An optical slit device that combines microelectromechanical design techniques, semiconductor laser technology, and micro-optics to provide a spectrometer entrance slit on a semiconductor substrate with integrated calibration light sources, which integrated light enters the entrance slit and is transmitted down the same optical path as a light source under test and by which the spectrometer can be wavelength calibrated in situ is disclosed.

The present disclosure provides for a Raman probes and methods of imaging including a Raman probe. The Raman probes include a Raman detection system configured to illuminate an area of a subject or a sample with a light source and to receive Raman scattered light energy from the area. The Raman probe can include a proximity sensor system and a fluorescent imaging system. A method of imaging introduces a Raman probe to a subject. Fluorescent light is detected from an area of the subject, which guides the Raman probe to the area. The Raman probe is positioned at a target distance from the area using the proximity sensor system, and by exposing the area to a light beam from the Raman detection system. The light beam, Raman scattered light energy, is scattered by a Raman agent associated with the area. Raman scattered light is detected using the Raman imaging device.

A spectroscopic system may include: a probe having a probe tip and an optical coupler, the optical coupler including an emitting fiber group and first and second receiving fiber groups, each fiber group having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the fiber groups are formed into a bundle and optically exposed through the probe tip; a light source optically coupled to the second end of the emitting fiber group, the light source emitting light in at least a first waveband and a second waveband, the second waveband being different from the first waveband; a first spectrometer optically coupled to the second end of the first receiving fiber group and configured to process light in the first waveband; and a second spectrometer optically coupled to the second end of the second receiving fiber group and configured to process light in the second waveband.

In one aspect, a prism is used to separate white light into individual color components, which are used to illuminate an object in sequence. This can be effected by rotating the prism. Reflections from the object are captured by a high resolution black and white camera. A frequency detector is used to also receive the individual colors that illuminate the object so that the high-resolution pixels from the black and white camera can be correlated, for each captured value, to the specific color reflected from the object that created the pixel. In this way, the color spectrum of the object can be measured with high precision. Other examples that use stationary prisms also are disclosed. Examples are disclosed in which the prism(s) receive white light from the object and spread it in color components onto the imager.

This invention relates to a light delivery and collection device for performing spectroscopic analysis of a subject. The light delivery and collection device comprises a reflective cavity with two apertures. The first aperture receives excitation light which then diverges and projects onto the second aperture. The second aperture is applied to the subject such that the reflective cavity substantially forms an enclosure covering an area of the subject. The excitation light interacts with the covered area of the subject to produce inelastic scattering and/or fluorescence emission from the subject. The reflective cavity reflects the excitation light as well as the inelastic scattering and/or fluorescence emission that is reflected and/or back-scattered from the subject and redirects it towards the subject. This causes more excitation light to penetrate into the subject hence enabling sub-surface measurement and also improves the collection efficiency of the inelastic scattering or fluorescence emission. The shape of the reflective cavity is optimized to further improve the collection efficiency.

In one aspect, a prism is used to separate white light into individual color components, which are used to illuminate an object in sequence. This can be effected by rotating the prism. Reflections from the object are captured by a high resolution black and white camera. A frequency detector is used to also receive the individual colors that illuminate the object so that the high-resolution pixels from the black and white camera can be correlated, for each captured value, to the specific color reflected from the object that created the pixel. In this way, the color spectrum of the object can be measured with high precision. Other examples that use stationary prisms also are disclosed. Examples are disclosed in which the prism(s) receive white light from the object and spread it in color components onto the imager.

This invention relates to a light delivery and collection device for performing spectroscopic analysis of a subject. The light delivery and collection device comprises a reflective cavity with two apertures. The first aperture receives excitation light which then diverges and projects onto the second aperture. The second aperture is applied to the subject such that the reflective cavity substantially forms an enclosure covering an area of the subject. The excitation light interacts with the covered area of the subject to produce inelastic scattering and/or fluorescence emission from the subject. The reflective cavity reflects the excitation light as well as the inelastic scattering and/or fluorescence emission that is reflected and/or back-scattered from the subject and redirects it towards the subject. This causes more excitation light to penetrate into the subject hence enabling sub-surface measurement and also improves the collection efficiency of the inelastic scattering or fluorescence emission. The shape of the reflective cavity is optimized to further improve the collection efficiency.

A bimodal optical spectroscopy device for producing spectra of autofluorescence and diffuse reflectance signals from a biological sample such as skin. Identified are: an excitation unit including a plurality of monochrome light-emitting diodes and a wideband pulsed lamp; a flexible optical probe including a distally arranged excitation optical fibre, at the centre of the flexible optical probe, to consecutively carry the excitation signals from each element of the excitation unit to the biological sample, and a plurality of distally arranged receiving optical fibres arranged in concentric circles around the excitation optical fibre to carry signals coming from the sample; a detection unit including a plurality of spectrometers, each receiving signals from receiving optical fibres arranged on a single circle in the optical probe; a filter wheel for eliminating excitation signals; and a processing unit for controlling the excitation and detection units and for synchronizing between the units during measurements.

An optical slit device that combines microelectromechanical design techniques, semiconductor laser technology, and micro-optics to provide a spectrometer entrance slit on a semiconductor substrate with integrated calibration light sources, which integrated light enters the entrance slit and is transmitted down the same optical path as a light source under test and by which the spectrometer can be wavelength calibrated in situ is disclosed.

Spectrometer systems are provided including a detector array; an imaging lens assembly coupled to the detector array, the imaging lens assembly including a first element of positive optical power followed by a second element of negative optical power and a positive optical power element split into two opposing identical singlets; a dispersive element coupled to the imaging lens assembly; and a fixed focus collimator assembly coupled to the dispersive element. Related imaging lens assemblies and collimator assemblies are also provided.