This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. We are investigating the utility of combining diagnostic information from reflectance and fluorescence to that obtained by Raman spectroscopy to diagnose atherosclerosis. As a result, a single spectral probe is being developed to be used with all three modalities. The combined probe would take excitation light from existing clinical FastEEM and Raman sources, deliver and collect the light from the tissue from a single source point. The combined probe is designed to be capable of delivering and collecting light in the 300-1000 nm spectral range. Based on the in vivo Raman probe that has been successful used in the surgical theatre, the combined probe will utilize a single tapered excitation fiber to couple the different light sources, incorporate excitation and emission filters with specially designed optical coatings to suppress fiber background and enable efficient extraction of the desired signal. Collection fibers would be split up and be directed to the two clinical systems for spectral analysis and parameter extraction.
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