Method and Apparatus for Conducting Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

A Raman probe system includes: a base station; a mobile robot remotely controllable from the base station; a Raman probe assembly supported by the robot, the Raman probe assembly including a laser and a spectrometer; a camera supported by the robot; and a communication subsystem operable to communicate images from the camera and results from the Raman probe assembly to the base station. In some embodiments, a Raman probe system includes: a mobile robot remotely controllable from a base station, the robot including a body and an articulated arm; a camera supported by the robot; a Raman probe assembly supported by the robot, the optical control assembly mounted on the body of the robot; and an optical probe mounted on the articulated arm of the robot; and a wireless communication system operable to communicate images from the camera and results from the Raman probe assembly to the base station.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . A Raman probe system comprising:
 a base station;   a mobile robot remotely controllable from the base station;   a Raman probe assembly supported by the robot, the Raman probe assembly including a laser and a spectrometer;   a camera supported by the robot; and   a communication subsystem operable to communicate images from the camera and results from the Raman probe assembly to the base station.   
   
   
       15 . The Raman probe system of  claim 14 , wherein the communication subsystem comprises a radio. 
   
   
       16 . The Raman probe system of  claim 14 , wherein the communication subsystem comprises a radio. 
   
   
       17 . The Raman probe system of  claim 14 , wherein the Raman probe assembly also includes an optical probe, the optical probe mounted to an articulating arm of the robot. 
   
   
       18 . The Raman probe system of  claim 14 , wherein the Raman probe assembly also includes an analysis apparatus which receives wavelength characteristics of a Raman signature from the spectrometer. 
   
   
       19 . The Raman probe system of  claim 18 , wherein the communication subsystem is operable to communicate results from the analysis apparatus to the base station. 
   
   
       20 . The Raman probe system of  claim 19 , wherein the communication subsystem is operable to send the Raman signature to the base station. 
   
   
       21 . The Raman probe system of  claim 14 , wherein the communication subsystem comprises a transmitter configured to transmit information using an Internet Web protocol. 
   
   
       22 . The Raman probe system of  claim 21 , wherein the Internet Web protocol is IEEE 802.11b wireless network standards. 
   
   
       23 . The Raman probe system of  claim 14 , wherein the Raman probe assembly comprises a standoff cone. 
   
   
       24 . The Raman probe system of  claim 23 , when the standoff cone is constructed such that a distal tip is positioned at a focal point of the laser. 
   
   
       25 . A Raman probe system comprising:
 a mobile robot remotely controllable from a base station, the robot including a body and an articulated arm;   a camera supported by the robot;   a Raman probe assembly supported by the robot, the Raman probe assembly comprising:
 an optical control assembly including a laser and a spectrometer, the optical control assembly mounted on the body of the robot; and 
 an optical probe mounted on the articulated arm of the robot; and 
   a wireless communication system operable to communicate images from the camera and results from the Raman probe assembly to the base station.   
   
   
       26 . The Raman probe system of  claim 25 , wherein the Raman probe assembly also includes an analysis apparatus which receives wavelength characteristics of a Raman signature from the spectrometer. 
   
   
       27 . The Raman probe system of  claim 26 , wherein the communication system is operable to communicate results from the analysis apparatus to the base station. 
   
   
       28 . The Raman probe system of  claim 27 , wherein the communication system is operable to send the Raman signature to the base station. 
   
   
       29 . The Raman probe system of  claim 25 , wherein the communication subsystem comprises a transmitter configured to transmit information using an Internet Web protocol. 
   
   
       30 . The Raman probe system of  claim 29 , wherein the Internet Web protocol is IEEE 802.11b wireless network standards. 
   
   
       31 . The Raman probe system of  claim 25 , wherein the Raman probe assembly comprises a standoff cone. 
   
   
       32 . The Raman probe system of  claim 31 , when the standoff cone is constructed such that a distal tip is positioned at a focal point of the laser.