Here we present our latest fiber-optic techniques in spectral range from UV to mid-infrared for research and industrial applications. Depending on the chemical process or materials to be analyzed, fiber probes can be based on 4 different fiber types selected for the required spectral range and used for Transmission, Reflection, ATR-absorption, Raman & Fluorescence spectroscopies. Advanced fiber optic combi probes are capable to utilize two and more spectroscopic methods at the same time assembled in the same probe shaft - such as Mid-FTIR+Fluorescence, Raman+Near IR, Raman+Mid-FTIR, Raman+mid-FTIR-Near IR and others. It improves selectivity and precision of the analysis for media content in process control.
A compact fiber-optic probe for combinational vibrational spectroscopy was developed and evaluated. The probe is capable of simultaneous acquisition of mid-infrared ATR and Raman spectra from the same spot in the region 3100-2600 cm-1 which contains predominantly the responses of C-H stretching vibrations of hydrocarbon residues that has been widely employed in organic, analytic, biological, and polymer chemistry.
Biological tissue is complex substance which characterization demands combination of several spectroscopic techniques. Spectroscopy enables real-time label-free chemical and structural evaluation of samples for medical diagnostics in situ and in vivo. Fiber-optic probes provide flexible, sterilizable, and compact solutions for simultaneously analyzing tissue samples with several spectroscopic modalities. Modern fiber spectroscopy seamlessly covers entire wavelength range from 0.3µm with silica fibers to 20µm with chalcogenide, silver halide PIR fibers, and hollow glass waveguides. Here we present our latest achievements in developing multispectral compact fiber-optic probes for biomedical applications. We focused on combining all four key spectroscopic modalities (NIR, MIR, Raman, and Fluorescence) in single fiber probe tip. In preliminary studies of clinical bio-samples, combination of NIR diffuse reflection or MIR absorption spectroscopy with fluorescence spectroscopy gives synergy effect in differentiation of diseased and normal tissues. In our Raman experiments, we evaluate primary signals together with fluorescence background, which helps enhance analysis accuracy. Combined with advanced chemometrics data analysis, this concept enables the development of customized spectral fiber sensors based only on several wavelengths, hence their simple design, small size, high speed, and cost savings. It is possible to make rapid measurements directly in the operation theater by using tiny (<200 µm OD) but robust monofiber disposable Raman needle probes. Our recent experiments have shown the possibility of combining mid-IR ATR absorption and Raman spectroscopy in one compact fiber-optic probe. These advances turn fiber-optic multispectral probes into universal tools for any biomedical application requiring analysis of complex tissue.
Silver halide polycrystalline infrared (PIR) fibers and hollow waveguides (HWGs) have high transmission at midinfrared wavelengths from 3 to 18 μm. Their applications include a flexible delivery of CO2 and CO laser power. We investigated transmission of PIR fibers and HWGs at different bending radii using CO2 laser radiation and studied the intensity distribution after the distal fiber. The PIR fibers show only a relatively weak decrease in transmission with increasing curvature 1/R or decreasing bending radius R. This is an advantage over hollow waveguides, where transmission decreases sharply with curvature. Disadvantages are high reflection losses at the PIR fiber end faces due to the high refractive index of 2.15 for wavelengths in the mid-infrared region. To reduce these losses, the surface of the fiber end faces must be treated with several special methods including microstructuring or coupling with an antireflective window. The measured near-field and far-field intensity distributions or beam profiles are highly inhomogeneous for both fiber types. For large core diameters of 0.9 or 1 mm, the beam profiles appear to be more homogeneous for the PIR fibers.
Fiber optic spectroscopy label-free composition analysis makes it the best tool for reaction monitoring in Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) and chemical analysis of bio tissues for medical diagnostics in-citu and in-vivo. Biological samples and modern chemicals are complex substances, which composition analysis requires combining several spectroscopic techniques. Fiber optics probes provide compact, flexible, robust, and cost-effective solutions to merge different optical modalities in one tool for sample analysis at the same point. This spatial synchronization of the analysis is critical for heterogeneous samples. Recent advances in optical fiber manufacturing significantly expand the wavelength range of the analysis from 0,3-2µm range with Silica fibers towards middle IR (with chalcogenide, AgCl:AgBr Polycrystalline PIR fibers, and Ag/AgI hollow glass waveguides covering together 1-20 µm range).
We were able to fuse all 4 key spectroscopic methods (Fluorescence, NIR, MIR, and Raman) in compact fiber probes. In preliminary studies of tissue samples we showed that a combination of fluorescence with NIR or ATR-IR spectroscopy results in much better accuracy of the tumor margin detection than each of the individual methods separately. This synergy is explained by the capability of different light modalities to deliver complementary chemical information. We are using information from fluorescence background subtracted from Raman spectra to enhance the accuracy of the analysis. This concept, combined with advanced chemometrics data analysis, enables the development of customized spectral fiber sensors based only on several wavelengths or wavelength regions. Our recent experiments have shown the possibility of combining mid-IR ATR absorption and Raman spectroscopy in one compact fiber-optic probe. Thus it is possible to obtain an extended optical spectrum of molecular vibrations from the same point of a complex sample. These advances turn fiber-optic multispectral probes into the universal tool for applications that require in vivo analysis or real-time process monitoring.
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