Apparatus for collecting material to be spectrally analyzed

An apparatus for performing surface-enhanced spectroscopy (SES), said apparatus comprising:

• a probe having,
• a body having a first end and an opposite a second end, wherein the body is elongated along a first axis from the first end to the second end and is to be inserted through a surface of an item of interest;
• a hole having an a first opening formed in an external surface of the body and a second opening formed at an interior of the body, wherein the second opening is closer to the first end of the body than the first opening;
• and
• a plurality of surface-enhanced spectroscopy (SES) elements positioned inside the body;
• an illumination source in communication with the second end of the body to illuminate the plurality of SES elements;
• and
• a detector positioned to detect light emitted from an analyte positioned near the plurality of SES elements.

A method for fabricating an apparatus for collecting material from an item of interest to be spectrally analyzed, the method comprising:

• obtaining a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the body is elongated along a first axis from the first end to the second end and is to be inserted through a surface of an item of interest;
• forming a hole having a first opening at an external surface of the body and a second opening formed at an interior of the body, wherein the second opening is closer to the first end of the body than the first opening;
• and
• positioning a plurality of surface-enhanced spectroscopy (SES) elements inside the body.