In Vivo and Transcutaneous Raman Spectroscopy and Tissue Optics
Raman spectroscopy can provide information about the quality and fracture susceptibility of bone. However, the light scattering properties of tissue complicate non-invasive measurement. The use of near-infrared lasers and specialized fiber optic probes enable non-invasive recovery of bone Raman spectra and even Raman maps.
Our laboratory has demonstrated recovery of bone spectra through extended depths of tissue. We have performed and validated non-invasive bone Raman spectroscopy on on live, anaesthetized mice and, with collaborators at Dartmouth University, have demonstrated diffuse Raman tomography.
