Parallel and integrated spectrometer and method of providing parallel spectroscopic measurements

Abstract

A parallel spectrometer and a method of obtaining a parallel spectroscopy analysis of a sample are provided. In one embodiment, a parallel spectrometer includes a light source; a detector; and a spectrometer optical system. The optical system includes a beam expander and a lens array. The optical system is configured to receive the excitation light beam, expand the excitation light beam via the beam expander to provide an expanded excitation light beam, direct the expanded excitation light beam toward the lens array, wherein the plurality of lenses of the lens array are configured to focus a portion of the expanded excitation light beam toward a plurality of distinct sample locations; receive a plurality of spectroscopy signals from the plurality of lenses of the lens array corresponding to each of the plurality of distinct sample location; and direct the plurality of spectroscopy signals toward the detector.

Description

Parallel and Integrated Spectrometer and Method of Providing Parallel SpectroscopicMeasurementsCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of United States provisional application no. 63 / 601,063 entitled Parallel and Integrated Spectroscopic Measurements” and filed 20 November 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.BACKGROUNDField

[0002] The instant disclosure relates to a parallel spectrometer and a method of providing a parallel spectroscopic analysis.Background

[0003] Spectroscopic efficiency of analysis relates to the number of measurements performed in a unit of time. Most spectroscopic systems perform a single measurement and if multiple samples are required, they will have a spectroscopic efficiency equal to the spectroscopic acquisition time multiplied by the number of samples. For example, a measure may require 5 seconds of spectroscopic acquisition time and if 100 samples are required this would have a spectroscopic efficiency of 500 seconds. This does not consider the time required to introduce samples into the spectroscopic system. Often samples are introduced by autosampling devices or by trays, such as multiwell plates, translated through the spectroscopy system.

[0004] An example of an autosampling system is illustrated in Figure 1. This example is from a 2022 publication by Yang, et al. (An Improved Automated High-Throughput Efficient Microplate Reader for Rapid Biometric Biosensing, Yang et al., Biosensors 2002 12(5), 284.) The multiwell plate is placed on a translation stage and is moved one well at a time through a light source and a spectroscopic analysis system. In this case, sampling the 96 well plate would require 96 individual measurements.

[0005] Figure 2 shows an example of a more efficient spectroscopic system from “Parallelized Raman Difference Spectroscopy for the Investigation of Chemical Interactions,” Sebastian Wolf, Robert Domes, Andreas Merian, Christian Domes, and Torsten Frosch, Analytical Chemistry 202294 (29), 10346-10354, DOI 10.1021 / acs.analchem.2c00222. In Figure 2, a 3x3 microwell plate is spectroscopically analyzed (this time Raman spectroscopy) in parallel. This increases efficiency 9- fold since spectra of the samples are acquired simultaneously. The basic features of this system are a laser excitation source which is dispersed into 9 separate beams with the Diffractive Optical Element. The 9 beams are optically transformed to produce a virtual Image Plane after which the beams expand until they align with a Micro Lens Array. The Micro Lens Array focusses the light onto the microwells to excite Raman scattering and they collect and transmit the Raman scattering through a Long Pass filter designed to remove the laser excitation and pass the Raman scattering. This is followed by optics and a second Long Pass filter to remove residual laser light and to pass the Raman scattered light onto a 3x3 Fiber Array. The nine fibers are placed lengthways onto a spectrometer’s aperture to reduce the 2-D microwell array to a linear array and they are imaged onto a 2-D CCD camera where the second array dimension is now the Raman spectrum. In this method an imaging spectrograph can be used to accurately overlap the aligned fibers at the aperture with the pixels of the CCD camera.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] A parallel spectrometer and a method of obtaining a parallel spectroscopy analysis of a sample are provided. In one embodiment, a parallel spectrometer includes a light source; a detector; and a spectrometer optical system. The optical system includes a beam expander and a lens array. The optical system is configured to receive the excitation light beam, expand the excitation light beam via the beam expander to provide an expanded excitation light beam, direct the expanded excitation light beam toward the lens array, wherein the plurality of lenses of the lens array are configured to focus a portion of the expanded excitation light beam toward a plurality of distinct sample locations; receive a plurality of spectroscopy signals from the plurality of lenses of the lens array corresponding to each of the plurality of distinct sample location; and direct the plurality of spectroscopy signals toward the detector

