Calibration device for a spectrophotometric system

A method for calibrating a spectrophotometric system having a sensor with a light source and at least one light detector, comprising the steps of:

• calibrating a first spectrophotometric system;
• providing a device for calibrating a spectrophotometric system, the calibrating device having an enclosure with an inside surface of a color that absorbs light, at least two windows formed in the enclosure, and a diffuse reflectance member disposed inside the enclosure;
• interfacing the first spectrophotometric system with the calibrating device;
• sending light from the light source of the first spectrophotometric system sensor through the first window into the enclosure where it is absorbed in part by the inside surface and is reflected in part by the diffuse reflectance member to the second window and to the at least one light detector, an amount of light present at the at least one light detector being attenuated as compared to an amount of light entering the enclosure from the light source;
• interfacing an uncalibrated spectrophotometric system with the calibrating device;
• sending light from the light source of the uncalibrated system through the first window into the enclosure where it is absorbed in part by the inside surface and is reflected in part by the diffuse reflectance member to the second window to the at least one light detector;
• and
• calibrating the uncalibrated system by adjusting at least one predetermined internal parameter of the uncalibrated system until an amount of light present at the at least one light detector equals the calculated attenuated amount of light from the step of sending light performed with the first spectrophotometric system sensor interfaced with the calibrating device.

A disposable device for calibrating and evaluating a spectrophotometric system having a disposable sensor portion with a light source and at least one light detector, the disposable device comprising:

• an enclosure that includes:
• at least two windows formed in the enclosure, the two windows having a predetermined spacing from one another;
• each inside surface of the enclosure being of a color that absorbs a predetermined amount of light entering the enclosure through a first one of the windows and emanating from the light source;
• and
• a diffuse reflectance member disposed inside the enclosure in a predetermined location therewithin to reflect a predetermined amount of the light entering the enclosure from the light source through the first one of the windows to the second one of the windows to the at least one light detector, an amount of the light reflected by the member to the second window being attenuated in magnitude as compared to an amount of light entering the enclosure through the first window, the diffuse reflectance member being of a color that reflects light;
• and
• an adhesive liner disposed between the sensor portion of the spectrophotometric system and the disposable device.

A method for calibrating a spectrophotometric system and for evaluating the operation of the spectrophotometric system, the spectrophotometric system having a disposable sensor with a light source and at least one light detector, the method comprising the steps of:

• calibrating a first spectrophotometric system;
• providing a disposable device for calibrating a spectrophotometric system, the disposable calibrating device having an enclosure with an inside surface of a color that absorbs light, at least two windows formed in the enclosure, and a diffuse reflectance member disposed inside the enclosure;
• interfacing the disposable sensor portion of a first spectrophotometric system with the disposable calibrating device;
• sending light from the light source of the first spectrophotometric system sensor through the first window into the enclosure where it is absorbed in part by the inside surface and is reflected in part by the diffuse reflectance member to the second window and to the at least one light detector, an amount of light present at the at least one light detector being attenuated as compared to an amount of light entering the enclosure from the light source;
• interfacing the disposable sensor portion of an uncalibrated spectrophotometric system with the disposable calibrating device;
• sending light from the light source of the uncalibrated system through the first window into the enclosure where it is absorbed in part by the inside surface and is reflected in part by the diffuse reflectance member to the second window to the at least one light detector;
• and
• calibrating the uncalibrated system by adjusting at least one predetermined internal parameter of the uncalibrated system until an amount of light present at the at least one light detector equals the calculated attenuated amount of light from the step of sending light performed with the first spectrophotometric system sensor interfaced with the calibrating device.