Patent ID: 7636157

Claim:
A Raman probe comprising: a first optical fiber for receiving laser excitation light from a light source and transmitting the same; a first spectral filter for receiving light from the first optical fiber and adapted to pass the laser excitation light and to block spurious signals associated with the light; a second spectral filter for receiving light from the first spectral filter and adapted to direct the light toward a specimen; focusing apparatus for receiving the light from the second spectral filter, focusing the light on the specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second spectral filter, wherein the second spectral filter is further configured so that when the second spectral filter receives the Raman signal from the focusing apparatus, the second spectral filter filters out laser excitation light before directing the Raman signal to a broadband reflector; and a broadband reflector disposed between the second spectral filter and a second optical fiber, wherein the broadband reflector is configured to receive the Raman signal from the second spectral filter, to reflect the Raman signal to the second optical fiber, and to transmit laser excitation light; and wherein the second optical fiber receives the Raman signal from the broadband reflector and transmits the same to a light analyzer.