Surface-enhanced Raman scattering unit, and method for using same

• US 9,588,049 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Original Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Inventors: Shibayama, Katsumi, Ito, Masashi, Yokino, Takafumi, Hirose, Masaki, Yoshida, Anna, Ofuji, Kazuto, Maruyama, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nur, Abdullahi
• Application Number:
  US14/420,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20150204792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0205 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/12 Generating the spectrum; Monochromators
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/4412 Scattering spectrometry particle sizing by light scattering G01N15/0205; optical velocimetry of particles G01P5/20, G01P5/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/658 enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/02 Mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0227 Sealable enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/06113 Coherent sources; lasers

Abstract

A SERS unit comprises a substrate; an optical function part formed on the substrate, for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering; and a package containing the optical function part in an inert space and configured to irreversibly expose the space.

Claims

1. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering unit comprising:

a substrate;

an optical function part formed on the substrate, for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering; and

a package containing the optical function part in an inert space and configured to irreversibly expose the space

wherein the package has a handling board having a depression containing the substrate and the optical function part, the depression including an inner surface having the substrate attached thereto, and a sheet sealing an opening of the depression; and

wherein the package is configured to irreversibly expose the space when the sheet is removed from the handling board.

2. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering unit according to claim 1, wherein the package is configured to irreversibly expose the space in order to arrange a sample on the optical function part.

3. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering unit according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is lifted to the side opposite from the depression so that the sheet is removed from the handling board.

4. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering unit according to claim 3, wherein an end part of the sheet is held and lifted to the side opposite from the depression so that the sheet is removed from the handling board.

5. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering unit according to claim 1, wherein the handling board has a plurality of such depressions, each of the depressions containing the substrate and the optical function part, and including an inner surface having the substrate attached thereto.

6. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering unit according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of such sheets are provided for the respective depressions.

7. A method for using a surface-enhanced Raman scattering unit comprising:

a substrate;

an optical function part formed on the substrate, for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering; and

a package containing the optical function part in an inert space and configured to irreversibly expose the space;

the method comprising;

a first step of irreversibly exposing the space by unsealing the package;

a second step of arranging the sample on the optical function part after the first step; and

a third step of irradiating the sample with excitation light after the second step.