Handpiece with integrated optical system for photothermal radiometry and luminescence measurements

A system comprising:

• an elongate housing comprising:
• a handheld proximal portion comprising an inner recess;
• and
• a thermally conductive distal portion connected to said handheld proximal portion, said thermally conductive distal portion comprising a longitudinal inner bore and a distal aperture;
• a thermally conductive optical bench attached to said thermally conductive distal portion;
• a laser for producing a laser beam within said housing, said laser is mounted on said thermally conductive optical bench;
• a focusing element positioned to focus said laser beam through said distal aperture within said thermally conductive distal portion and onto a surface of said object, and to collect photothermal radiation generated within said object in response to said laser beam;
• a dichroic beamsplitter positioned within said housing to spatially separate said photothermal radiation from said laser beam;
• and
• an infrared detector for detecting said photothermal radiation,
• infrared detector is mounted on said thermally conductive optical bench;
• said thermally conductive optical bench is mechanically suspended within said inner recess of said proximal portion, without contacting said proximal portion, via attachment to said thermally conductive distal portion, such that heat generated by said laser and said infrared detector flows through said optical bench into said thermally conductive distal portion for passive heat sinking therefrom;
• and
• a control and processing unit connected to said apparatus, said control and processing unit is configured for providing power to said apparatus and for processing signals detected by said apparatus.