SYSTEM AND NON-INVASIVE METHOD FOR EXAMINING AT LEAST PARTS OF BLOOD FRACTIONS, AND USE OF THE SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a non-invasive method for examining at least parts of the blood fractions, designed for examination of the blood fractions on the basis of at least one magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a human body part, in particular of the human finger. The invention also relates to the use of said system.

Claims

1. An arrangement for noninvasively examining at least parts of blood constituents, wherein the arrangement is configured to examine the blood constituents based on at least magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a part of a human body.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured for the examination by capture of at least one blood substance based on at least magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured for the examination by capture of at least the blood sugar concentration based on at least magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured for the examination by capture of at least one blood substance, at least via a marker substance that correlates with the blood substance, based on at least magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured for the examination by capture of the blood substance glucose via at least one marker substance that correlates with the blood substance glucose, based on at least magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured for the examination by capture of the blood sugar metabolism, via at least a correlating marker substance, based on at least magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and wherein the arrangement is configured with means for evaluating the capture, the means for evaluating being configured such that the blood sugar concentration is derived from the spectrum that belongs to the marker substance.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein, for the examination by capture based on magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the arrangement comprises a magnetic resonance imaging device, the magnetic resonance imaging device comprising: means for carrying out a Doppler measurement; means for carrying out an infrared measurement; means for carrying out a microwave-based measurement sensors, the magnetic resonance imaging device being configured in a manner functionally linked with the sensors such that the capture is carried out depending on a measurement that is effectuated by the sensors; or any combination thereof.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein, for the examination by the capture based on magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the arrangement is configured such that the arrangement is calibratable, in particular in an automatic manner and in particular with the aid of calibration substrates.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured as a portable arrangement with a reception region that is formed in a manner geared toward the part of the human body.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured for magnetic resonance spectroscopy such that a magnetic field is produced by a permanent magnet, a superconductor, and/or an electromagnet, or any combination thereof.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement has intermediate layers with an active or passive mode of action for the purposes of the magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

12. A method of using an arrangement for noninvasively examining at least parts of the blood constituents, the method comprising: examining, by the arrangement, the blood constituents based on at least magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a part of a human body.

13. A method for noninvasively examining at least parts of blood constituents, the method comprising: examining, by an arrangement, the blood constituents based on at least magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a part of a human body.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising using a blood sample that was measured via an invasive method for calibration purposes, wherein the examining comprises examining the blood constituents based on the calibration, the examining being carried out with the aid of noninvasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

15. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the part of the human body comprises a human finger.

16. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein the blood substance glucose is a glucose transporter or an insulin receptor.

17. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the arrangement is configured for the examination by capture of the blood sugar metabolism, based on a hydrogen atom nuclei, a carbon atom nuclei, or the hydrogen atom nuclei and the carbon atom nuclei.

18. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein the sensors comprise temperature sensors.

19. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the arrangement is calibratable in an automatic manner and with the aid of calibration substrates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a magnetic resonance (MR) spectrum, as may appear in an exemplary embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an MR spectroscopy arrangement for measuring blood sugar as a first mobile exemplary embodiment; and

[0026] FIG. 3 shows an MR spectroscopy arrangement for measuring blood sugar as an alternative second mobile exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In FIG. 1, a spectrum that may appear when using an embodiment of an arrangement for noninvasively examining blood substances based on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is shown.

[0028] According to one or more of the present embodiments, use is made of the fact that MRS may be used to identify and quantify various chemical substances in living tissue on account of a chemical shift.

[0029] The exemplary magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MR spectroscopy, MRS) measurement that is shown in FIG. 1 arises if, according to one or more of the present embodiments, the arrangement is configured such that a glucose concentration in the blood is measured using .sup.1H-MRS or .sup.13C-MRS.

[0030] One or more of the present embodiments are distinguished from the idea disclosed in the literature (cf. Gruetter R., Novotny E. J., Boulware S. D., Rothman D. L., Mason G. F., Shulman G. I., Shulman R. G., Tamborlane W. V., Direct measurement of brain glucose concentrations in humans by 13C NMR spectroscopy, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1992, Dec. 15, 89(24), 12208) in that, therein, .sup.13C-MRS only allows an insight into the cellular glucose metabolism, and this relates nonspecifically to the tissue of the human.

[0031] By contrast, in accordance with one or more of the present embodiments, human blood, which counts as connective and supporting tissue in the broadest sense, is used in the MRS magnetic resonance spectroscopy (e.g., .sup.1H-based or .sup.13C-MRS-based) for noninvasively determining the glucose concentration. Further, one or more of the present embodiments are distinguished by virtue of concentrating on a small part of the body (e.g., on the finger) in accordance with the example (e.g., on account of the gearing toward the blood).

[0032] A first exemplary embodiment that is directed to examining the blood in the finger of a human is shown in FIG. 2.

[0033] The MRS device has a recess/bore for receiving the finger. Within the arrangement, the magnetic field that is provided for realizing the MRS may be produced using a permanent magnet or with the aid of other known technology (e.g., superconductor, electromagnet).

[0034] The homogeneity to be provided may be improved using specifically formed, switchable DC current coils (e.g., shim coils).

[0035] The field strength may vary between a few millitesla and several tesla. The device may be embodied in the form of a benchtop NMR spectrometer (cf. known device shapes such as, for example, Spinsolve, picoSpin, NMReady, Pulsar, Fourier 60), or the device may be larger and stand on the ground.

[0036] The presented system may be developed such that the system may be calibrated automatically or with the aid of calibration substrates, or the system may be combined with a conventional blood measurement as a standard. The measurement may be carried out using a finger, as presented, or using other suitable body parts.

[0037] By way of example, the measurement may be carried out on the wrist (e.g., by encircling the wrist) or by application on the skin surface by a probe at any point on the body that is suitable herefor.

[0038] The reliability of the values of the glucose concentration may be increased if the spectroscopy measurement is assisted by a preceding MRI image since the location of the spectroscopy measurement (e.g., blood vessels) may be precisely localized therewith. In accordance with a development, the blood flow may be localized in the arteries (e.g., using a Doppler measurement).

[0039] Information about the concentration of glucose in the blood may be provided by measuring glucose or by measuring other substances that correlate therewith (e.g., insulin receptor (INSR) or glucose transporters (e.g. GLUT-1)). In order to provide a higher accuracy and reliability, these measurements may also be combined with one another.

[0040] The MRS in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment and the mentioned variants and developments in this respect may be combined with other methods (e.g., infrared (IR) or microwave-based measurements) for obtaining a higher accuracy and reliability, as is shows in FIG. 3.

[0041] In addition, in the aforementioned examples, the MRS may also be combined with sensors (e.g., temperature sensors) in order to obtain a better measurement accuracy or in order to reduce the frequency of calibration required.

[0042] The presented arrangements and methods, or the use of MRS and the further measuring devices for determining the concentration of glucose in blood, may also be transferred, mutatis mutandis, to other substances in blood or in the body (e.g., alcohol, adrenaline, cortisol, or testosterone), and the presented arrangement and methods are not restricted to glucose examination only.

[0043] The elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims may, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent. Such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.

[0044] While the present invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.