Abstract: Disclosed is a fully implantable sensor for detecting at least one analyte in a sample of body fluid. The sensor has a measurement chamber plate that receives the sample of bodily fluid and a quantum cascade laser illumination source that generates an illumination light beam in the spectral range and transmits it to the measurement chamber plate. The illumination light beam at least partially illuminates the measurement chamber plate and the measurement chamber plate generates a reflection light beam in response to the illumination by the illumination light beam. The reflection light beam at least partially illuminates the sample of body fluid within the measurement chamber plate. An optical detector detects at least one property of the reflection light beam and generates a sensor signal dependent on the presence of the analyte. A controlled evaluates the sensor signal. A method using an inventive fully implantable sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: An infrared microscope includes a radiation source, a sample plane, an objective lens, a path length modulator and a detector. The radiation source emits temporally coherent infrared radiation that propagates along an optical path of the microscope during operation. A sample is disposed in the sample plane. The detector detects the infrared radiation after the radiation interacts with the sample. The objective lens forms an image of the sample plane on the detector. The path length modulator continuously varies the optical path length of the optical path between the sample plane and the detector. The path length modulator can be a wedge or a diffusing screen that rotates during operation, a phase modulator that rotates during operation and that has regions with different indices of refraction, a tilting element that tilts about an axis during operation, or a diffuser mirror that reflects the infrared radiation and that rotates during operation.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the quality state (such as a fixation status) of a cellular sample is provided. A MIR spectrum (220) of the sample is obtained, and a classification (211) or quantification (231) algorithm is applied to the MIR spectrum to identify features (221) indicative of the quality state and/or to classify the sample. The quality state may then be used to determine whether the sample is appropriate for an analytical method and/or whether remedial processing (such as further fixation) is appropriate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fully implantable sensor for detecting at least one analyte in a sample of body fluid. The sensor has a measurement chamber plate that receives the sample of bodily fluid and a quantum cascade laser illumination source that generates an illumination light beam in the spectral range and transmits it to the measurement chamber plate. The illumination light beam at least partially illuminates the measurement chamber plate and the measurement chamber plate generates a reflection light beam in response to the illumination by the illumination light beam. The reflection light beam at least partially illuminates the sample of body fluid within the measurement chamber plate. An optical detector detects at least one property of the reflection light beam and generates a sensor signal dependent on the presence of the analyte. A controlled evaluates the sensor signal. A method using an inventive fully implantable sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope for the molecular spectroscopic analysis of a sample (2), having a beam path having at least one quantum cascade laser (QCL) (3) which emits an infrared (IR) radiation, a phase modulator (5) which is arranged between the QCL (3) and the sample (2), at least one optical element (6) which is arranged between the phase modulator (5) and the sample (2) and a sensor (4) which detects an IR radiation which is transmitted and/or reflected by the sample (2). The invention relates further to a method for the molecular spectroscopic analysis of a sample (2) comprising the steps of irradiating the sample (2) with an infrared (IR) radiation by means of a quantum cascade laser (QCL) (3), wherein the IR radiation is directed onto the sample (2) via a phase modulator (5) and at least one optical element (6), and detecting the IR radiation which is reflected and/or transmitted by the sample (2).

Abstract: An infrared microscope includes a radiation source, a sample plane, an objective lens, a path length modulator and a detector. The radiation source emits temporally coherent infrared radiation that propagates along an optical path of the microscope during operation. A sample is disposed in the sample plane. The detector detects the infrared radiation after the radiation interacts with the sample. The objective lens forms an image of the sample plane on the detector. The path length modulator continuously varies the optical path length of the optical path between the sample plane and the detector. The path length modulator can be a wedge or a diffusing screen that rotates during operation, a phase modulator that rotates during operation and that has regions with different indices of refraction, a tilting element that tilts about an axis during operation, or a diffuser mirror that reflects the infrared radiation and that rotates during operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope for the molecular spectroscopic analysis of a sample (2), having a beam path having at least one quantum cascade laser (QCL) (3) which emits an infrared (IR) radiation, a phase modulator (5) which is arranged between the QCL (3) and the sample (2), at least one optical element (6) which is arranged between the phase modulator (5) and the sample (2) and a sensor (4) which detects an IR radiation which is transmitted and/or reflected by the sample (2). The invention relates further to a method for the molecular spectroscopic analysis of a sample (2) comprising the steps of irradiating the sample (2) with an infrared (IR) radiation by means of a quantum cascade laser (QCL) (3), wherein the IR radiation is directed onto the sample (2) via a phase modulator (5) and at least one optical element (6), and detecting the IR radiation which is reflected and/or transmitted by the sample (2).