Apparatus having surface-enhanced spectroscopy elements on an exterior surface

1. An apparatus for performing spectroscopy comprising:

an elongated substrate having a shape and size to be inserted into a specimen, wherein the elongated substrate has a first end and a second end, and wherein the elongated substrate has a diameter or width that is between about 0.1 mm to about 10 mm; and

a plurality of surface-enhanced spectroscopy (SES) elements positioned on an exterior surface of the elongated substrate at a location between the first end and the second end of the elongated substrate.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated substrate comprises an acupuncture needle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated substrate comprises a circular cross-section and wherein the plurality of SES elements are positioned around an outer circumference of the elongated substrate at the location between the first end and the second end of the elongated substrate.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of nano-fingers extending from the exterior surface of the elongated substrate, wherein the plurality of SES elements are positioned on tips of the plurality of nano-fingers.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of nano-fingers are partially collapsed onto adjacent ones of the plurality of nano-fingers such that tips of the adjacent nano-fingers are in close proximities with respect to each other and that the plurality of SES elements on the tips of at least some of the adjacent nano-fingers are in contact with each other.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a cover layer covering the plurality of SES elements.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the cover layer is at least one of dissolvable in a fluid, photolyzable, and removable through receipt of an external stimulus.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the cover layer comprises a porous membrane that is to substantially prevent certain particles from contacting the plurality of SES elements.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of groups of the plurality of SES elements are positioned on the surface of the elongated substrate at a plurality of distinct locations between the first end and the second end of the elongated substrate.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a first cover layer covering a first group of the plurality of SES elements; and

a second cover layer covering a second group of the plurality of SES elements;

wherein the first cover layer and the second cover layer are independently removable with respect to each other.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a drug material provided on the elongated substrate, wherein the drug material is to be introduced into the specimen following at least one of a predetermined amount of time and upon receipt of an external stimulus.

12. A system for performing spectroscopy, said system comprising:

an elongated substrate having a shape and size to be inserted into a specimen, wherein the elongated substrate has a first end and a second end, and wherein the elongated substrate has a diameter or width that is between about 0.1 mm to about 10 mm; and

a plurality of surface-enhanced spectroscopy (SES) elements positioned on an exterior surface of the elongated substrate at a location between the first end and the second end of the elongated substrate;

an illumination source to illuminate the plurality of SES elements; and

a spectrometer to detect light emitted from an analyte positioned near the plurality of SES elements.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the elongated substrate comprises an acupuncture needle.

14. A method for performing spectroscopy, said method comprising:

inserting at least a portion of an apparatus into a specimen comprising a fluid containing target particles to cause at least some of the target particles to contact the plurality of SES elements, wherein the apparatus includes an elongated substrate having a shape and size to be inserted into a specimen, wherein the elongated substrate has a first end and a second end, and a plurality of surface-enhanced spectroscopy (SES) elements positioned on an exterior surface of the elongated substrate at a location between the first end and the second end of the elongated substrate;

directing an illumination beam onto the plurality of SES elements and the target particles to cause the target particles to emit scattered signals; and

measuring the scattered signals emitted by the target particles.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the elongated substrate comprises an acupuncture needle and wherein inserting at least a portion of the apparatus into the specimen further comprises inserting at least a portion of the apparatus into the specimen as an acupuncture needle.