Sample adapter

Abstract

An adapter presents a sample of bodily fluid, such as whole blood, including an analyte to an analyzer window of a non-invasive monitor. The adapter comprises a base material that comprises a first side and a second side. The adapter also comprises a sample accommodating volume extending between an opening in the second side of the base material and an opening in the first side of the base material.

1 - 27 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         28 . A method for calibrating a noninvasive detection unit, said method comprising: 
 placing a noninvasive sensor portion of said noninvasive detection unit in operative engagement with the skin of a patient;    analyzing a property of an analyte within said patient with said noninvasive detection unit and generating a first monitor output representing said property of said analyte;    withdrawing an amount of bodily fluid from a patient;    placing said noninvasive sensor portion of said noninvasive detection unit in operative engagement with at least some of said withdrawn amount of bodily fluid;    analyzing said property of said analyte in said withdrawn amount of bodily fluid with said noninvasive detection unit and generating a second monitor output representing said property of said analyte, without reference to a prepared standard in which said property of said analyte is predetermined;    comparing said first monitor output and said second monitor output to estimate an error; and    correcting said first monitor output based on said error.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said bodily fluid is whole blood.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein analyte is glucose and said property is concentration.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said noninvasive sensor portion comprises an analyzer window of said noninvasive detection unit.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein analyzing said property of said withdrawn amount of bodily fluid in thermal communication with a thermal gradient inducing element of said noninvasive detection unit.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein analyzing said property of said analyte within said patient comprises placing said thermal gradient inducing element in thermal communication with the skin of said patient.  
     
     
         34 . A method for calibrating a noninvasive detection unit, said method comprising: 
 placing a noninvasive sensor portion of said noninvasive detection unit in operative engagement with the skin of a patient;    analyzing a concentration of an analyte within said patient with said noninvasive detection unit and generating a first monitor output representing said concentration of said analyte;    withdrawing an amount of whole blood from a patient;    placing said noninvasive sensor portion of said noninvasive detection unit in operative engagement with at least some of said withdrawn amount of whole blood;    analyzing said property of said analyte in said withdrawn amount of whole blood with said noninvasive detection unit and generating a second monitor output representing a concentration of said analyte in said whole blood;    comparing said first monitor output and said second monitor output to estimate an error; and    correcting said first monitor output based on said error.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein analyte is glucose.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said noninvasive sensor portion comprises an analyzer window of said noninvasive detection unit.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein analyzing said concentration of said analyte in said withdrawn amount of whole blood comprises placing at least some of said withdrawn amount of whole blood in thermal communication with a thermal gradient inducing element of said noninvasive detection unit.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein analyzing said concentration of said analyte within said patient comprises placing said thermal gradient inducing element in thermal communication with the skin of said patient.  
     
     
         39 . A method for calibrating a noninvasive detection unit, said method comprising: 
 placing a noninvasive sensor portion of said noninvasive detection unit in operative engagement with the skin of a patient;    analyzing a property of an analyte within said patient with said noninvasive detection unit and generating a first monitor output representing said property of said analyte;    withdrawing an amount of bodily fluid from a patient;    placing said noninvasive sensor portion of said noninvasive detection unit in operative engagement with said withdrawn amount of bodily fluid, without mixing said bodily fluid with other fluids;    analyzing said property of said analyte in said withdrawn amount of bodily fluid with said noninvasive detection unit and generating a second monitor output representing said property of said analyte;    comparing said first monitor output and said second monitor output to estimate an error; and    correcting said first monitor output based on said error.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said bodily fluid is whole blood.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein analyte is glucose and said property is concentration.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said noninvasive sensor portion comprises an analyzer window of said detection unit.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein analyzing said property of said analyte in said withdrawn amount of bodily fluid comprises placing at least some of said withdrawn amount of bodily fluid in thermal communication with a thermal gradient inducing element of said noninvasive detection unit.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein analyzing said property of said analyte within said patient comprises placing said thermal gradient inducing element in thermal communication with the skin of said patient.