and (f) performing a quantitative mathematical analysis of said spectrophotometric property to determine the concentration of at least one analyte, wherein the fluid sample is obtained by creating a micropore on the surface of the skin of a patient, wherein said micropore at least partially fills with interstitial fluid and pressing said first window against the micropore to collect a volume of said interstitial fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An in-vitro method for determining the concentration of one or more clinical analytes comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a volume of a fluid sample comprising interstitial fluid; (b) contacting a portion of said sample on a plane of an optically clear first window; (c) placing a second optically clear window in contact with the first window to thereby sandwich the sample between the windows; (d) shining a known wavelength of light from the mid-infrared spectrum for an uncontrolled path length through said windows and said sample in a path perpendicular to said plane; (e) measuring a spectrophotometric property of said light; and (f) performing a quantitative mathematical analysis of said spectrophotometric property to determine the concentration of at least one analyte, wherein the fluid sample is obtained by creating a micropore on the surface of the skin of a patient, wherein said micropore at least partially fills with interstitial fluid and pressing said first window against the micropore to collect a volume of said interstitial fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting said sample on a first window further comprises the step of contacting said window with a fluid collection area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An in vitro method of clinical analyte determination as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting said sample on a first window further comprises the step of contacting said window whit said micropore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first window comprises a barium fluoride window.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said sample is placed on a polyethylene card sandwiched between two barium fluoride windows.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting said sample on a first window further comprises the step of providing a second window and opposing said second window against said sample and said first window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the known wavelength is in the range of about 1185 to 960 cm −1 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing a mathematical analysis further comprises performing a partial least squares analysis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing a mathematical analysis further comprises the steps of: (a) normalizing said spectrum; and (b) performing a multivariate analysis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An in vitro method of clinical analyte determination as recited in claim 9 , wherein the step of normalizing said spectrum further comprises dividing said spectrum by the area of the absolute value of the derivative spectrum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing a mathematical analysis further comprises determining the presence of glucose.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid sample comprises whole blood and the step of performing a mathematical analysis further comprises determining the presence of hemoglobin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing a mathematical analysis further comprising determining the presence of urea.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing a mathematical analysis further comprising determining the presence of cholesterol.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of performing a mathematical analysis further comprising determining the presence of any combination of glucose, urea and cholesterol.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for clinical analyte determination, comprising: means for obtaining a volume of a fluid sample, wherein at least a portion of said sample is disposed on a plane of an optically clear window; means for shining a known wavelength of light from the mid-infrared spectrum through said window and said sample in a path perpendicular to said plane; means for measuring a spectrum produced by the transmittance of said light; and means for performing a mathematical analysis of said spectrum to determine the presence of an analyte, wherein the means for obtaining a volume of a fluid sample comprise means for creating a micropore on the surface of the skin of a patient that will at least partially fill with interstitial fluid and a first window for pressing against the micropore to collect a volume of said interstitial fluid.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for clinical analyte determination, comprising: means for obtaining a volume of a fluid sample, wherein at least a portion of said sample is disposed on a plane of an optically clear window; means for shining a known wavelength of light from the mid-infrared spectrum through said window and said sample in a path perpendicular to said plane; means for measuring a spectrum produced by the transmittance of said light; and means for performing a mathematical analysis of said spectrum to determine the presence of an analyte, wherein the means for obtaining a volume of a fluid sample comprise means for creating a micropore on the surface of the skin of a patient that will at least partially fill with interstitial fluid and a first window for pressing against the micropore to collect a volume of said interstitial fluid.