Apparatus and methods relating to high speed Raman spectroscopy
OwnerHaishan Zenginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for rapid Raman spectroscopy. The speed is improved by providing light from a sample to a light-dispersive element, such as a holographic grating, in a pattern that inversely complements distortion caused by the grating. For example, if the grating imparts a curve to the spectral lines emanating from the grating, then the light is inserted into the grating in a curve in the opposite direction. Also calibration light guides able to transmit a known, or standard, light to the detection or spectroscopy system. The calibration light guide can be useful both with traditional light transmission guides and with the light transmission guides of the present invention.
Claims35
A Raman spectrometer system comprising a detection light guide able to detect light emanating from a sample, a distal end of the detection light guide optically connected to a plane grating that is in turn optically connected to a pixelated light detector operably connected to a controller containing computer-implemented programming that detects light impinging on detection pixels in the pixelated light detector, wherein a light transmissive portion of the distal end of the detection light guide is arranged in a substantially inverse shape that is complementary to a distortion to the light caused by passing the light through the plane grating, to provide light in a substantially straight line at the pixelated light detector.
A Raman spectrometer system comprising a means for transmitting detection light emanating from a sample, a distal end of the means for transmitting detection light optically connected to a plane grating means that is in turn optically connected to a means for detecting that is operably connected to a controller means containing computer-implemented programming that detects light impinging on means for detecting, wherein the means for transmitting detection light provides light in a substantially inverse shape that is complementary to a distortion to the light caused by passing the light through the plane grating means, to provide light in a substantially straight line at the means for detecting.
A method of taking a Raman measurement comprising:
- a) illuminating a sample under conditions and for a time sufficient to induce measurable Raman scattered light to emanate from the sample;
- b) collecting the emanating light;
- c) providing the emanating light with a substantially inverse shape that is complementary to a distortion to the light caused by passing the light through a light-dispersive element;
- d) passing the light having the substantially inverse shape through a plane grating to provide substantially straight spectral lines;
- and,
- e) performing Raman spectroscopic analysis on the substantially straight spectral lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.