Bruker Optik Gmbh

Matthias Boese

Arno Simon

Michael Juette

Rolf Steinbrunn

Werner Jaross

An ATR objective () for an IR microscope has a Cassegrain objective (), an ATR crystal (), a holding bar () to one end of which on the side of the sample, the ATR crystal () is mounted, a holding element (), thin struts () which rigidly connect the holding bar () to the holding element () and intersect an optical path of the ATR objective () entering or exiting the Cassegrain objective () in such a fashion that they shade less than 10% of the beam cross-section of the optical path, and a motor drive () for axial movement of the holding element () relative to the sample position (). The automated ATR objective thereby enables simple adjustment of operating modes and different contact pressures of the ATR crystal with respect to a sample ().

ATR objective for an IR microscope and method for operation thereof

A device for the optical spectroscopic examination of interior surfaces ( &prime;) of a body, e.g. of blood vessels ( ), comprising an optical spectrometer and an endoscope ( ) with a light guide for illuminating the surfaces, wherein at the proximal end of the light guide it is supplied with light and at the distal of the light guide the light can be launched to the surfaces to be examined, wherein at the distal end of this endoscope there is provided a device for receiving the light reflected by the surfaces to be examined, is characterized in that the distal end of the light guide is arranged within an inflatable balloon ( ) with an elastic exterior, and that the light decoupled from the light guide and the light reflected by the surfaces to be examined to the receiving device penetrates in each case the exterior of the balloon. In this way, the light launched by the light guide and also the light directed to the surface to be examined and the light scattered by them, if e.g. interior walls of the vessels in the human body are to be examined, does not pass twice a layer of blood or body fluid, and the distal end of the endoscope is fixed such that during measurements, shaking and change of relative distances can be largely avoided, whereby the quality at the received optical spectra is considerably improved.

IR spectroscopic endoscope with inflatable balloon

A total reflection measuring cell for the spectroscopic examination of a sample in an IR spectrometer comprising an ATR crystal ( ) having a plane surface ( ) and a diaphragm clamped in a clamping frame ( ) is characterized in that, additionally a tensioning device is provided for parallel displacement of the diaphragm on an inner partial area of its surface clamped between the legs of the clamping frame ( ) in the direction of the plane surface ( ) of the ATR crystal ( ) that the displaced inner partial area of the diaphragm surface has a higher tension than the clamped diaphragm surface merely clamped in the clamping frame ( ) before, and that a stop is provided towards which the tensioning device is forced and fixed in that position such that the inner partial area of the diaphragm surface has always the same defined separation from the plane surface ( ) of the ATR crystal ( ). In this fashion, it is possible to exactly keep the separation from the plane surface ( ) of the ATR crystal ( ) despite the tendency of the diaphragm to form waves or sag. The otherwise caused quantitative measuring errors due to waviness or displacement of the diaphragm in the IR spectrum can be prevented and thus a considerably higher measurement accuracy can be guaranteed and the quality of the measurement results can be reliably ensured.

Growing community of inventors

Karlsruhe, Germany

Matthias Boese