Diagnostic instrument and method

1. A real-time diagnostic instrument comprising;

a monochromatic light source;

an instrument head;

transmission means to transmit light from the light source to the instrument head;

collection means to transmit scattered light; and

spectral analysis apparatus to receive light from the collection means,

the spectral analysis apparatus comprising a diffraction grating having a first grating element and a second grating element, wherein the first grating element diffracts light within a first spectral range of 800 cm −1 to 1800 cm −1 and the second grating element diffracts light within a distinct second spectral range of 2800 cm −1 to 3600 cm −1 ,

the spectral analysis apparatus further comprising a light-sensing apparatus,

wherein the first grating element is arranged to diffract light onto a first area of the light-sensing apparatus and the second grating element arranged to diffract light onto a second area of the light-sensing apparatus;

a processing apparatus, the processing apparatus being operable to receive data from the spectral analysis apparatus and generate an output, wherein the processing apparatus is operable to simultaneously receive data from the first area and generate a first spectrum and receive data from the second area and generate a second spectrum; and

a library of stored spectra and operable to compare the spectra to the stored spectra in real-time, wherein the processing apparatus is operable to check the spectra for contamination and classify the spectra as corresponding to healthy or abnormal tissue.

2. The real-time diagnostic instrument according to claim 1 wherein the transmission means comprises a transmission optical fiber, and the collection means comprises a collection optical fiber having a proximal end and a collection filter to exclude light from the monochromatic light source.

3. The real-time diagnostic instrument according to claim 2 wherein the collection means comprises a plurality of collection fibers and ends of the collection fibers proximal to the spectral analysis apparatus are mounted in a curved configuration to correct for image aberration.

4. The real-time diagnostic instrument according to claim 2 further comprising a ball lens to transmit light from the transmission optical fiber to a test site.

5. The real-time diagnostic instrument according to claim 1 further comprising a processing apparatus operable to simultaneously receive data from the first area and generate a first spectrum and receive data from the second area and generate a second spectrum.

6. A method of operating a diagnostic instrument in real-time, comprising:

transmitting light from a monochromatic light source to a test site;

collecting scattered light from the test site;

passing collected scattered light to a spectral analysis apparatus comprising:

a diffraction grating having a first grating element and a second grating element; and

a light-sensing apparatus;

simultaneously diffracting light within a first spectral range of 800 cm −1 to 1800 cm −1 with the first grating element onto a first area of the light sensing apparatus and diffracting light within a distinct second spectral range of 2800 cm −1 to 3600 cm −1 with the second grating element onto a second area of the light sensing apparatus;

receiving data from the first area and generating a first spectrum and receiving data from the second area and generating a second spectrum;

classifying the spectra as corresponding to healthy or abnormal tissue and generating an output accordingly for valid spectra; and

providing a library of stored spectra and wherein the checking and classifying steps comprise comparing the spectra to the stored spectra in real-time.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising receiving data from the first area and generating a first spectrum and receiving data from the second area and generating a second spectrum.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising checking the received data for saturation.