[0007] In another embodiment, a method of providing a parallel spectroscopic analysis is provided. The method includes: generating an excitation light beam via an excitation light source; expanding the excitation light beam via a beam expander to provide an expanded excitation lightbeam; directing the expanded excitation light beam onto a lens array comprising a plurality of lenses; focusing a portion of the expanded excitation light beam onto each of a plurality of distinct sample locations via each of the plurality of lenses of the lens array; receiving a plurality of spectroscopy signals from the plurality of lenses of the lens array corresponding to each of the plurality of distinct sample locations; and directing the plurality of spectroscopy signals toward the detector.

[0008] The foregoing and other aspects, features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from reading the following description and claims, and from reviewing the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 illustrates example of an auto sampling system.

[0010] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a spectroscopic system.

[0011] Figure 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a parallel spectrometer.

[0012] Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of a parallel spectrometer configured to measure a plurality of sample locations in parallel.

[0013] Figure 5 illustrates an example micro lens array.

[0014] Figure 6 illustrates an example SERS spectroscopic signal detected by a parallel spectrometer, such as the embodiments provided herein.

[0015] Figure 7 illustrates another example embodiment of a parallel spectrometer configured to spectroscopically measure a plurality of sample locations in parallel.

[0016] Figure 8 illustrates another example embodiment of a parallel spectrometer.

[0017] Figure 9 illustrates yet another embodiment of a parallel spectrometer including a movable stage for the sample.

[0018] Figure 10 illustrates a sample of a cellulose pad impregnated with silver nanoparticles and with an aqueous solution dropped onto the pads.

[0019] Figure 11 A illustrates a microlens array configured to match the pattern of the silver nanoparticle impregnated pads in Figure 10.

[0020] Figure 1 IB illustrates a camera image of the pattern detected by a camera of the parallel spectrometer embodiment shown in Figure 9.

[0021] Figure 12 illustrates a plot of averaged intensity of the spots in the image created by the camera shown in Figure 1 IB.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention in its best, currently known embodiment. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the invention described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof.

[0023] As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a” component can include two or more such components unless the context indicates otherwise. Also, the words “proximal” and “distal” are used to describe items or portions of items that are situated closer to and away from, respectively, a user or operator such as a surgeon. Thus, for example, the tip or free end of a device may be referred to as the distal end, whereas the generally opposing end or handle may be referred to as the proximal end.

[0024] All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader’s understanding of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement betweenelements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other.

[0025] Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and / or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and / or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

[0026] As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

[0027] The term “substantially” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation which could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.

[0028] Spectroscopic efficiency of analysis relates to the number of measurements performed in a unit of time. Most spectroscopic systems perform a single measurement and if multiple samples are required, they will have a spectroscopic efficiency equal to the spectroscopic acquisition time multiplied by the number of samples. For example, a measure may require 5 seconds of spectroscopic acquisition time and if 100 samples are required this would have a spectroscopic efficiency of 500 seconds. This does not consider the time required to introduce samples into the spectroscopic system. Often samples are introduced by auto sampling devices or by trays, such as multi-well plates, translated through the spectroscopy system.

[0029] Figure 3 shows an example embodiment of an improved parallel spectrometer. The spectrometer is configured to spectroscopically measure a plurality of sample locations in parallel. The spectrometer creates a spectrum by sweeping a tunable laser and passing the generated spectroscopy signal through a bandpass filter. This embodiment does not use optical fibers which can create significant signal loss during the transmission of signals. It also eliminates a spectrograph to disperse the spectroscopic signal into specific elements. In one embodiment, forexample, the spectrometer includes a tunable laser and a narrow bandpass fdter. The spectrometer uses the tunable laser and the narrow bandpass filter to generate a spectrum. Rather than requiring a camera to capture the dispersed spectra, the wells of the microwell plate are directly imaged as a 2-D array.

