Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for determining whether one or more organic substances, namely, proteins (42) and associated cancer cells (40'), are present in a sample (4a). The method comprises a step of deploying a plurality of fluorescent materials (40) in the tissue sample, individual ones of the plurality of fluorescent materials (40) being selected for coupling to a specific type of substance (42) of interest. The fluorescent materials (40) generally emit characteristic wavelengths in response to being illuminated with excitation light (14a'-14c') having predetermined excitation wavelengths. A next step includes illuminating the sample (4a) with the excitation light (14a'-14c'). The excitation light (14a'-14c') causes any of the fluorescent materials (40) that are disposed within the illuminated portion of the sample (4a), and which are responsive to the excitation wavelengths, to emit their characteristic wavelengths.

Abstract: An interferometer or spectrometer having a short stroke reactionless drive mechanism is disclosed. The interferometer includes a housing, and a beamsplitter for reflecting an input beam along a fixed optical path and for transmitting the input beam along a scanned optical path. A nonmoving reflecting arrangement is disposed along the fixed optical path and includes first and second nonmoving mirrors disposed to reflect the input beam multiple times therebetween, and a backreflecting device disposed at a final bounce position of the input beam to return the optical beam back to the beamsplitter. A scanning mechanism is disposed along the scanned optical path that includes third and fourth mirrors supported by flexible members or flexure blades that are coupled to the housing, and a backreflecting device at a final bounce position of the input beam to return the optical beam back to the beamsplitter.

Abstract: An optical spectrometer system that includes an optical element having a two-dimensional, curved, reflective, low emissivity slit body, or surround, in which an imaging slit is formed. The optical spectrometer system includes a detector, such as an infrared detector, for example, disposed in a cavity at a focal plane thereof, an optical system in the cavity for focusing radiation onto the detector, and an entrance pupil disposed in the cavity. The curved slit body effectively and substantially eliminates out-of-field radiation from impinging upon the slit body, and its low emissivity greatly reduces self-emission from the slit body. The reflective slit body is a low emissivity element that images the detector back upon itself and passes background energy that falls within a cone defined by the entrance pupil. By using the two-dimensional curved slit body, a relatively small detector dewar or focal plane cooler may be employed in the optical spectrometer system to cool the detector.