A method for measuring in non-invasive manner the concentration of blood
constituents by which backscattered light is measured under the action of
ultrasonic radiation focused towards the inside of a central blood
vessel. A light source and detection unit are arranged to detect the
backscattered light on the skin surface above the blood vessel. The
target tissue is illuminated by two discrete optical wavelengths. An
average light intensity distribution is detected over the length of a
pulse. The distribution is Fournier transformed, and the largest Fournier
components and spectral position are determined in relation to the
frequency of the ultrasonic radiation. The component concentration in the
blood vessel is calculated taking into account the volume of the
ultrasonic focus contributing to the signal and blood flow rate.