Apparatus for non-invasive spectroscopic measurement of analytes, and method of using the same

An apparatus for non-invasively evaluating bodily fluids of a subject, comprising:

• means for providing a source of electromagnetic radiation to a device;
• means for supporting a lower surface of at least one of a pair of adjacent fingers or toes of the subject;
• means for guiding the adjacent fingers or toes of the subject apart from one another such that the device is positioned at an interstitial location between the fingers or toes of the subject not including the web;
• and
• means for receiving the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the subject.

An apparatus for non-invasively evaluating bodily fluids of a subject, comprising:

• a mounting support for a probe that defines at least one path of translational movement along a surface of the mounting support;
• a probe comprising a probe head and a probe body, wherein the probe body having a proximal end and a distal end, and the probe head is pivotally attached to the probe body and adapted to move along a pivotal path relative to the mounting support;
• and
• a biasing element that exerts substantially constant force to provide translational movement of the probe;
• wherein the probe is translationally movable along the at least one path in a direction away from an initial point, and the probe is biased by the substantially constant force exerted by the biasing element toward the initial point.

An apparatus for non-invasively evaluating bodily fluids of a subject, comprising:

• a base adapted to support a lower surface of at least one of a pair of adjacent fingers or toes of the subject;
• a probe movably positioned above the base;
• a biasing element exerting a substantially constant force on the probe toward an interstitial location not including the web between the adjacent fingers or toes of the subject while the apparatus is in use;
• and
• a guide member located above the base and adapted to guide the adjacent fingers or toes of the subject apart from one another and position the subject's interstitial location not including the web in front of the probe while the apparatus is in use.

A probe for non-invasively evaluating bodily fluids of a subject, comprising:

• a base adapted to support a lower surface of at least one of a pair of adjacent fingers or toes of the subject;
• a source of electromagnetic radiation;
• a probe head;
• at least one fiberoptic for conveying electromagnetic radiation from the source to the probe head;
• a detector;
• at least a second fiberoptic for conveying electromagnetic radiation reflected from the subject to the detector;
• and
• a guide member located above the base and adapted to guide the adjacent fingers or toes of the subject apart from one another,
• wherein the probe head is adapted to be received at an interstitial location not including the web between the adjacent fingers or toes of the subject.