Patent ID: 8175423

Claim:
A fiber optic probe assembly, useful in spectroscopic analysis, comprising: at least one excitation optical element, having a proximal end and a distal end, for transmitting light from a light source at said proximal end to a sample surface at said distal end; one or more collection optical elements, each having a proximal end and a distal end, said collection optical elements distributed about the periphery of said at least one excitation optical element, whereby said collection elements are constructed and arranged to receive collected scattered light from said surface; at least one filter having a proximal surface and a distal surface, said excitation optical element distal end and said filter proximal surface being in juxtaposed relationship; a first annular member having a proximal end and a distal end, an inner dimension and an outer dimension, wherein said first annular member inner dimension is sized for receipt of said excitation optical element and filter; a second annular member having a proximal end and a distal end, an inner dimension and an outer dimension, wherein said second annular member is sized and configured to receive therein said first annular member such that said second annular member inner dimension surface is in juxtaposed and nesting relationship with said first cylindrical annular member outer dimension surface; said one or more collection optical elements peripherally distributed about and affixed to said outer dimension surface of said second annular member; and an annular filter having a proximal surface and a distal surface, an inner dimension and an outer dimension, wherein said annular filter inner dimension is sized and configured for receipt about said first annular member outer dimension and wherein said proximal surface of said annular filter is in juxtaposed relationship with said distal ends of said plurality of collection optical elements.