Patent ID: 8515509

Claim:
A multi-stream emitter for a noninvasive, physiological device configured to transmit optical radiation in a tissue site, said emitter comprising: a set of optical sources comprising: a top-emitting diode affixed to a first surface, and a side-emitting diode affixed to a second surface, wherein the first surface is approximately perpendicular to the second surface; and a driver configured to: drive the top-emitting diode to transmit first infrared optical radiation at a first power into a tissue site of a patient, wherein the top-emitting diode is configured to emit the first infrared optical radiation in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface; and drive the side-emitting diode to transmit second infrared optical radiation at a second power into the tissue site of the patient, wherein the side-emitting diode is configured to emit the second infrared optical radiation in a second direction substantially parallel to the second surface, and wherein the second power is greater than the first power; enabling measurement of an analyte in the tissue site of the patient.