A cartilage-tissue analysis device includes: an illuminating fiber that emits, from a light-emission surface thereof, laser light coming from a laser light source; two light-collecting fibers that receives scattered light at respective light-receiving surfaces the distances from which to the light-emission surface differ from each other; and detector that detects Raman spectra from the scattered light received by the light-collecting fibers. The cartilage-tissue analysis device is configure to: calculate an intensity ratio between two Raman bands originating from cartilage tissue and subchondral bone tissue, respectively, from each of the two Raman spectra; and evaluate a state of the cartilage tissue by selecting, from among the two Raman spectra, a Raman spectrum the intensity ratio of which is within a prescribed range and that analyzes the selected Raman spectrum, to analyze the selected Raman spectrum.

A fiber optic probe is provided with a distal sampling end, a proximal end, and light delivery and collection paths therethrough. The probe includes a window disposed at the distal sampling end of the fiber optic probe, the window having a distal end and a proximal end. A lens is disposed near the proximal end of the window, the lens having a distal end, a proximal end, and an aperture. A light delivery optical fiber is provided having a distal end and a proximal end, the light rays being directed through the aperture. A collection optical fiber is provided in optical communication with the lens and the window. The probe may include a lens collection filter disposed between the window and the lens and an optical isolator provided within the aperture to optically isolate the light delivery path and the light collection path.

Methods, apparatus, and systems provide improved identification of selected biohazard and/or biohazard signatures from complex in vivo or in vitro samples and include deep UV native fluorescence spectroscopic analysis for multiple locations of a sample wherein classification results for individual locations are combined and spatially correlated to provide a positive or negative conclusion of biohazard signature presence (e.g., for signatures for viruses, bacteria, and diseases including SARS-CoV-2 and its variants and COVID-19 and its variants). Improvements include one or more of reduced sample processing time (minutes to fractions of a minute), reduced sampling cost (dollars to fractions of a dollar), high conclusion reliability (rivaling real time RT-PCR). Some embodiments may incorporate a stage or scanning mirror system to provide movement of a sample relative to an excitation exposure location. Some embodiments may incorporate Raman or phosphorescence spectroscopic analysis as well as imaging systems.

A fiber optic probe is provided with a distal sampling end, a proximal end, and light delivery and collection paths therethrough. The probe includes a window disposed at the distal sampling end of the fiber optic probe, the window having a distal end and a proximal end. A lens is disposed near the proximal end of the window, the lens having a distal end, a proximal end, and an aperture. A light delivery optical fiber is provided having a distal end and a proximal end, the light rays being directed through the aperture. A collection optical fiber is provided in optical communication with the lens and the window. The probe may include a lens collection filter disposed between the window and the lens and an optical isolator provided within the aperture to optically isolate the light delivery path and the light collection path.

Methods are provided for making a membrane or textile having a mechanically robust surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate by in a first step adhesively bonding a micropatch array to a substrate, the micropatch array having a plurality of micron-scale pillars, each of the micron-scale pillars in the plurality of micron-scale pillars containing a plurality of plasmonic nanoparticles dispersed within a polymer matrix; and in a subsequent step etching a portion of the polymer matrix to expose at least a portion of the plasmonic nanoparticles at or near a surface of the micron-scale pillars. Membranes and textiles containing the mechanically robust surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates are also provided.

An apparatus for measuring a Raman spectrum may include a processor configured to adjust a Raman probe parameter, set a Raman probe with the Raman probe parameter, obtain a first Raman spectrum of the sample at a first time point and a second Raman spectrum of the sample at a second time point, obtain a difference spectrum between the first Raman spectrum and the second Raman spectrum, determine a degree of similarity between the difference spectrum and an analyte Raman spectrum, determine an optimal Raman probe parameter based on the degree of similarity, and obtain a Raman spectrum of the sample for measuring bio-information by setting the Raman probe with the optimal Raman probe parameter.

A hand-held microfluidic testing device is provided that includes a housing having a cartridge receiving port, a cartridge for input to the cartridge receiving port having a sample input and a channel, where the channel includes a mixture of Raman-scattering nanoparticles and a calibration solution, where the calibration solution includes chemical compounds capable of interacting with a sample under test input to the cartridge and the Raman-scattering nanoparticles, and an optical detection system in the housing, where the optical detection system is capable of providing an illuminated electric field, where the illuminating electric field is capable of being used for Raman spectroscopy with the Raman-scattering nanoparticles and the calibration solution to analyze the sample under test input to the cartridge.

Systems and methods are disclosed that utilize metal nanostructures that are synthesized in situ along the internal surfaces of a microfluidic device. The nanostructures are formed by initial deposition of metallic seeds followed by flowing growth and reducing agent solutions into the capillaries/microfluidic channels to grow the nanostars. The nanostructures may optionally be functionalized with a capture ligand. The capture ligand may be used to selectively bind to certain cells (e.g., circulating tumor cells). The cells may be removed by a beam of light (e.g., laser beam) that induces localized heating at the surface location(s) containing the nanostructures. The plasmonic nature of the nanostructures can be used to heat the nanostructure(s) locally for the selective removal of one or certain cells. The nanostructures may be used to acquire Raman spectra of molecules or other small objects that are bound thereto for identification and quantification.

Disclosed is an in-vitro method to determine efficacy of a cosmetic composition or of one or more ingredients comprised therein to inhibit a particulate pollutant from contacting skin, said method comprising the steps of: (i) contacting a human skin equivalent with a cosmetic composition to form, upon drying, a layer thereof extending along mutually perpendicular X and Y and Z axis where along said Z axis said layer is 1 to 100 μm, where said Z axis indicates thickness of said layer; (ii) depositing, on said layer, a known amount of a model fine particulate matter comprising a first substance responsive to depth profile analysis where said cosmetic composition comprises a second substance, not comprised in said model fine particulate matter but also responsive to said depth profile analysis where the response of said first and second substances are distinguishable; (iii) for a pre-determined period after depositing said model fine particulate matter, periodically measuring response of said first and said second substance by said depth profile analysis, to thereby determine the amount of said model fine particulate matter at defined intervals along said Z axis; and, (iv) ascertaining said efficacy based on the amount of said model fine particulate matter at said defined intervals along said Z axis throughout said pre-determined period.

A system and method for imaging a sample using Raman spectrometry. Optical fibers having opposite first ends and second ends are arranged with the first ends and second ends in respective two-dimensional arrays. The two-dimensional arrays maintain relative positions of the optical fibers to one another from the first ends to the second ends in a way that the first end of each optical fibers of the bundle can simultaneously collect a corresponding Raman signal portion scattered from specific spatial coordinates of the area of the sample. The so-collected Raman signal portions are propagated towards the corresponding second end, from which are outputted and detected simultaneously using an array of detectors.