[0030] In this embodiment, the spectrometer system uses the tunable laser source to generate an excitation laser light signal (e.g., a laser beam). The excitation laser light signal is expanded to the size of the microwell array with a beam expander. The expanded excitation laser light signal beam is directed to a beamsplitter, which passes the majority of the expanded beam toward a lens array (e.g., a lenslet array). The lens array comprises a plurality of individual lenses corresponding to a plurality of sample locations (e.g., a plurality of wells of a multi-well array). Samples in each of the plurality of sample locations (e.g., individual wells of the multi-well array) are excited by the corresponding portion of the expanded excitation laser light signal focused on that sample location and a spectroscopy signal (e.g., a Raman signal) is generated at each sample location. The spectroscopy signals are returned to a spectrometer optical element of the spectrometer via the individual lenses of the lens array. The spectroscopy signal is directed by a dichroic beam splitter configured to pass the portion of the spectroscopy signal (e.g., Raman signal) and to remove laser wavelengths from the spectroscopy signal. The dichroic beam splitter directs the passed portion of the spectroscopy signal to a focusing lens and a bandpass filter to a detector (e.g., as camera as shown in Figure 3). The bandpass filter is configured to pass spectroscopic features produced by sweeping the laser wavelengths generated by the tunable laser. The detector (e.g., the camera shown in Figure 3) receives the portion of the spectroscopy signal passed through the bandpass filter and reports an intensity that is related to the sample concentration.

[0031] A small amount of the laser light is directed to a wavelength calibrator. In one example, a Fabry Perot optical flat produces a signal with peaks separated by the wavelength of the light. The Fabry Perot interferogram can be used to calibrate the laser wavelengths as the laser is tuned.

[0032] Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a parallel spectrometer configured to measure a plurality of sample locations in parallel. In this embodiment, the spectrometer uses a fixed wavelength laser. In this embodiment, an alternative method of producing a dispersed spectroscopic signal is provided. An Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF) is used to sweep through the optical signal to produce a spectrum. Otherwise, the concept is equivalent to Figure 3.

[0033] In this embodiment, the spectrometer system uses the fixed wavelength laser source to generate an excitation laser light signal (e.g., a laser beam). The excitation laser light signal is expanded to the size of the microwell array with a beam expander. The expanded excitation laser light signal beam is directed to a beamsplitter, which passes the majority of the expanded beam toward a lens array (e.g., a lenslet array). The lens array comprises a plurality of individual lenses corresponding to a plurality of sample locations (e.g., a plurality of wells of a multi-well array). Samples in each of the plurality of sample locations (e.g., individual wells of the multi-well array) are excited by the corresponding portion of the expanded excitation laser light signal focused on that sample location and a spectroscopy signal (e.g., a Raman signal) is generated at each sample location. The spectroscopy signals are returned to a spectrometer optical element of the spectrometer via the individual lenses of the lens array. The spectroscopy signal is directed by a dichroic beam splitter configured to pass the portion of the spectroscopy signal (e.g., Raman signal) and to remove laser wavelengths from the spectroscopy signal. The dichroic beam splitter directs the passed portion of the spectroscopy signal to a focusing lens and a longpass filter. The longpass filter is configured to block the laser excitation and pass the spectroscopy signal to the AOTF. The AOTF is configured to sweep through the spectroscopy signal to produce a spectrum and pass that spectrum to a detector (e.g., as camera as shown in Figure 4). The detector (e.g., the camera shown in Figure 4) receives the portion of the spectroscopy signal passed through the longpass filter and the AOTF and measures the signal intensity.

