Hand-held synchronous scan spectrometer for in situ detection of pathogens and mineral deficiency in blood

A method comprising:

• generating spectral data at a hand-held spectrometer, wherein generating the spectral data comprises:
• outputting, via a first diffraction grating of the hand-held spectrometer, a selected excitation wavelength of light within a range of excitation wavelengths;
• directing the outputted selected excitation wavelength of light toward a sample external to the hand-held spectrometer, wherein the sample fluoresces in response to the selected excitation wavelength of light;
• receiving, at a second diffraction grating of the hand-held spectrometer, light emitted by the sample to generate dispersed light;
• and
• recording spectral data at a detector of the hand-held spectrometer, the spectral data generated in response to dispersed light received from the second diffraction grating of the hand-held spectrometer;
• and
• determining a synchronous emission intensity, at a controller of the hand-held spectrometer, wherein the synchronous emission intensity is based, at least in part, on the spectral data;
• and
• in response to the recorded spectral data, generating, at the controller, principal component analysis (PCA) data corresponding to the sample,
• wherein the method further comprises generating a fluorescence spectral plot based on the spectral data, the fluorescence spectral plot including a plurality of peaks, each peak corresponding to a particular amino acid of the sample, and wherein generating the spectral data at the hand-held spectrometer further comprises:
• generating, via an ultraviolet light emitting diode (LED) positioned within the hand-held spectrometer, the range of excitation wavelengths;
• transmitting, via optics, the selected excitation wavelength of light to an exit slit of the excitation monochromator, wherein the optics and the first diffraction grating are positioned within an excitation monochromator of the hand-held spectrometer;
• and
• transmitting the selected excitation wavelength of light to the sample.

A method comprising;

• generating spectral data at a hand-held spectrometer, wherein generating the spectral data comprises:
• outputting, via a first diffraction grating of the hand-held spectrometer, a selected excitation wavelength of light within a range of excitation wavelengths;
• directing the outputted selected excitation wavelength of light toward a sample external to the hand-held spectrometer, wherein the sample fluoresces in response to the selected excitation wavelength of light;
• receiving, at a second diffraction grating of the hand-held spectrometer, light emitted by the sample to generate dispersed light;
• and
• recording spectral data at a detector of the hand-held spectrometer, the spectral data generated in response to dispersed light received from the second diffraction grating of the hand-held spectrometer;
• and
• determining a synchronous emission intensity, at a controller of the hand-held spectrometer, wherein the synchronous emission intensity is based, at least in part, on the spectral data;
• and
• in response to the recorded spectral data, generating, at the controller, principal component analysis (PCA) data corresponding to the sample,
• wherein the method further comprises:
• rendering at least one of a two dimensional spectrum and a three dimensional spectrum at a graphical user interface (GUI) of the hand-held spectrometer based on the recorded spectral data;
• and
• indicating, through the GUI, a ratio of dead pathogens to live pathogens in the sample.

A method for identifying bacterial strains, fungi and/or viruses of a sample in situ, the method comprising using a hand-held spectrometer that includes a radiation source, a first component positioned to receive light from the radiation source and operable to direct a range of wavelengths of light from the radiation source towards the sample, a second component positioned to receive fluoresced light from the sample, and a detector positioned to receive light output from the second component, to:

• (i) excite the sample with radiation causing it to fluoresce;
• (ii) receive light emitted by the sample at a diffraction grating of he second component to generate dispersed light;
• (iii) record spectral data at the detector, the spectral data generated in response to the dispersed light received from the diffraction grating of the second component;
• and
• (iv) generate a fluorescence spectral plot based on the spectral data, the fluorescent spectral plot made up of a plurality of peaks, among which are peaks that correspond to the bacterial strains, fungi and/or viruses of the sample,
• wherein the method further comprises in response to the recorded spectral data, using the hand-held spectrometer to generate, at a controller. principal component analysis (PCA) data corresponding to the sample, and
• wherein the method further comprises using the hand-held spectrometer to render at least one of a two dimensional spectrum and a three dimensional spectrum at a graphical user interface (GUI) of the hand-held spectrometer based on the recorded spectral data;
• and indicating, through the GUI, a ratio of dead pathogens to live pathogens in the sample.

A method for identifying bacterial strains, fungi and/or viruses of a sample in situ, the method comprising using a hand-held spectrometer that includes a light emitting diode (LED) positioned to direct a range of wavelengths of light towards the sample, a component positioned to receive fluoresced light from the sample, and a detector positioned to receive light output from the component, to:

• (i) excite the sample with radiation causing it to fluoresce;
• (ii) receive light emitted by the sample at a diffraction grating of the component to generate dispersed light;
• (iii) record spectral data at the detector, the spectral data generated in response to the dispersed light received from the diffraction grating of the component, and (iv) generate a fluorescence spectral plot based on the spectral data, the fluorescent spectral plot made up of a plurality of peaks, among which are peaks that correspond to the bacterial strains, fungi and/or viruses of the sample,
• wherein the method further comprises in response to the recorded spectral data, using the hand-held spectrometer to generate, at a controller, principal component analysis (PCA) data corresponding to the sample, and
• which wherein the method further comprises using the hand-held spectrometer to render at least one of a two dimensional spectrum and a three dimensional spectrum at a graphical user interface (GUI) of the hand-held spectrometer based on the recorded spectral data;
• and indicating, through the GUI, a ratio of dead pathogens to live pathogens in the sample.

A device comprising:

• a housing capable of being hand-held, wherein the housing includes:
• an excitation monochromator, wherein the excitation monochromator is configured to output a selected excitation wavelength of light at least via a first diffraction grating and within a range of excitation wavelengths and is further configured to transmit the selected excitation wavelength of light to a sample external to the housing;
• an emission monochromator, wherein the emission monochromator is configured to receive emitted light from the sample, and wherein the emission monochromator at least includes a second diffraction grating configured to generate dispersed light in response to the emitted light received at the second diffraction grating;
• a detector configured to receive the dispersed light from the second diffraction grating and further configured to generate spectral data based on the dispersed light;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the excitation monochromator and communicatively coupled to the emission monochromator, wherein the controller is configured to determine a synchronous emission intensity based, at least in part, on the spectral data, wherein the controller is further configured to perform principal component analysis (PCA) based on the spectral data,
• wherein the device further includes a display communicatively coupled to the housing, wherein the display is configured to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) depicting at least one of a two-dimensional spectrum and a three-dimensional spectrum based on the generated spectral data, and wherein the GUI is further configured to indicate a ratio of dead pathogens to live pathogens in the sample.