Abstract: An arthroscopic probe system comprises a spectrometer, a computing system connected to the spectrometer and an arthroscopic probe device comprising a probe shaft including a proximal end and probe tip positioned at a distal end, a handle including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the handle is connected to the proximal end of the probe shaft, a cable including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the proximal end of the handle, and at least one optical fiber, wherein a first end of the at least one optical fiber is optically connected to the probe tip, wherein the at least one optical fiber is positioned internally to the probe shaft, handle and cable, and wherein a second end of the at least one optical fiber terminates at the second end of the cable.

Abstract: An arthroscopic probe system comprises a spectrometer, a computing system connected to the spectrometer and an arthroscopic probe device comprising a probe shaft including a proximal end and probe tip positioned at a distal end, a handle including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the handle is connected to the proximal end of the probe shaft, a cable including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the proximal end of the handle, and at least one optical fiber, wherein a first end of the at least one optical fiber is optically connected to the probe tip, wherein the at least one optical fiber is positioned internally to the probe shaft, handle and cable, and wherein a second end of the at least one optical fiber terminates at the second end of the cable.

Abstract: The present invention introduces a protein/peptide quantification method based on near infrared spectral imaging of protein gel bands obtained from gel electrophoresis methodologies. Spectral imaging is a fast and reliable method that is simple to use and easily applicable to several procedures. When proteins are separated through gel electrophoresis, the gel is imaged using a near infrared spectrometer and a standard curve is used to calculate the protein/peptide content based on its relative near infrared absorbance to standard proteins. Compared to other protein quantification techniques, the methods of the present invention quantifies the proteins separated by gel electrophoresis without the need for contrast reagents or for purifying protein out of the gel, shortening the processing time, reducing the number of steps involved, and eliminating the need for additional chemicals.

Abstract: The present invention introduces a protein/peptide quantification method based on near infrared spectral imaging of protein gel bands obtained from gel electrophoresis methodologies. Spectral imaging is a fast and reliable method that is simple to use and easily applicable to several procedures. When proteins are separated through gel electrophoresis, the gel is imaged using a near infrared spectrometer and a standard curve is used to calculate the protein/peptide content based on its relative near infrared absorbance to standard proteins. Compared to other protein quantification techniques, the methods of the present invention quantifies the proteins separated by gel electrophoresis without the need for contrast reagents or for purifying protein out of the gel, shortening the processing time, reducing the number of steps involved, and eliminating the need for additional chemicals.