Optical filter device, system, and methods for improved optical rejection of high angle of incidence (AOI) light
Inventors
Jacobson, Benjamin • Kintz, Gregory
Assignees
Publication Number
US-12204125-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-21
Expiration Date
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Abstract
An optical filter device, system, and methods for improved optical rejection of high angle of incidence (AOI) light is disclosed. For example, an analyte detection system is provided that includes an excitation light source for illuminating an implantable sensor and an optical detector for collecting emission light from the implantable sensor. Further, the optical detector portion of the analyte detection system features an optical filter device including a surface-treated microchannel wherein the surface-treated microchannel serves to absorb, trap, and/or block high-AOI light. Further, a method of operation of the presently disclosed microchannel-based optical filter device including a surface-treated microchannel is provided with respect to the high optical rejection of high-AOI light.
Core Innovation
An optical filter device, system, and methods for improved optical rejection of high angle of incidence (AOI) light is disclosed. For example, an analyte detection system is provided that includes an excitation light source for illuminating an implantable sensor and an optical detector for collecting emission light from the implantable sensor. Further, the optical detector portion of the analyte detection system features an optical filter device including a surface-treated microchannel wherein the surface-treated microchannel serves to absorb, trap, and/or block high-AOI light.
In vivo analyte measurement using luminescent dyes is challenged because the optical power reflected or elastically scattered by the skin from a fluorophore excitation source is often orders of magnitude stronger than the resulting fluorescence emission. Using an optical filter to separate the excitation light from the emission light has certain challenges. The cutoff wavelengths (or filter window) for optical band-pass filters are dependent on the angle of incidence (AOI) of the incident light and, as AOI increases, the filter window shifts to shorter wavelengths (i.e., blue shifts), causing the optical filter window for the emission to shift towards the excitation light source and making the filter less effective for high AOI light.
The disclosed microchannel-based optical filter device is arranged between the implantable sensor and the optical detector and provides high optical rejection of high-AOI light with light throughput higher than alternative optical filter devices having the same degree of rejection. In some embodiments the surface-treated microchannel comprises an arrangement of grooves etched into the walls of the microchannel and the grooves serve to partially or completely absorb, trap, and/or block high-AOI light, the grooves being arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the microchannel. The microchannel-based optical filter device can be combined with a discrete or integrated optical filter and detector, formed using large-scale manufacturing processes, and may be implemented in a wearable detection device.
Claims Coverage
Overview: Ten inventive features are extracted from four independent claims (claims 1, 7, 8, and 9).
Light source configured to illuminate an implanted sensor
a light source configured to illuminate a sensor implanted within tissue
Optical filter body defining a microchannel with grooves parallel to the axis
an optical filter body defining a microchannel, the microchannel running through a length of the filter body defining an axis, a surface at an interface of the optical filter body and microchannel having a plurality of grooves running parallel to the axis of the microchannel
Collective rejection of light above a predetermined AOI
the optical filter body and the microchannel collectively configured to selectively reject light having an angle of incidence greater than a predetermined threshold
Detector configured to receive emission light after filter or microchannel
a detector configured to receive emission light from the sensor that has passed through at least one of the optical filter body or the microchannel in response to the sensor being illuminated by the light source
Microchannel with grooves having differing depths between sides
an optical filter body defining a microchannel, the microchannel running through a length of the filter body from a first side of the optical filter body to a second side of the optical filter body, the microchannel defining an axis, a surface at an interface of the optical filter body and microchannel having a plurality of grooves running parallel to the axis of the microchannel, each groove from the plurality of grooves having a first depth at the first side of the optical filter body that is different from a second depth at the second side of the optical filter body
Grooves having depth greater than 0.05 mm at a first end portion
an optical filter body defining a microchannel, the microchannel running through a length of the filter body defining an axis, a surface at an interface of the optical filter body and microchannel having a plurality of grooves running parallel to the axis of the microchannel, each groove from the plurality of grooves has a depth of greater than 0.05 mm at a first end portion of the microchannel
Light source configured to illuminate the sensor with excitation light
a light source configured to illuminate a sensor implanted within tissue with excitation light
Detector to receive emission light from the sensor
a detector configured to receive emission light from the sensor in response to the sensor being illuminated by the light source
Optical filter and microchannel collectively rejecting scattered excitation light
an optical filter configured to selectively reject excitation light based on wavelength, the optical filter body and the microchannel collectively configured to selectively reject excitation light scattered by the tissue such that high angle of incidence excitation light does not reach the optical filter
Optical filter body defining a microchannel with grooves (system context)
an optical filter body defining a microchannel, the microchannel running through a length of the filter body defining an axis, a surface at an interface of the optical filter body and microchannel having a plurality of grooves running parallel to the axis of the microchannel
The independent claims emphasize a microchannel-based optical filter body having a plurality of grooves running parallel to the channel axis, system-level components including a light source and detector, collective configuration to reject high-angle incidence light, groove depth specifications and depth variation across the microchannel, and an optical wavelength filter combined with the microchannel to reject scattered excitation light.
Stated Advantages
Improved optical rejection of high angle of incidence (AOI) light.
Rejection of excitation light at orders of magnitude greater than emission light power at the worst-case AOI of the system.
Greater rejection of high-AOI light compared with conventional smooth-walled microchannels having similar transmission for low-AOI light.
Light throughput higher than alternative optical filter devices having the same degree of rejection.
Compatibility with large-scale manufacturing processes for integrated devices.
Potential implementation in a wearable detection device.
Documented Applications
Reading an implantable sensor and determining an analyte value in an analyte detection system.
Use with implantable analyte-sensing fluorescent sensors including sensors for glucose and other analytes.
Measurement of analytes including oxygen, reactive oxygen species, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, cortisol, creatinine, urea, sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, vasopressin, hormones, pH, CO2, cytokines, chemokines, eicosanoids, insulin, leptins, small molecule drugs, ethanol, myoglobin, nucleic acids, fragments, polypeptides, and single amino acids as explicitly listed.
Integration into a wearable detection device (e.g., a patch placed on the surface of the skin).
Mass manufacture and packaging as drop-in modules via wafer-scale or similar large-scale manufacturing processes.
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