The fluorescence of natural constituents of bio-material may conceal its Raman spectra. This fluorescence is reduced by shifting the exciting radiation to longer wavelengths. For several reasons the optimum is the excitation with 1064 nm radiation, produced by the Nd:YAG laser. In order to explore the applicability to medical diagnostics we installed an NIR-FT-Raman Spectrometer in the 'Unversitatsklinikum Essen'. The results compiled within 5 dissertations show that there are some useful potential applications in this Field. However, much more work and, especially, international cooperation, is needed to develop this tool further for routine application.