A near-infrared spectrometer-based analyzer attaches continuously or
semi-continuously to a human subject and is used to collect spectral
measurements of a tissue sample. The spectral readings are used to
estimate a biological parameter in the sampled tissue noninvasively, such
as glucose concentration. The preferred apparatus is a near-infrared
analyzer that includes a base module and a sample module connected
together with a communication bundle. The base module contains the bulk
of the analyzer, such as a spectrograph and a central processing unit
with an algorithm used for converting the optical signal into a glucose
concentration. The sample module is typically in a smaller module that
interfaces to a tissue sample. The sample module is preferably handheld
and provides minimal sampling distortion due to heat or pressure.
