Short-wave infrared super-continuum lasers for early detection of dental caries

A wearable device for use with a smart phone or tablet, the wearable device comprising:

• a measurement device including a light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for measuring one or more physiological parameters, the measurement device configured to generate, by modulating at least one of the LEDs having an initial light intensity, an input optical beam having one or more optical wavelengths, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is a near-infrared wavelength between 700 nanometers and 2500 nanometers;
• the measurement device comprising one or more lenses configured to receive and to deliver a portion of the input optical beam to tissue, wherein the tissue reflects at least a portion of the input optical beam delivered to the tissue;
• the measurement device further comprising a reflective surface configured to receive and redirect at least a portion of light reflected from the tissue;
• the measurement device further comprising a receiver configured to:
• capture light while the LEDs are off and convert the captured light into a first signal and
• capture light while at least one of the LEDs is on and convert the captured light into a second signal, the captured light including at least a portion of the input optical beam reflected from the tissue;
• the measurement device configured to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the input optical beam reflected from the tissue by differencing the first signal and the second signal;
• the light source configured to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the input optical beam reflected from the tissue by increasing the light intensity relative to the initial light intensity from at least one of the LEDs;
• the measurement device further configured to generate an output signal representing at least in part a non-invasive measurement on blood contained within the tissue;
• and
• the wearable device configured to communicate with the smart phone or tablet, the smart phone or tablet comprising a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a display, a voice input module, a speaker, and a touch screen, the smart phone or tablet configured to receive and to process at least a portion of the output signal, wherein the smart phone or tablet is configured to store and display the processed output signal, wherein at least a portion of the processed output signal is configured to be transmitted over a wireless transmission link.