Raman spectroscopy system and method and specimen holder therefor
First Claim
1. A Raman spectroscopy system comprising:
- a laser source for providing a laser beam;
an optical probe assembly comprising;
a photonic crystal light guide for receiving the laser beam from said laser source and for directing the laser beam toward a specimen of selected material;
a lens for receiving the laser beam in said light guide and directing the beam onto the specimen, and for receiving reflected light from the specimen and directing the reflected light back through said light guide; and
a dichroic beam splitter for directing a portion of the reflected beam out of said optical probe assembly; and
an optical spectrum analyzer for receiving the portion of the reflected beam and for exhibiting a Raman signature of the specimen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Raman spectroscopy system includes a laser source for providing a laser beam, and an optical probe assembly including a photonic crystal fiber light guide for receiving the laser beam from the laser source and for directing the laser beam toward a specimen of selected material, a lens for receiving the laser beam in the light guide and directing the beam onto the specimen and for receiving reflected light from the specimen and directing the reflected light back through the fiber light guide, and a dichroic beam splitter for directing a portion of the reflected beam out of the optical probe assembly. The system further includes an optical spectrum analyzer for receiving the portion of the reflected beam and for exhibiting a Raman signature of the specimen.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A Raman spectroscopy system comprising:
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a laser source for providing a laser beam;
an optical probe assembly comprising;
a photonic crystal light guide for receiving the laser beam from said laser source and for directing the laser beam toward a specimen of selected material;
a lens for receiving the laser beam in said light guide and directing the beam onto the specimen, and for receiving reflected light from the specimen and directing the reflected light back through said light guide; and
a dichroic beam splitter for directing a portion of the reflected beam out of said optical probe assembly; and
an optical spectrum analyzer for receiving the portion of the reflected beam and for exhibiting a Raman signature of the specimen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A holder for a specimen of material for which a Raman signature is to be generated, the holder comprising:
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a vial having a top member, a bottom member, and a wall member, at least one portion of at least one of said top member, said bottom member, and said side member comprising a single crystalline material. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for producing a Raman signature display, the method comprising the steps of:
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operating a laser source to produce a laser beam;
directing the laser beam through a light guide from a first end thereof to a second end thereof and through a lens associated with the light guide;
directing the laser beam further onto a selected specimen from which light projected thereonto is reflected back to the lens associated with the light guide;
passing the reflected light back through the light guide from the second end thereof to the first end thereof;
dividing the reflected light at the second end of the light guide into a Raman signature portion and a second portion comprising a remainder of the reflected light;
directing the signature portion of the reflected light to an optical spectrum analyzer; and
operating the analyzer to provide a signature display.
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20. A method for producing a Raman signature display, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a specimen for which a Raman signature is desired in a holder having at least one portion of one wall of a single crystalline material;
operating a laser source to produce a laser beam;
directing the laser beam through a light guide means and through a lens means associated with the light guide means;
directing the laser beam through the at least one portion of one wall of the holder and onto the specimen from which light projected thereonto is reflected back though the light guide means into an optical spectrum analyzer; and
operating the analyzer to provide a signature display.
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21. A Raman spectroscopy optical probe assembly comprising:
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a photonic crystal light guide for receiving a laser beam from a laser source and for directing the laser beam toward a specimen of selected material; and
a lens for receiving the laser beam in said light guide and directing the beam onto the specimen, and for receiving reflected light from the specimen and directing the reflected light back through said fiber light guide.
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Specification