University of Wyoming-office of Research & Economic Development

Mks Technology

Other

Intevac, Inc.

Delta Nu a Division of Cc Technology, Inc.

Keith T Carron

Shane A Buller

Mark Barrett Watson

Roberta A Sulk

Robert C Corcoran

Sean Patrick Woodward

Vince S Martin

Bryan Hubert Ray

Scott L Rudder

Harald R Guenther

Celestin P Zemtsop

Mark Towler

Kenneth I Mullen

A spectrometer is provided. In one implementation, for example, a spectrometer comprises an excitation source, a focusing lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator assembly. The focusing lens is adapted to focus an incident beam from the excitation source. The actuator assembly is adapted to control the movable mirror to move a focused incident beam across a surface of the sample.

Spectrometer

A spectrometer, such as a Raman spectrometer, adapted for analyzing a complex sample is provided. In an example implementation, the spectrometer may be able to determine one or more spectral characteristics of an inner subsurface layer or region of a complex sample (e.g., contents of a container). In one embodiment, for example, A spectrometer includes an excitation source configured to provide an excitation signal; an optical system configured to direct the excitation signal toward a sample and receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample. The optical system may include a spatial filter configured to separate or isolate at least one first portion of the spectroscopy signal from at least one second portion of the spectroscopy signal and pass the at least one first portion of the spectroscopy signal. A detector is configured to determine at least one spectral feature of the at least one first portion of the spectroscopy signal.

A spectroscopic assay is provided. The assay comprises: a motive particle configured to move within a solution, the motive particle comprising a first analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to a target analyte; and a spectroscopic reporter particle configured to provide a predetermined spectroscopic signal in response to being interrogated by a spectrometer, the spectroscopic reporter particle comprising a second analyte binding reagent for selectively binding to the target analyte, wherein the motive particle and the spectroscopic reporter particle are configured to provide a sandwich assay in the presence of the target analyte via the first and second analyte binding reagents.

Spectroscopic assays and tagging

A method of measuring Raman scattering includes exciting Raman scattering of a sample with a first wavelength and a second wavelength of electromagnetic radiation traveling along a common optical path to form a first scattered radiation and a second scattered radiation. The first wavelength reaches the sample polarized in a first direction, and the second wavelength reaches the sample polarized in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes collecting a first Raman spectrum from the first scattered radiation, collecting a second Raman spectrum from the second scattered radiation, and forming a decomposed Raman spectrum based on the first Raman spectrum and the second Raman spectrum. The decomposed Raman spectrum may be substantially free of noise, such as fluorescence and background radiation. Related spectrometers and laser devices are disclosed.

Method of measuring Raman scattering and related spectrometers and laser sources

Spectrometers and methods for determining the presence or absence of a material in proximity to and/or combined with another material are provided. In one particular example, a spectrometer is provided that includes a light source, a detector and an optical system. In this implementation, the light source is configured to provide an excitation incident beam. The detector is configured to detect a spectroscopy signal. The optical system is configured to direct the excitation incident beam toward a sample at a non-zero angle from a zero-angle reference. The optical system is further configured to receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample and provide the spectroscopy signal to the detector. The detector is configured to remove a spectral interference component of the spectroscopy signal.

A Raman spectroscopy technique allows an analyte, a paramagnetic particle, and a spectral enhancement particle to combine in solution and for the combination product to be localized by a magnetic field for analysis. The spectral enhancement particle may be comprised of an active SERS metal particle with or without a material coating. The spectral enhancement particle may function as a reporter for the presence of the analyte or merely increase the magnitude of the Raman spectrum of the analyte. The technique is applicable to both immunoassays and chemical assays. Multiple spectral enhancement particle reporters may be measured in a single assay that can detect multiple analytes using the SERS effect.

System and method for Raman spectroscopy assay using paramagnetic particles

A spectroscopic system is provided. In one embodiment, the spectroscopic system comprises a light source adapted to provide a beam of illumination; an optical system adapted to provide the beam of illumination to a sample and receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample and direct the spectroscopy signal to at least one single channel detector, wherein the optical system comprises an adjustable dispersing element for directing one or more spectral features of the spectroscopy signal to the at least one single channel detector; a calibration detector adapted to determine a set point of the adjustable dispersing element; and a source synchronization component adapted to synchronize an operation of the light source and the at least one single channel detector. A method of calibrating a dispersing element of a spectrometer is also provided.

An assay and method of making same for use in SERS spectroscopy. The assay includes colloidal particles of a metal, which have been lyophilized. The lyophilized particles of metal produce a SERS active solution when reconstituted. The lyophilized particles of metal may be provided in a container in an assay system.

Lyophilization of colloidal metals for surface enhanced raman scattering

A spectroscopic system including a light source adapted to provide a beam of illumination; an optical system adapted to provide the beam of illumination to a sample and receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample and direct the spectroscopy signal to at least one single channel detector is provided. The optical system comprises an adjustable dispersing element for directing one or more spectral features of the spectroscopy signal to the at least one single channel detector. A calibration detector is adapted to determine a set point of the adjustable dispersing element; and a source synchronization component is adapted to synchronize an operation of the light source and the at least one single channel detector. A method of calibrating a dispersing element of a spectrometer is also provided.

A spectroscopic system is described that provides at least one of focus of an excitation beam onto a sample, automatic focus of an optical system of the spectroscopic system for collecting a spectroscopic signal, and/or averaging of excitation intensity over a surface area of the sample.

Growing community of inventors

Laramie, WY, United States of America

Keith T Carron