Transcutaneous Raman spectroscopy of bone tissue using a non-confocal fiber optic array probe

We demonstrate the first transcutaneous Raman spectroscopic measurements of bone tissue employing a fiber optic probe with a uniformly illuminated array of collection fibers. Uniform illumination reduces local power density to avoid damage to specimens. Non-confocal operation provides efficient signal collection, and together with NIR laser excitation (785 nm diode laser) allows good depth penetration enabling recovery of spectra from beneath the skin. Multivariate data reduction is used to resolve Raman spectra of bone tissue from the spectra generated from overlying tissue. The probe utilizes non-confocal optics and uniform illumination allowing the system to collect spectra from above and below the range of best focus while applying a low power density. Despite extensive photon migration in the tissue specimens, the system can resolve transcutaneous signals because the collection cone of each fiber is asymmetric with respect to the center of illumination. Here we report preliminary results of tissue specimens taken from chicken tibia as well as from a human elbow.