[0034] Figure 5 illustrates an example micro lens array. These are commercially available primarily to collimate laser arrays, but they can also be produced from individual lenses. In Figure 5 the individual aspherical lenses are F / l which is ideal for optimal light collection. In this embodiment, the plurality of individual lenses of the lens array are configured to focus a portion of an expanded excitation beam onto a plurality of discrete sample locations, such as a plurality of wells of a multi-well array. Each of the plurality of individual lenses of the lens array is also configured to collect an individual spectroscopy signal from the corresponding discrete sample location to which it focused a portion of the expanded excitation beam, such as from the corresponding well of a multi-well array. The spectroscopy signals, for example, may comprise Raman spectroscopy signals, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectroscopy signals, or other types of spectroscopy signals and are not limited to Raman spectroscopy.

[0035] Figure 6 illustrates an example Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) spectroscopic signal detected by a parallel spectrometer, such as the embodiments provided herein. In this example, the spectrum was collected for a plurality of wells of a multi-well plate. The wells each included a microbial solution with differing concentrations of an antimicrobial (e.g., bacterial solutions with differing concentrations of an antibiotic). A portion of the spectrum (e.g., the 600 to 800 wavenumber region highlighted in Figure 6 was the region of interest and used to determine an MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) of the antibiotic for the bacteria used. The 600 to 800 cm'1region of the prepared microbial sample was examined as a function of an antibiotic’s concentration. It can be seen that the signals in this region decrease rapidly with the increasing antibiotic concentration showing the effectiveness of the antibiotic at the increasing concentrations. Unseen in these spectra is the significant baseline (offset from 0 intensity) in the spectra. This is common in many spectroscopic techniques, and, it is found in SERS spectra. The baseline is also likely to change as the microbial signal decreases due to the antibiotic. The net effect is that the integral intensity of the 600 to 800 cm'1region will not decrease as dramatically as it would without a baseline. This can be corrected if a baseline measurement were made outside of the ROI (region of interest), and it were scaled to produce a signal equivalent to the baseline under the ROI. The advantage of this method is that it is not required to measure a discrete spectrum, rather a single acquisition period is used for the whole region. This will improve the efficiency of the measurement.

[0036] Figure 7 shows another example embodiment of a parallel spectrometer configured to spectroscopically measure a plurality of sample locations in parallel. In consideration of the use of a parallel spectrometer to determine an MIC for an antimicrobial, such as shown and described with reference to Figure 6, a further embodiment of the instrumentation can be considered. In this embodiment, illustrated in Figure 7, the spectrometer includes a plurality of camera detectors (e.g., two camera detectors), one for the ROI and one for the baseline region. In this example, the baseline can be detected around 900 cm'1with scattered light reflected from a dichroic beam splitter made to reflect above 845 nm. This light is passed through a bandpass filter set to pass light that around 900 cm'1from the 785 nm laser source. The ROI is transmitted through the beam splitter through a bandpass filter set to transmit the ROI (e.g., 823.8 to 837.6 nm or approximated 600 to 800 cm1) from the 785 nm laser line. This will place an integrated signal from the ROI onto thecamera. The difference between the integrated ROI signal and the baseline signal provides a baseline corrected value that can be used to detect the MIC. This further embodiment provides high efficiency by gathering the ROI and baseline signals simultaneously. A long pass filter is used to remove laser light at 785 nm that will have reflected from the 785 nm dichroic beam splitter.

[0037] Figure 8 shows another example embodiment of a parallel spectrometer configured to eliminate the cost associated with two cameras is illustrated in Figure 7. This embodiment is configured to move a bandpass filter between a plurality of settings to selectively pass the ROI of the spectroscopy signal and the portion of the spectroscopy signal used to determine the baseline region. In this particular example, the spectrometer includes a slider mechanism configured to move bandpass filters at 845 nm and between 832.8 and 837.6 nm. This will decrease the efficiency by a factor of 2 since two consecutive measurements must be made but allows for the use of a single detector (e.g., the camera shown in Figure 8).

