Analyzing system with disposable calibration device

A system for determining a bilirubin concentration in a mammal, comprising:

• means for illuminating a portion of the mammal's skin with light;
• means for detecting a frequency spectrum of light scattered from the skin;
• means for determining, from first and second portions of the spectrum, a first parameter indicative of a blood content of the skin;
• means for determining, from a third portion of the spectrum, a second parameter indicative of an uncorrected bilirubin concentration;
• and
• means for calculating a corrected bilirubin concentration based on the first and second parameters.

A system for measuring a bilirubin concentration of a mammal by directing radiation onto a portion of a skin of the mammal and analyzing scattered or reflected radiation returning from the skin, comprising:

• a radiation analyzing device for analyzing scattered or reflected radiation and for outputting radiation data;
• a radiation source;
• at least one radiation transmitting conduit for directing radiation from the radiation source to a portion of the mammal's skin;
• at least one radiation receiving conduit for directing radiation scattered or reflected from the mammal's skin to the radiation analyzing device;
• and
• means for calculating a bilirubin concentration of the mammal based on an amplitude of the reflected or scattered radiation at first and second wavelengths indicative of a blood content of the mammal's skin and on an amplitude of the reflected or scattered radiation at a third wavelength indicative of a bilirubin concentration in the mammal's skin.

A method of measuring a condition of a mammal with a device that outputs radiation from a distal end of the device, comprising the steps of:

• applying an index matching agent to one of a skin of the mammal and the distal end of the device;
• emitting radiation from the distal end of the device so that the radiation passes through the index matching agent and is scattered or reflected by the mammal's skin;
• receiving the scattered or reflected radiation at the distal end of the device;
• and
• analyzing the received radiation to determine the condition of the mammal.

A calibration device for calibrating a measuring system that transmits radiation to a material or tissue from an output end to effect measurements, comprising:

• a removable calibration target;
• a structure for holding the removable calibration target, the structure including an opening through which radiation can be transmitted;
• and
• an index matching agent for interposition between the output end of the measuring system and the material or tissue being measured.

A method for determining a bilirubin concentration in a mammal, comprising the steps of:

• a) illuminating a portion of a skin of the mammal with light;
• b) detecting a frequency spectrum of light scattered from the skin;
• c) determining, from first and second portions of the spectrum, a first parameter indicative of a blood content of the skin;
• d) determining, from third and fourth portions of the spectrum, a second parameter indicative of a melanin content of the mammal's skin;
• e) determining, from a fifth portion of the spectrum, a third parameter to indicative of an uncorrected bilirubin concentration;
• and
• f) calculating a corrected bilirubin concentration based on the first, second and third parameters.