Methods and system for multi-channel bio-optical sensing
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsJuejun Hu, Tian Gu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor, such as a photoplethysmography sensor, for non-invasively monitoring a characteristic of an organism, such as a vital body sign. The sensor has multiple light sources disposed on a substrate and an array of optical probing channels for conveying light from the light sources to a probed region. Each detector pixel of an array of detector pixels receives light from a respective optical detection channel after interaction with a subregion of the probed region and spatial filtering, and generates a corresponding pixel signal. A processor derives a value of the vital body sign based at least upon the plurality of pixel signals
Claims20
A sensor for monitoring a characteristic of an organism, the sensor comprising:
- a. a plurality of light sources disposed upon a substrate and arranged in an array;
- b. for each of the plurality of light sources, a first waveguide for conveying light from the respective light source to a probed region of the organism, wherein light from at least two of the plurality of light sources is conveyed by their respective first waveguides to different respective subregions of the probed region;
- c. for each of the plurality of light sources, a second waveguide for collecting light from the respective light source after interaction with the probed region;
- and
- d. for each of the plurality of light sources, a detector pixel in an array of detector pixels for receiving light from a respective second waveguide and generating a corresponding pixel signal, the array of detector pixels thereby generating a plurality of pixel signals;
- and
- e. a processor for deriving a value of the characteristic of the organism based at least upon the plurality of pixel signals.
A method for non-invasively sensing a specified feature of a sample, the method comprising:
- a. generating light by means of a plurality of light sources disposed upon a substrate and arranged in an array;
- b. illuminating a probed region of the sample with light from the plurality of light sources via an array of first waveguides, wherein each light source in the plurality of light sources has a respective first waveguide, wherein light from at least two of the plurality of light sources is conveyed by their respective first waveguides to different respective subregions of the probed region;
- c. generating a plurality of detector signals based on light conveyed from the probed region to an array of detector pixels using a plurality of second waveguides, wherein each light source in the plurality of light sources has a respective second waveguide;
- and
- d. sensing the specified feature of the sample by processing the plurality of detector signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.