NIR FT Raman spectroscopy - A new tool in medical diagnostics

Raman spectroscopy may aid the development of new tools to make medical diagnostics more objective. By shifting the exciting radiation of Raman spectrometers from the Visible to the NIR region, the competing fluorescence of normal cell components can be reduced. The fluorescence of organic molecules is virtually eliminated when excitation by the Nd:YAG laser radiation at 1064 nm is employed. In combination with optimized interferometers and remote probes, it is now possible to record Raman spectra in vivo in acceptable times. Software programs are developed which interpret the spectra to help in the identification of suspicious tissues and micro-organisms, and for establishing medical diagnosis. In each case, the information distributed over the whole spectrum has to be evaluated. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.