An improved method for non-invasively measuring a concentration of a target analyte
dissolved in a fluid flowing through a sample is presented. It includes directing
a probe beam of electromagnetic radiation, consisting of time multiplexed components
of different wavelengths, through the sample and measuring the difference of the
absorption of the radiation at at least one wavelength pair at different sample
states. During sample state changes, the amount of fluid containing the target
analyte within the sample is changing, which varies the total amount of target
analyte in the sample, as well as the absorption properties of the sample. The
sample states are produced, for instance, by compressing and uncompressing the
tissue sample. The accuracy of the presented method is enhanced by including continuous
estimation of the amount of the fluid containing the target analyte within the
sample, and measurement of the variations of the absorption at a wavelength at
which the target analyte absorbs significantly. The method is particularly useful
in measuring the concentration of a target analyte, such as glucose, in tissue
containing blood. An apparatus for performing this method also is disclosed.