An apparatus (10) for analyzing a material (12) comprising at least one analyte, said apparatus comprising a measurement body (16) having a contact surface (14) suitable to be brought in thermal contact or pressure-transmitting contact with said material (12), an excitation radiation source (26) configured for irradiating excitation radiation (18) into the material (12) to be absorbed therein, and a detection device for detecting a physical response of the measurement body to heat or a pressure wave received from said material (12) upon absorption of said excitation radiation (18) and for generating a response signal indicative of the degree of absorption of excitation radiation, wherein a protrusion (80) is provided, said protrusion having a front surface (82) facing said material (12) and being in contact with the material when the material is brought in contact with the contact surface, and wherein said excitation radiation (18) is irradiated into the material (12) through said front surface (82) of said protrusion (80), wherein said protrusion (80) is formed on said contact surface (14) of said measurement body (16), or wherein said measurement body (16) forms said protrusion or a part of said protrusion, in which said contact surface (14) of said measurement body (16) forms at least a part of said front surface of said protrusion and is elevated with respect to a surrounding structure.
A method of analyzing a material (12) comprising at least one analyte, wherein analyte-wavelength-specific measurements are interspersed with reference measurements (80), and wherein response signals obtained for the reference measurements (80) are used for one or more of calibrating an excitation radiation source (26) for generating said excitation radiation, calibrating said detection device, recognizing a variation in the measurement conditions by comparing results of individual reference measurements (80), adapting the analyte measurement procedure (78) with respect to one or more of the entire duration thereof, the absolute or relative duration of analyte-wavelength-specific measurements for a given analyte-characteristic-wavelength, or terminating and/or restarting the analyte measurement procedure, and adapting the analysis carried out in the analyzing step.
A61B 5/00 - Measuring for diagnostic purposes ; Identification of persons
A61B 5/145 - Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH-value
G01N 21/17 - Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
G01N 21/27 - Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands using photo-electric detection
G01N 21/41 - Refractivity; Phase-affecting properties, e.g. optical path length
G01N 21/45 - Refractivity; Phase-affecting properties, e.g. optical path length using Schlieren methods
The invention relates to a device for analyzing a substance, comprising: - a measurement body (1, 1a), which has a measurement surface (2) and is to be brought at least in part into contact with the substance (3) in the region of the measurement surface for the purpose of measuring; a laser device (4), particularly having a quantum cascade laser (QCL), a tunable QCL and/or a laser array, preferably an array of QCLs, in order to generate one or more excitation beams (10) at different wavelengths, preferably in the infrared or medium infrared spectral range, which is directed to the substance (3); and a detection apparatus (5, 6, 7) which is integrated at least in part in the measurement body (1, 1a) or connected thereto and comprises the following: a source (5) for coherent detection light (11) and a first optical waveguide structure (6) which can be or is connected to the source for the detection light, which guides the detection light, and has a refractive index which is dependent at least in portions on the temperature and/or pressure, wherein the first optical waveguide structure has at least one portion (9) in which the light intensity depends on a phase shift of detection light in at least one part of the first optical waveguide structure (6) due to a change in temperature or pressure.
A61B 5/145 - Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH-value
G01H 9/00 - Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by using radiation-sensitive means, e.g. optical means
G16H 20/60 - ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
The invention relates to a method and to a system for analyzing a substance (100). The method comprises the following steps: arranging an optical medium (10) on a substance surface, such that at least one region of the surface (12) of the optical medium (10) is in contact with the substance surface; emitting an excitation light beam having an excitation wavelength through the region of the surface (12) of the optical medium (10), which is in contact with the substance surface, to the substance surface; emitting a measurement light beam through the optical medium (10) to the region of the surface (12) of the optical medium (10), which is in direct contact with the substance surface, such that the measurement light beam and the excitation light beam overlap on the interface of the optical medium (10) and of the substance surface, on which the measurement light beam is reflected; direct or indirect detecting of a deflection of the reflected measurement light beam in dependence on the wavelength of the excitation light beam; and analyzing the substance (100) based on the detected deflection of the measurement light beam in dependence on the wavelength of the excitation light beam.
G01N 21/41 - Refractivity; Phase-affecting properties, e.g. optical path length
A61B 5/145 - Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH-value
A61B 5/1455 - Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH-value using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
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