Abstract: A spectroscopic apparatus, a method of determining a concentration and/or spatial gradient of an analyte of a bodily fluid and a corresponding computer program product are provided. The spectroscopic apparatus provides determination of a position of a capillary vessel (104) within a biological sample in order to focus spectroscopic excitation radiation to a volume (122). that is in close proximity to the capillary vessel but does not overlap with the capillary vessel. The provided apparatus, method, and computer program product advantageously exploit the permeability of the vessel wall with respect to an analyte that is subject to analyte concentration determination. By means of biological transport processes, the concentration of an analyte of a bodily fluid located in the capillary vessel influences the concentration in the surrounding of the capillary vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of optical spectroscopy, in particular Raman spectroscopy for performing invasive or non-invasive blood analysis. The fluorescence component of return radiation which is received from a detection volume is eliminated which is enabled by the usage of a pulsed excitation light source. The pulse length is substantially shorter than the fluorescence life time Hence, the elimination of the fluorescence composent can be performed by time gating or by other electronics or optical means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectroscopic system for determining a property of a fluid flowing through a volume of interest underneath the surface of the skin of a patient. The spectroscopic system comprises a probe head that has at least an objective for directing an excitation beam into the volume of interest and for collecting return radiation. The spectroscopic system has further a base station having at least a spectroscopic analysis unit and a power supply. The system makes use of a beam combination unit, a filter unit and a focusing unit for combining and separating a variety of different optical signals and for precisely positioning the optical signals inside the volume of interest. The beam combination unit, the filter unit and the focusing unit can be variably implemented inside the probe head or inside the base station depending on a specific applications of the spectroscopic system, thereby allowing for a flexible and compact design of the probe head.

Abstract: The present invention enables to determine the property of a fluid, 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 means of 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 to 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: An analysis apparatus, in particular a spectroscopic analysis apparatus, comprises an excitation system for emitting an excitation beam to excite a target region. A a monitoring system images the target region. The monitoring system being arranged to produce a contrast image in a contrast wavelength range and produce a reference image in a reference wavelength range. the contrast image and the reference image are compared to accurately identify the target region, notably a capillary blood vessel in the patient's skin.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus and a method for determining a property of a fluid which flows through a biological tubular structure, such as blood flowing through a capillary vessel (112) under the skin (114). This enables in vivo non-invasive blood analysis. An objective (108) having a variable numerical aperture (116) is used to enable automatic detection of a blood vessel (112) and to provide a high signal to noise ratio of the return radiation for the purposes of the spectroscopic analysis and to provide a small detection volume that fits completely within the target region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analysis apparatus, in particular a spectroscopic analysis apparatus, for blood analysis on vessels. An excitation system (exs) emits an excitation beam to excite a target region. A detection system (dsy) is provided for detecting and analyzing scattered radiation from the target region. Those areas are selected or predetermined so that only scattered radiation from blood in capillaries having a diameter below a predetermined diameter value and/or including an amount of red blood cells below a predetermined cell amount is analyzed. Thus, in contrast to analysis on whole blood or large amounts of blood cells less reabsorption and scattering of Raman light due to red blood cells is obtained. Further, the possibility to directly measure in the blood plasma without interference of the red blood cells, thereby yielding a higher signal-to-noise ratio, is given.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spectroscopic apparatus for non-invasive in vivo analysis of blood and to a corresponding analysis method, in particular for direct determination of the pH value of the blood. From a Raman signal detected from an excited target region containing blood at least one predetermined pH sensitive signal portion is determined, from which the pH value of the blood in the target region by use of a relationship between pH value and one or more band parameters of pH sensitive vibrations of at least one molecule or part of a molecule present in blood, in particular heme vibrations of hemoglobin, is determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analysis apparatus, in particular a spectroscopic analysis apparatus, for analysing an object, such as the blood of a patient, and a corresponding analysis method. An excitation system (exs) emits an excitation beam (exb) to excite a target region and a beam separation unit (hm) separates at least part of elastically scattered radiation from inelastically scattered radiation, said scattered radiation being generated by the excitation beam (exb) at the target region. A monitoring system (lso) generates an image of the target region using the elastically scattered or the inelastically scattered radiation and defines a region of interest in said image.

Abstract: A Raman spectrum is measured inside animal tissue, such us human skin tissue, at a selected depth from a surface the tissue. A pH value is computed using a function that assigns a pH value as a function of the measured Raman spectrum. The computation may involve computing a number representing a ratio of concentrations of a protonated and a deprotonated version of a chemical substance from the Raman spectrum and generating pH information on the basis of said number. The chemical substance is for example a form of Urocanic acid (UCA). UV exposure is measured from the weight of the spectrum of cis-UCA.