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 spectral 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 spectral filter for receiving light from the first spectral filter and adapted to direct the light toward a specimen;
focusing apparatus for receiving the light from the second spectral filter, focusing the light on the specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second spectral filter, wherein the second spectral filter is further configured so that when the second spectral filter receives the Raman signal from the focusing apparatus, the second spectral filter filters out laser excitation light before directing the Raman signal to a broadband reflector; and
a broadband reflector disposed between the second spectral filter and a second optical fiber,wherein the broadband reflector is configured to receive the Raman signal from the second spectral filter, to reflect the Raman signal to the second optical fiber, and to transmit laser excitation light; and
wherein the second optical fiber receives the Raman signal from the broadband reflector and transmits the same to a light analyzer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are Raman probes that include: (a) a first optical fiber for receiving laser excitation light from a light source and transmitting the same; (b) 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; (c) a second filter for receiving light from the first filter and adapted to direct the light toward a specimen; and (d) 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. 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.
104 Citations
45 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 spectral 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 spectral filter for receiving light from the first spectral filter and adapted to direct the light toward a specimen; focusing apparatus for receiving the light from the second spectral filter, focusing the light on the specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second spectral filter, wherein the second spectral filter is further configured so that when the second spectral filter receives the Raman signal from the focusing apparatus, the second spectral filter filters out laser excitation light before directing the Raman signal to a broadband reflector; and a broadband reflector disposed between the second spectral filter and a second optical fiber, wherein the broadband reflector is configured to receive the Raman signal from the second spectral filter, to reflect the Raman signal to the second optical fiber, and to transmit laser excitation light; and wherein the second optical fiber receives the Raman signal from the broadband reflector and transmits 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, 44)
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38. 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 spectral filter so as to block spurious signals associated with the light; directing the laser excitation light to a second spectral filter so as to direct the laser excitation light toward the specimen; receiving the light from the second spectral filter, focusing the light on the specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second spectral filter, wherein the second spectral filter is further configured so that when the second spectral filter receives the Raman signal from the specimen, the second spectral filter filters out unwanted laser excitation light; passing the filtered light received from the second spectral filter to a broadband reflector configured to reflect the Raman signal to a light analyzer and to transmit laser excitation light; and analyzing the Raman signal from the specimen to identify the specimen. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 45)
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42. 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 laser excitation light from the first filter and adapted to direct the light toward a specimen; focusing apparatus for receiving the laser excitation 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 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, wherein the focusing apparatus comprises a first lens for receiving laser excitation light from the second filter, a vial receptacle for receiving light from the first lens, a second lens for receiving light from the vial receptacle, a third lens for receiving light from the second lens and focusing that light on a target location, and wherein the focusing apparatus is adapted so that;
(i) when the specimen is located in the vial receptacle, light is focused on the specimen; and
(ii) when the specimen is not located in the vial receptacle, light is focused at the target location. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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Specification