Device and method for measuring hemoglobin
Inventors
Kim, Byeong Chul • Park, Ki Tae • Kim, Cheol Min • Choi, Kwang Won
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9651564-B2
Publication Date
2017-05-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for measuring the hemoglobin concentration in whole blood, wherein the system comprises: a light-radiating unit including a light source that emits two types of incident light having different wavelengths; a diffusion unit which diffuses the incident light emitted by the light-radiating unit; a cuvette-holding unit which is formed so as to hold a cuvette including a blood sample; a detection unit which detects each absorbance of the two types of incident light having different wavelengths; a processing unit which determines the hemoglobin concentration in the blood by processing the measured absorbance result; and a control unit which regulates the two types of incident light having different wavelengths in order to repeatedly/sequentially radiate same. Although the system for measuring hemoglobin in whole blood of the present invention uses a small amount of whole blood, it is possible to measure the total hemoglobin concentration in an accurate and reliable manner. The system of the present invention aligns the paths of two types of incident light having different wavelengths passing through a microcuvette by using a diffuser plate so as to easily align a light source and increase the reliability of the results. Also, the system of the present invention uses two wavelengths so as to rapidly and accurately measure the total amount of hemoglobin, including oxidized and reduced hemoglobin.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an invasive point-of-care system for measuring the concentration of hemoglobin in whole blood. The system emits incident light at a first wavelength and a second wavelength through a diffuser and into a measuring zone of a cuvette accommodating member, and a detector detects a first absorbance and a second absorbance after passing through the whole blood.
A processing unit determines the amount of hemoglobin in the whole blood using the first and the second absorbance detected by the detector. A controller regulates the incident light such that the incident light of the first wavelength and the second wavelength are radiated in a sequential order.
The system includes guides for the light source and for the detector to guide the incident light from the light radiating member to the diffuser and from the measuring zone to the detector. The optical configuration further defines inner-diameter relationships among the guide for the light source, the guide for the incident light, and the guide for the detector relative to the measuring zone.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes one independent claim (clm-00001). It covers a hemoglobin concentration measuring system based on two-wavelength optical absorbance in a cuvette, with regulated sequential radiation and specific optical-guide geometry constraints. The dependent claims in the provided excerpt further specify wavelength selections, cuvette optical path length, and optional correction-member and hardware refinements.
Two-wavelength sequential absorbance measurement for whole blood hemoglobin concentration
Determining the amount of hemoglobin in the whole blood using a first absorbance and a second absorbance detected by a detector, while regulating incident light so that the incident light of the first wavelength and the second wavelength are radiated in a sequential order.
Diffuser-based distribution of incident light to a cuvette measuring zone
Distributing incident light emitted from a light radiating member using a diffuser, and guiding the incident light incident upon the diffuser to a measuring zone of a cuvette comprising the whole blood.
Optical guide inner-diameter constraints relative to the measuring zone
Configuring the guide for the light source, the guide for the incident light, and the guide for the detector with inner diameters such that the guide for the light source has an inner diameter identical to or larger than that of the guide for the incident light, the guide for the incident light has an inner diameter identical to or smaller than the size of the measuring zone, and the guide for the detector has an inner diameter identical to or smaller than the guide for the incident light.
Sequential radiation using first and second wavelengths through a cuvette
Emitting an incident light having a first wavelength selected from 546 nm, 570 nm or 584 nm and a second wavelength of 800 nm or 850 nm from a light radiating member, and detecting absorbance after the incident light passes through the measuring zone of the cuvette comprising whole blood.
Overall, the claim set covers a system that measures hemoglobin concentration in whole blood by sequentially radiating two wavelengths, directing the light through a diffuser into a cuvette measuring zone, detecting absorbances at both wavelengths, and determining hemoglobin amount from the detected absorbances, while constraining the internal diameters of the optical guides relative to the measuring zone.
Stated Advantages
Accurate and reliable results from small blood volumes.
Improved optical alignment using the diffuser.
Rapid total hemoglobin measurement including both oxidized and reduced forms (HbO2 and Hb).
Documented Applications
Invasive point-of-care measurement of total hemoglobin concentration in whole blood using optical absorbance at two wavelengths (including both oxidized and reduced forms).
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