High-speed, rugged, time-resolved, Raman spectrometer for sensing multiple components of a sample and for diagnostics of pathological skin conditions such as cancer
US7944555B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 17, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2003/123
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A new architecture for implementing a time-resolved Raman spectrometer is 2-3 orders of magnitude faster than current systems. In one embodiment, the invention employs a rotating optical switch to time multiplex an input signal through multiple band-pass filters and into a single optical detector which is electrically activated only when the filtered input light pulse is about to impact it.Time-multiplexing the input signal through multiple optical filters and time-sequencing the optical detector enables the device to detect and analyze 2-3 orders of magnitude faster than current designs. In one embodiment, the system may be employed for the diagnostics of a pathological condition of skin tissue in patients, such as malignant melanoma or other types of skin cancers and abnormal conditions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.