Non-invasive infrared absorption spectrometer for the generation and capture of thermal gradient spectra from living tissue

A spectrometer for the non-invasive generation and capture of thermal gradient spectra from living tissue, comprising:

• a housing defining an aperture over which the tissue can be placed;
• a first thermal mass for inducing a transient temperature gradient in the tissue by means of conductive heat transfer with the tissue, the first thermal mass being infrared transmissive;
• cooling means in operative combination with the first thermal mass for cooling the first thermal mass;
• a second thermal mass for heating the tissue by means of conductive heat transfer with the tissue;
• heating means in operative combination with the second thermal mass for heating the second thermal mass;
• drive means mounted in the housing for alternately positioning the first and second thermal masses adjacent to the aperture to alternately heat and cool the living tissue;
• infrared sensor means for detecting infrared emissions emanating from the tissue as the transient temperature gradient progresses into the tissue in use, and for providing output signals proportional to the detected infrared emissions;
• and
• data capture means for sampling the output signals provided by the infrared sensor means as the transient temperature gradient progresses into the tissue.

A spectrometer for the non-invasive generation and capture of thermal gradient spectra from living tissue, comprising:

• an enclosure including an infrared transmissive window over which the tissue can be placed;
• a first thermal mass for inducing a transient temperature gradient in the tissue by means of conductive heat transfer with the tissue, the first thermal mass being infrared transmissive;
• cooling means in operative combination with the first thermal mass for cooling the first thermal mass;
• heating means in operative combination with the window for heating the window;
• drive means mounted in the housing for alternately positioning the first thermal mass in a heat transfer relationship with the window;
• infrared sensor means for detecting infrared emissions emanating from the tissue as the transient temperature gradient progresses into the tissue in use, and for providing output signals proportional to the detected infrared emissions;
• and
• data capture means for sampling the output signals provided by the infrared sensor means as the transient temperature gradient progresses into the tissue.

A method for the non-invasive generation and capture of thermal gradient spectra from living tissue, comprising the steps of:

• cooling a solid infrared transmissive thermal mass;
• placing the solid infrared transmissive thermal mass into a conductive heat transfer relationship with the tissue thereby to generate a transient temperature gradient in the tissue;
• detecting infrared emissions emanating from the tissue and passing through the solid infrared transmissive thermal mass;
• providing output signals proportional to the detected infrared emissions;
• and
• sampling the output signals as the transient temperature gradient progresses into the tissue.