Method and apparatus for conducting Raman spectroscopy
First Claim
1. A Raman probe comprising:
- a first optical fiber for receiving laser excitation light from a light source and transmitting the same;
a first filter for receiving light from the first optical fiber and adapted to pass the laser excitation light and to block spurious signals associated with the light;
a second filter for receiving light from the first filter and adapted to direct the light toward a specimen;
focusing apparatus for receiving the light from the second filter, focusing the light on the specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second filter;
wherein the second filter is further configured so that when the second filter receives the Raman signal from the focusing apparatus, the second filter filters out unwanted laser excitation light before directing the Raman signal to a second optical fiber; and
a second optical fiber for receiving the Raman signal from the second filter and transmitting the same to a light analyzer.
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Abstract
In another form of the present invention, there is provided a Raman probe comprising: a first optical fiber for receiving laser excitation light from a light source and transmitting the same; a first filter for receiving light from the first optical fiber and adapted to pass the laser excitation light and to block spurious signals associated with the light; a second filter for receiving light from the first filter and adapted to direct the light toward the specimen; focusing apparatus for receiving the light from the second filter, focusing the light on a specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second filter; wherein the second filter is further configured so that when the second filter receives the Raman signal from the focusing apparatus, the second filter filters out unwanted laser excitation light before directing the Raman signal to a second optical fiber; and a second optical fiber for receiving the Raman signal from the second filter and transmitting the same to a light analyzer. In another form of the present invention, there is provided a Raman probe comprising: a light source for generating laser excitation light; focusing apparatus for receiving the laser excitation light from the light source, focusing the laser excitation light on a specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to a light analyzer; and a light analyzer for analyzing the Raman signature of the specimen, whereby to identify the specimen; wherein the focusing apparatus is configured to permit the specimen to reside in a vial receptacle or at a target location remote from the vial receptacle. In another form of the present invention, there is provided a method for conducting Raman spectroscopy of a specimen, comprising: generating laser excitation light using a light source; passing the laser excitation light through a first filter so as to block spurious signals associated with the light; passing the laser excitation light through a second filter so as to direct the light toward the specimen; receiving the light from the second filter, focusing the light on a specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second filter; wherein the second filter is further configured so that when the second filter receives the Raman signal from the specimen, the second filter filters out unwanted laser excitation light; passing the filtered light received from the second filter to a light analyzer; and analyzing the Raman signature of the specimen so as to identify the specimen. In another form of the present invention, there is provided a Raman probe comprising: a housing; a light source disposed within the housing for generating laser excitation light; focusing apparatus disposed within the housing for receiving the laser excitation light from the light source, focusing the laser excitation light on a specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to a light analyzer; and a light analyzer disposed within the housing for analyzing the Raman signature of the specimen, whereby to identify the specimen; wherein the focusing apparatus is configured to permit the specimen to reside at a target location remote from the housing; and further comprising an optical shield mounted to the housing so as to be disposed between the specimen and the user, whereby to optically shield the user from the light source. In another form of the present invention, there is provided a Raman probe comprising: a housing; a light source disposed within the housing for generating laser excitation light; focusing apparatus disposed within the housing for receiving the laser excitation light from the light source, focusing the laser excitation light on a specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to a light analyzer; and a light analyzer disposed within the housing for analyzing the Raman signature of the specimen, whereby to identify the specimen; wherein the focusing apparatus is configured to permit the specimen to reside at a target location remote from the housing; and further comprising a camera mounted to the housing so that its field of view encompasses the target location, and a display mounted to the housing for displaying the image captured by the camera, whereby to permit the user to position the probe relative to the specimen while watching the display.
126 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A Raman probe comprising:
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a first optical fiber for receiving laser excitation light from a light source and transmitting the same;
a first filter for receiving light from the first optical fiber and adapted to pass the laser excitation light and to block spurious signals associated with the light;
a second filter for receiving light from the first filter and adapted to direct the light toward a specimen;
focusing apparatus for receiving the light from the second filter, focusing the light on the specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second filter;
wherein the second filter is further configured so that when the second filter receives the Raman signal from the focusing apparatus, the second filter filters out unwanted laser excitation light before directing the Raman signal to a second optical fiber; and
a second optical fiber for receiving the Raman signal from the second filter and transmitting the same to a light analyzer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A Raman probe comprising:
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a light source for generating laser excitation light;
focusing apparatus for receiving the laser excitation light from the light source, focusing the laser excitation light on a specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to a light analyzer; and
a light analyzer for analyzing the Raman signature of the specimen, whereby to identify the specimen;
wherein the focusing apparatus is configured to permit the specimen to reside in a vial receptacle or at a target location remote from the vial receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for conducting Raman spectroscopy of a specimen, comprising:
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generating laser excitation light using a light source;
passing the laser excitation light through a first filter so as to block spurious signals associated with the light;
directing the laser excitation light to a second filter so as to direct the laser excitation light toward the specimen;
receiving the light from the second filter, focusing the light on the specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second filter;
wherein the second filter is further configured so that when the second filter receives the Raman signal from the specimen, the second filter filters out unwanted laser excitation light;
passing the filtered light received from the second filter to a light analyzer; and
analyzing the Raman signature of the specimen so as to identify the specimen.
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51. A Raman probe comprising:
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a housing;
a light source disposed within the housing for generating laser excitation light;
focusing apparatus disposed within the housing for receiving the laser excitation light from the light source, focusing the laser excitation light on a specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to a light analyzer; and
a light analyzer disposed within the housing for analyzing the Raman signature of the specimen, whereby to identify the specimen;
wherein the focusing apparatus is configured to permit the specimen to reside at a target location remote from the housing;
and further comprising an optical shield mounted to the housing so as to be disposed between the specimen and the user, whereby to optically shield the user from the light source. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. A Raman probe comprising:
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a housing;
a light source disposed within the housing for generating laser excitation light;
focusing apparatus disposed within the housing for receiving the laser excitation light from the light source, focusing the laser excitation light on a specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to a light analyzer; and
a light analyzer disposed within the housing for analyzing the Raman signature of the specimen, whereby to identify the specimen;
wherein the focusing apparatus is configured to permit the specimen to reside at a target location remote from the housing;
and further comprising a camera mounted to the housing so that its field of view encompasses the target location, and a display mounted to the housing for displaying the image captured by the camera, whereby to permit the user to position the probe relative to the specimen while watching the display.
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Specification