Solid-state non-invasive infrared absorption spectrometer for the generation and capture of thermal gradient spectra form living tissue

A device configured for measurement of analyte concentrations in heterogeneous material, the device comprising:

• a data transmission connection to at least one of a computer and a remote database, wherein said computer and remote database are configured for at least one of transmitting and receiving data from the group consisting of:
• calibration data;
• patient data;
• and treatment data;
• an infrared transmissive window;
• and
• an intermittent heating means in operative combination with the infrared transmissive window.

A method for forming a solid state thermal gradient device, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming an infrared transmissive thermal mass comprising an infrared transmissive germanium cylinder;
• forming an infrared transmissive heating layer on a surface of, and in operative combination with, the infrared transmissive thermal mass, wherein the infrared transmissive heating layer comprises an infrared transmissive wire-grid heating element;
• and
• providing a means for intermittently energizing the infrared transmissive heating layer.

A device configured for measuring analyte concentrations in heterogeneous material, the device comprising:

• an infrared transmissive window having a temperature;
• a heat exchanger capable of changing the temperature of the infrared transmissive window;
• and
• an infrared transmissive thermal impedance layer disposed between, and in thermal contact with, the infrared transmissive window and the heat exchanger, such that an optical pathway configured for transmission of infrared electromagnetic radiation extends through the infrared transmissive window and the infrared transmissive thermal impedance layer.

A method for measuring analyte concentrations in a heterogeneous material, the method comprising:

• positioning an infrared transmissive window in thermal communication with the heterogeneous material, the infrared transmissive window having a temperature;
• periodically altering the temperature of the infrared transmissive window such that thermal energy is periodically supplied to or removed from the heterogeneous material;
• receiving infrared radiation from the heterogeneous material through an optical pathway in the infrared transmissive window;
• and
• analyzing at least a portion of the received infrared radiation in a spectrometer for production of an analyte concentration datum for the heterogeneous material.