[0038] Figure 9 shows yet another embodiment of a parallel spectrometer including a movable stage for the sample. The movable stage is adapted to move the sample (e.g., a multi-well sample array) with respect to the excitation laser signal. In one embodiment, for example, the stage includes a vibration transducer or offset motor configured to move the multi-well array (and the individual wells within that array) to average over the contents of the individual wells in the multi-well array. In another embodiment, a controlled motion may be used to move the multi-well array in a predetermined manner, such as via a CNC stage or a galvanometer-based scanning system.

[0039] It is often beneficial to spatially average over a sample during a measurement. The systems discussed all have a lens array (e.g., a lenslet array) comprising a plurality of individual lenses that each focus to a discrete spot. If the lens array or the multi-well plate is attached to a movable stage (e.g., via a vibration transducer, offset motor, CNC stage, galvanometer-based scanning stage, or the like) it is possible to move the small discrete laser foci to produce a spatial average. This is illustrated in Figure 9.

[0040] Figure 10 shows a sample of a cellulose pad impregnated with silver nanoparticles and with 5 pL of an aqueous adenine solution dropped onto the pads. In Figure 10, five pads are shown arranged in a 4 around 1 pattern. In this example, Each pad is 3 mm in diameter and they are arrange spatially equidistance from each other. The concentration of adenine varied from 7.6 pM to 0 pM.

[0041] Figure 11 A shows a microlens array configured to match the pattern of the silver nanoparticle impregnated pads in Figure 10. This microlens array was attached to the spectrometer system described in Figure 9 and the beam expanded laser illuminated the microlens array. The microlens array focused a portion of the laser light to a spot on each of the silver impregnated pads. The microlens array simultaneously collected the Raman scattering from the silver nanoparticle impregnated array and created five spatially separated collimated beams of Raman scattering which matched the 4 around 1 pattern of the silver impregnated pads.

[0042] Figure 1 IB shows a camera image of the 4 around 1 pattern detected by the camera of the parallel spectrometer embodiment shown in Figure 9. Prior to imaging onto the camera the collimated beams of Raman scattering passed through a long pass filter to remove any laser excitation and through a narrow bandpass filter to pass the region of the Raman spectrum with indicative features of the sample. In this case, the sample is an aqueous adenine solution dropped on the silver nanoparticle impregnated pads. As illustrated in Figure 6, a bandpass filter in this case could pass 600 to 800 cm'1from the laser excitation. The intensities of the spots produced by the image on the camera correlated with the concentration of the adenine placed on the silver nanoparticle impregnate pads.

[0043] Figure 12 shows a plot of the averaged intensity of the spots in the image created by the camera. These averaged intensities have a 0.904 linear correlation to the concentration of the adenine placed on the silver impregnated pads.

[0044] Although various Figures and corresponding description may include specific wavelengths, wavenumbers, spectral regions, or the like, these numerical values are merely examples of a possible use and are not meant to be limiting. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various wavelengths, wavenumbers, spectral regions and the like can be used in parallel spectrometers and methods of providing a parallel spectroscopic analysis depending on application.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A spectrometer comprising: a light source configured to generate an excitation light beam; a detector configured to detect a plurality of spectroscopy signals; and a spectrometer optical system comprising a beam expander and a lens array comprising a plurality of lenses; the optical system configured to: receive the excitation light beam, expand the excitation light beam via the beam expander to provide an expanded excitation light beam, direct the expanded excitation light beam toward the lens array, wherein the plurality of lenses of the lens array are configured to focus a portion of the expanded excitation light beam toward a plurality of distinct sample locations; receive a plurality of spectroscopy signals from the plurality of lenses of the lens array corresponding to each of the plurality of distinct sample location; and direct the plurality of spectroscopy signals toward the detector.

2. The spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the beam expander is disposed between light source and a beam splitter of the spectrometer optical system.

3. The spectrometer of claim 2, wherein the beam splitter is configured to direct the expanded excitation light beam toward the lens array and to direct the plurality of spectroscopy signals toward the detector.

