Polynomial Fitting for Raman Background Subtraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Raman spectroscopy techniques face challenges in accurately estimating and removing background signals, particularly in biological samples, where the background intensity is orders of magnitude greater than the Raman spectrum, often requiring assumptions about spectral components.

Innovation Solution

A method that automatically estimates background radiation by fitting polynomials to spectral data, removing data points above a certain deviation, and determining the optimal polynomial order based on noise estimates, allowing for accurate separation of Raman spectra without prior knowledge of contaminants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If polynomial fitting is applied to remove background, then background subtraction accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the processing algorithm increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground subtraction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing algorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The algorithm segments the spectral data processing into distinct stages: initial polynomial fitting to estimate background, identification of Raman peaks exceeding deviation thresholds, removal of identified peak regions from the fitting dataset, and iterative refinement. This segmentation transforms a complex monolithic problem into manageable sequential steps, improving accuracy without overwhelming computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The method performs preliminary identification and removal of prominent Raman peaks before conducting the main polynomial fitting operation. By预先 removing data points that exceed the allowable deviation threshold, the algorithm prevents these strong spectral features from contaminating the background estimation, thereby improving the accuracy of subsequent background subtraction while keeping the overall process organized and computationally feasible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If iterative removal of data points is performed, then background estimation accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The algorithm applies partial action by performing polynomial fitting on a reduced dataset where Raman peak regions have been removed. Rather than iteratively refining the entire spectrum, the method focuses computational effort only on the background regions, achieving accurate background estimation with fewer iterations and reduced processing time while maintaining the necessary precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If polynomial order is increased, then fitting accuracy is improved, but risk of overfitting increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefitting accuracyVSAvoidmodel reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The polynomial order is made dynamic rather than fixed. The algorithm determines the appropriate polynomial order adaptively during processing, selecting the lowest order that adequately fits the background regions after Raman peak removal. This dynamic adjustment prevents overfitting by avoiding unnecessarily high-order polynomials while maintaining sufficient fitting accuracy for reliable background subtraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2705338B1Estimation of background radiation in spectral data by polynomial fitting
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 RENISHAW PLC
  • EP2705338B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2705338B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2705338B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This invention concerns a method of estimating background radiation in spectral data. The method may comprise, iteratively, fitting a polynomial to reference data, determining an allowable deviation of the reference data from the polynomial and clipping data points of the reference data or the spectral data that are more than the allowable deviation above the polynomial to provide the reference data for the next iteration until termination criterion is met. The reference data is initially based upon the spectral data. The method may comprise generating estimates of background radiation of the spectral data, each estimate based upon fitting a different order polynomial to the spectral data, and selecting an order of polynomial to use for estimating background radiation and/or one of the estimates of the background radiation based upon a fitting criterion applied to the fitting of the different order polynomials. The method may further comprise estimating the noise in the spectral data from the reference data.