Abstract: A probe comprising a body portion and a tip portion. The body portion comprises: a first mounting portion comprising a plurality of first carriers, each first carrier being arranged to support an elongate first waveguide, the first carriers being disposed in an equiangular arrangement around a longitudinal axis of the body portion; a plurality of first waveguides, each first waveguide being supported in a respective one of the plurality of first carriers; and a body end fitting at which first ends of the first waveguides are supported in the equiangular arrangement around the longitudinal axis of the body portion such that the first waveguides can transmit electromagnetic radiation signals from an energy source to the body end fitting and/or transmit electromagnetic radiation signals from the body end fitting to a receiver.

Abstract: A probe, such as a spectroscopic probe, for enabling a fluid or tissue sample to be tested in situ. The probe includes a conduit, such as a hypodermic needle, that can be inserted into a test subject and a wave coupling arranged to direct electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from an energy source to the sample and/or from the sample to a receiver for analysis. The receiver may comprise a Raman spectroscope. The probe may include a carriage that can be used to move at least some of the optical coupling towards and away from the insertion tip of the conduit. The probe may include a pressure modifier that can be used to draw fluid into or expel fluid from the conduit.

Abstract: A microfluidics analysis system with a microfluidics cell and a microscope. The microscope has an objective lens arranged to collect light from a field of view including a portion of the microfluidics cell; a second lens; and an actuator arranged to translate the objective lens relative to the microfluidics cell to change a position of the field of view between multiple positions. The actuator is arranged to translate the objective lens relative to the microfluidics cell without moving the second lens relative to the microfluidics cell. The second lens is arranged to receive the light collected by the objective lens for the multiple positions of the field of view without moving relative to the microfluidics cell.

Abstract: A microfluidics analysis system with a microfluidics cell and a microscope. The microscope has an objective lens arranged to collect light from a field of view including a portion of the microfluidics cell; a second lens; and an actuator arranged to translate the objective lens relative to the microfluidics cell to change a position of the field of view between multiple positions. The actuator is arranged to translate the objective lens relative to the microfluidics cell without moving the second lens relative to the microfluidics cell. The second lens is arranged to receive the light collected by the objective lens for the multiple positions of the field of view without moving relative to the microfluidics cell.

Abstract: A probe, such as a spectroscopic probe, for enabling a fluid or tissue sample to be tested in situ. The probe includes a conduit, such as a hypodermic needle, that can be inserted into a test subject and a wave coupling arranged to direct electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from an energy source to the sample and/or from the sample to a receiver for analysis. The receiver may comprise a Raman spectroscope. The probe may include a carriage that can be used to move at least some of the optical coupling towards and away from the insertion tip of the conduit. The probe may include a pressure modifier that can be used to draw fluid into or expel fluid from the conduit.

Abstract: A probe (10) comprising a body portion (70) and a tip portion (80). The body portion comprises: a first mounting portion (72) comprising a plurality of first carriers supporting elongate first waveguides, and disposed in an equiangular arrangement around a longitudinal axis (A) of the body portion; a body end fitting (74) at which first ends of the first waveguides are supported such that the first waveguides can transmit electromagnetic radiation signals from an energy source to the body end fitting and/or transmit electromagnetic radiation signals from the body end fitting to a receiver.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first sub-assembly having an input lens for collimating illuminating light and having an optical axis. The first sub-assembly also has an output lens for focusing collimated light received from a sample, the output lens having an optical axis which is offset and substantially parallel with the optical axis of the input lens, and further includes a first support piece which houses and supports the input lens and the output lens. The optical device also includes a second sub-assembly having an input filter for filtering the collimated illuminating light, an output filter for filtering the collimated light received from the sample, and a second support piece which houses and supports the input filter and the output filter. The first and second support pieces are joined together by a liquid-tight joint.

Abstract: A probe, such as a spectroscopic probe, for enabling a fluid or tissue sample to be tested in situ. The probe includes a conduit, such as a hypodermic needle, that can be inserted into a test subject and a wave coupling arranged to direct electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from an energy source to the sample and/or from the sample to a receiver for analysis. The receiver may comprise a Raman spectroscope. The probe may include a carriage that can be used to move at least some of the optical coupling towards and away from the insertion tip of the conduit. The probe may include a pressure modifier that can be used to draw fluid into or expel fluid from the conduit.

Abstract: A probe, such as a spectroscopic probe, for enabling a fluid or tissue sample to be tested in situ. The probe includes a conduit, such as a hypodermic needle, that can be inserted into a test subject and a wave coupling arranged to direct electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from an energy source to the sample and/or from the sample to a receiver for analysis. The receiver may comprise a Raman spectroscope. The probe may include a carriage that can be used to move at least some of the optical coupling towards and away from the insertion tip of the conduit. The probe may include a pressure modifier that can be used to draw fluid into or expel fluid from the conduit.

Abstract: An optical device with a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly. The first sub-assembly has: an input lens for collimating illuminating light, the input lens having an optical axis, an output lens for focusing collimated light received from a sample, the output lens having an optical axis which is offset and substantially parallel with the optical axis of the input lens, and a first support piece which houses and supports the input lens and the output lens. The second sub-assembly has: an input filter for filtering the collimated illuminating light, an output filter for filtering the collimated light received from the sample, and a second support piece which houses and supports the input filter and the output filter. The first and second support pieces are joined together by a liquid-tight joint.

Abstract: A spectroscopy method in which a sample is scanned without moving the sample. Light from the sample 16 is collected by a lens 14 and analyzed at a spectrum analyzer 28 before being focused onto a photodetector 32. Light from the focal point of the lens 14 is brought to a tight focus on the photodetector 32 whilst light from in front of or behind the focal point comes to a more diffuse focus. Light from the pixels on the photodetector 32 corresponding to the focal point of the lens 14 is processed, whilst light from pixels outside this region is ignored, thus forming a ‘virtual slit’. The sample 16 is scanned in a vertical direction by moving the ‘virtual slit’ up and down, by changing the designated rows of pixels from which data is analyzed. The sample is scanned in a horizontal direction by moving a vertical slit 24 in the light path in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: An electron microscope 10 is adapted to enable spectroscopic analysis of a sample 16. A parabolic mirror 18 has a central aperture 20 through which the electron beam can pass. The mirror 18 focuses laser illumination from a transverse optical path 24 onto the sample, and collects Raman and/or other scattered light, passing it back to an optical system 30. The mirror 18 is retractable (within the vacuum of the electron microscope) by a sliding arm assembly 22.

Abstract: A spectroscopy method in which a sample is scanned without moving the sample. Light from the sample 16 is collected by a lens 14 and analysed at a spectrum analyser 28 before being focused onto a photodetector 32. Light from the focal point of the lens 14 is brought to a tight focus on the photodetector 32 whilst light from in front of or behind the focal point comes to a more diffuse focus. Light from the pixels on the photodetector 32 corresponding to the focal point of the lens 14 is processed, whilst light from pixels outside this region is ignored, thus forming a ‘virtual slit’. The sample 16 is scanned in a vertical direction by moving the ‘virtual slit’ up and down, by changing the designated rows of pixels from which data is analysed. The sample is scanned in a horizontal direction by moving a vertical slit 24 in the light path in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: An electron microscope 10 is adapted to enable spectroscopic analysis of a sample 16. A parabolic mirror 18 has a central aperture 20 through which the electron beam can pass. The mirror 18 focuses laser illumination from a transverse optical path 24 onto the sample, and collects Raman and/or other scattered light, passing it back to an optical system 30. The mirror 18 is retractable (within the vacuum of the electron microscope) by a sliding arm assembly 22.