4. The spectrometer of claim 3, wherein the beam splitter is configured to block at least a portion of the expanded excitation light beam from the detector.

5. The spectrometer of claim 1, wherein a bandpass filter is disposed between the lens array and the detector and is configured to pass spectroscopic features within the plurality of spectroscopy signals to the detector.

6. The spectrometer of claim 5, wherein the spectroscopic features correspond to a region of interest of a spectrum.

7. The spectrometer of claim 5, wherein the bandpass filter is configured to be moved between a first position corresponding to a first spectral band and a second position corresponding to a second spectral band.

8. The spectrometer of claim 7, wherein the bandpass filter is coupled to a slider configured to move the bandpass filter between the first position and the second position.

9. The spectrometer of claim 7, wherein the first position corresponds to a region of interest of a spectrum corresponding to at least one indicative feature of a sample and the second position corresponds to a portion of the spectrum corresponding to a baseline of the spectrum.

10. The spectrometer of claim 1, wherein a longpass filter is disposed between the lens array and the detector and is configured to configured to block wavelengths corresponding to the excitation light beam and pass at least a portion of the plurality of spectroscopy signals having a wavelength relatively greater than the blocked wavelengths.

11. The spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a fixed wavelength laser.

12. The spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a tunable laser.

13. The spectrometer of claim 1, wherein an Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF) is disposed between the lens array and the detector and is configured to sweep through the plurality of spectroscopy signals to produce a spectrum.

14. The spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a camera.

15. The spectrometer of claim 14, wherein the camera is configured to image an integrated intensity from a region of interest within the plurality of spectroscopy signals.

16. The spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spectroscopy signals comprise at least one of the group comprising: a plurality of Raman spectroscopy signals and a plurality ofSERS Raman spectroscopy signals.

17. A method of providing a parallel spectroscopic analysis, the method comprising: generating an excitation light beam via an excitation light source; expanding the excitation light beam via a beam expander to provide an expanded excitation light beam; directing the expanded excitation light beam onto a lens array comprising a plurality of lenses;focusing a portion of the expanded excitation light beam onto each of a plurality of distinct sample locations via each of the plurality of lenses of the lens array; receiving a plurality of spectroscopy signals from the plurality of lenses of the lens array corresponding to each of the plurality of distinct sample locations; and directing the plurality of spectroscopy signals toward the detector.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the beam expander is disposed between light source and a beam splitter of the spectrometer optical system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the beam splitter is configured to direct the expanded excitation light beam toward the lens array and to direct the plurality of spectroscopy signals toward the detector.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the beam splitter is configured to block at least a portion of the expanded excitation light beam from the detector.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein a bandpass filter is disposed between the lens array and the detector and is configured to pass spectroscopic features within the plurality of spectroscopy signals to the detector.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the spectroscopic features correspond to a region of interest of a spectrum.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the bandpass filter is configured to be moved between a first position corresponding to a first spectral band and a second position corresponding to a second spectral band.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the bandpass filter is coupled to a slider configured to move the bandpass filter between the first position and the second position.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first position corresponds to a region of interest of a spectrum corresponding to at least one indicative feature of a sample and the second position corresponds to a portion of the spectrum corresponding to a baseline of the spectrum.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein a longpass filter is disposed between the lens array and the detector and is configured to configured to block wavelengths corresponding to the excitation light beam and pass at least a portion of the plurality of spectroscopy signals having a wavelength relatively greater than the blocked wavelengths.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the light source comprises a fixed wavelength laser.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the light source comprises a tunable laser.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein an Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF) is disposed between the lens array and the detector and is configured to sweep through the plurality of spectroscopy signals to produce a spectrum.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the detector comprises a camera.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the camera is configured to image an integrated intensity from a region of interest within the plurality of spectroscopy signals.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of spectroscopy signals comprise at least one of the group comprising: a plurality of Raman spectroscopy signals and a plurality of SERS Raman spectroscopy signals.

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