Microanalysis
Microscopy in materials identification and ATR
The last 10 years have seen the emergence of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) as the most commonly employed FT-IR technique for identifying materials. Samples of almost any type can be analyzed quickly and easily with ATR. Contact between the sample and ATR crystal is made and the data is collected. There are many ATR accessories available for analyzing large samples, but analyzing small samples by ATR can be challenging. The HYPERION series offer clear 20x visualization of the sample, so that positioning the sample area of interest is easy. Ideal contact is then made using the built-in pressure-sensing device. Simply raise the sample until the green light is indicated with the accompanying beep and collect the data.
Microscopy in forensic science
Forensic investigations can be amongst the most demanding applications of infrared microscopy. A fiber fragment only 10 microns wide can be a crucial clue to resolving a case. The HYPERION series and HELIOS offers unsurpassed spatial resolution and signal to noise, where small particles, such as fibers, can be analyzed quickly and accurately. State-of-the-art optical microscopy capabilities also provide crystal clear visual observation.
Microscopy in contaminant analysis
Possibly the most common industrial application of infrared microscopy involves the detection and characterization of product contaminants. This may involve identifying a small particle on a silicon wafer or a sheet of paper or maybe a spec in a piece of candy that is not supposed to be there.
Microscopy in pharmaceutical applications
There are many applications of infrared microscopy in the pharmaceutical world, including capsules, packaging, coatings, sample homogeneity analysis, chemical composition, and combinatorial chemistry. The HYPERION series microscope employs several of the most effective contrast enhancement techniques to optimize sample visualization. After visualization, the sample is easily masked using the automatic apertures for transmission, reflection, or ATR data collection.
The environment for conducting research and quality control is unique in the pharmaceutical industry. Bruker Optics offers fully 21 CFR 11 and GLP compliant software for the acquisition of infrared data within the framework of established protocols.
Microscopy in environmental studies
Without suitable protection, all solid and liquid substances on the surface of the Earth are subjected to atmospheric moisture. Specifically designed new accessory allows the study of humidity induced phenomena by microscopy.
Related Article: Environmental FT-IR Microscopy
Microscopy in biomedical applications
- Biochemical description of very small samples (10-15 micron)
- Identification of cell types, cell clusters and tissue fragments
- Identification of chemical components in very small samples
- Imaging and analysis of micro array slides
- Automated screening of multiple specimen samples
- Visualization of the distribution of chemicals in small samples
- Monitoring diffusion processes in biogels
- Measurement of protective coatings on biomaterials such as stents
raditional light microscopy of biomaterials most often needs some form of staining to visualize the presence and distribution of chemicals in samples. The HYPERION 3000 microscope provide a new dimension in the field of visualization of chemicals in biomaterials using non-invasive technology.
By looking at specific vibrations of molecules present in the samples both microscopes can achieve qualification and quantification of specific chemicals in biomaterials such as in biofluids, cell fragments, cells and tissues.
The combination of micro-spectroscopy and imaging in both systems provides an ideal measurement situation for life science applications using Fourier Transform Infrared and Raman spectroscopy. While either infrared or Raman spectroscopy can visualize almost all biomolecules, imaging adds another dimension to this spectroscopic analysis by spatially resolving the distribution.
Microscopy in pathology and histology
- Imaging of biochemical distributions in tissue slides
- Objective characterization and classification of tissue structures
- Detection of tissue abnormalities based on reference material
- Diagnosis and staging of diseases such as benign and malignant cancers
Pathology and Histology have a long history in medicine and are most often part of the difficult process to diagnose the type and the severity of diseases. A continuously growing number of techniques have provided physicians over decades with more and more information to improve their diagnoses. Infrared and Raman imaging with the HYPERION 3000 represent newly emerging tools for physicians and are on their way to enter the medical disciplines, since these spectroscopic techniques provide new information on biomaterials compared to the traditional methods. The utilization of spectroscopic reference images of tissue material of many different patients and the application of multivariate statistics OPUS or neural networks (in NeuroDeveloper) will provide physicians with a new quality of disease diagnosis in the future.
Microscopy in art conservation
Nondestructive microsampling analytical techniques, such as FT-Raman is an increasing awareness for the art historians, museum conservators, and scientists who try to characterize the attribution of the historical period and genuineness of an artifact. Useful information about ancient technologies and methods used in the construction of works of art can be observed using the RamanScope microscope. Fiber, paint chips, other particles can be analyzed down to 20 microns using the HELIOS. This typical example shows an individual silk fiber viewing through a diamond crystal. Click here for more information on art conservation research.