Raman spectroscopy: In-vitro analysis of urinary stone composition at different excitation wavelengths

Analysis of urinary stone composition provides basic information concerning treatment and metaphylaxis of urolithiasis. Common techniques for composition analysis include chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. These techniques afford complex sample preparation and costly laboratory equipment. Raman spectroscopy has been shown to be able to precisely identify the different components of urinary stones. Fibre-coupled Raman spectrometers might offer possibilities for the development of an easy to use tool for intraoperative in-vivo or ex-vivo stone analysis.