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Renishaw Raman inVia Reflex


This system is a compact automated laser Raman microscope which is very user–friendly. Switching between excitation lines is simple and alignment of the lasers and optics is operated via computer controlled software.

The collection optics are based on a Leica DMLM microscope. Samples are placed underneath a microscope objective (×5, 20, 50) and are excited by the laser directed through the microscope. The scattered light is collected (180° backscattering geometry) along the same optical path as the incoming laser.

Raman scattered light passes through a notch filter (used as one of the reflective elements for the incident laser beam) through a grating (2400 or 1200 mm/groove) that disperses the scattered light over a CCD array detector.

A computer-controlled 3-axis motorised stage with auto focus abilities allows 3-D mapping with 1-5 µm spatial resolution. The instrument operates over five laser lines 488, 514, 633, 785 and 830 nm — the 785 and 830 nm are particularly useful for the analysis of biological samples.

The instrument is also coupled to an SEM to allow for combined Raman/SEM analysis of the same area of the same sample.

InVia

Streamline - Rapid Mapping

The inVia Renishaw Raman has been recently upgraded (August, 2009) to incorporate Streamline. The instrument is now capable of rapid mapping and is approximately 200 times faster than the traditional point-by-point mapping which is also available on this system.

Excellent results can be obtained without compromising data quality or damaging the sample by using high laser powers with reduced laser power density. This will allow automated collection of statistically significant numbers of Raman spectra from multiple samples.

Mapping is a specialised sampling technique used to visualise the type and distribution of components within a sample. In mapping experiments, point-by-point spectra are measuring sequentially from a defined region in the sample using either point-by-point or Streamline rapid mapping.
Two-dimensional false colour maps are then generated by plotting the intensity, area, or peak ratio of a charcteristic peak(s) versus the spatial x, y co-ordinates to obtain a visual distribution of one or many characteristic functional groups.