Abstract: A measurement head has an objective for imaging of a target area such as including a capillary vessel in the skin. The measurement head does not require a lateral shifting of the optical axis of the objective. Transverse relative movements between the objective and a capillary vessel in the skin are performed by mechanically shifting the skin with respect to the objective of the measurement head. Moreover, the measurement head is adapted to host one or more pressure sensors for measuring the contact pressure between the measurement head and the skin. Pressure information may be exploited in order to calibrate a spectroscopic analyzer, and/or to regulate the contact pressure within predefined margins specifying an optimum range of contact pressure for spectroscopic examination of capillary vessels.

Abstract: The optical analysis system (20) is arranged to determine an amplitude of a principal component of an optical signal. The optical analysis system (20) comprises a multivariate optical element (5, 6) for weighing the optical signal by a spectral weighing function and a detector (7, 8) for detecting the weighed optical signal. The optical signal comprises the principal component and a further component which was not accounted for when designing the spectral weighing function. Therefore, the detected weighed optical signal comprises a part relating to the amplitude of the principal component and a further part relating to a further amplitude of the further component. The optical analysis system (20) further comprises a modulator element (13) for modulating the detected weighed optical signal.

Abstract: A property of a fluid is determined spectroscopically, such as for the purposes of in vivo blood analysis. First the position of a volume of interest through which the fluid flows is determined by an optical detection step by making use of an objective. Preferably the optical detection step is an imaging step. Next the objective is moved to bring the focal point of the objective into coincidence with the volume of interest. In this position an optical spectroscopic step is performed. This has the advantage that the measurement beam for performing the optical spectroscopy travels along the optical axis for optimum efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectroscopic system (100) for determining of a property of a biological structure in a volume of interest (120) of a person. The spectroscopic system (100) comprises a low cost objective lens (118) for directing an excitation beam into a volume of interest (120) and for collecting return radiation (124) from the volume of interest (120). After detection of the return radiation (124), i.e. the spectroscopic signals, a correction unit (106) performs the compensation of the aberrations of the spectroscopic signals introduced by the low cost objective lens (118). Since the aberrations of the objective lens (118) strongly depend on the lateral distance (122) of the volume of interest (120) from the optical axis (116) of the objective lens (118), the correction unit (106) makes effective use of a correction table (110) providing an assignment between correction values and various lateral positions (122) of the volume of interest (120).

Abstract: The invention provides an optical analysis system for efficient compensation of spectroscopic broadband back-ground, such as spectroscopic fluorescence background or background signals that are due to the dark current of a detector. The optical analysis system effectively provides multivariate optical analysis of a spectroscopic signal. It provides wavelength selective detection of various spectral components that are indicative of a superposition of spectroscopic peaks or bands and their broadband background. Additionally, the optical analysis system is adapted to acquire spectral components that predominantly correspond to the broadband background of the spectroscopic peaks or bands. Wavelength selective selection of various spectral components is performed on the basis of reconfigurable multivariate optical elements or on the basis of a position displacement of a spatial optical transmission mask.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for treating human skin by means of radiation. The device comprises a housing (3) with a radiation exit opening (13). A radiation source (9) is accommodated in the housing. Radiation generated by the radiation source propagates from the radiation source towards the radiation exit opening via a radiation path (15) comprising a radiation filter having a predetermined transmission spectrum. According to the invention the radiation filter comprises a reflecting surface (23) via which the radiation propagating along the radiation path (15) is reflected. The reflecting surface has a coating which provides the reflecting surface with a reflection spectrum substantially matching the predetermined transmission spectrum. An advantage is that the reflection surface can be optimally and uniformly cooled, so that the heat generated as a result of the absorption of part of the radiation by the radiation filter can be effectively transmitted to a cooling system (25) of the device (1).