Short-wave infrared super-continuum lasers and similar light sources for detecting physiological parameters

A wearable device for measuring one or more physiological parameters comprising:

• a light source comprising a plurality of semiconductor sources that are light emitting diodes (LEDs), each of the LEDs configured to generate an output optical beam having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;
• the light source configured to increase signal-to-noise ratio by increasing light intensity from an initial light intensity for at least one of the plurality of semiconductor sources and by increasing a pulse rate from an initial pulse rate of at least one of the plurality of semiconductor sources;
• a lens configured to receive a portion of at least one of the output optical beams and to deliver a lens output beam to tissue;
• a detection system configured to receive at least a portion of the lens output beam reflected from the tissue and to generate an output signal, wherein the detection system is configured to be synchronized to the light source;
• and
• wherein the detection system is located at a distance from a first one of the LEDs and at a different distance from a second one of the LEDs such that the detection system receives a first signal from the first LED and a second signal from the second LED.

A device comprising:

• a light source comprising a plurality of semiconductor sources that are light emitting diodes (LEDs), each of the LEDs configured to generate an output optical beam having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;
• the light source configured to improve a signal-to-noise ratio by increasing light intensity from at least one of the LEDs relative to an initial light intensity and by increasing a pulse rate of at least one of the LEDs relative to an initial pulse rate;
• a lens configured to receive a portion of at least one of the output optical beams and to deliver a lens output beam to tissue;
• a reflective surface configured to receive and redirect at least a portion of light reflected from the tissue;
• and
• a detection system configured to receive at least a portion of the lens output beam reflected from the tissue, wherein the detection system is configured to be synchronized to the light source, and the detection system further configured to:
• capture light while the LEDs are off and convert the captured light into a first signal,
• capture light while at least one of the LEDs is on and convert the captured light into a second signal,
• further improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the portion of the lens output beam reflected from the tissue by differencing the first signal and the second signal, and
• generate an output signal.