Voyage™ Specifications

Microscope
Compatible Microscope Olympus BX51 Nikon Eclipse 80i
Z Adjustment Resolution 1 μm
X/Y Resolution Depending on stage and objectives
Depth of Focus 0.5 μm to 180 μm up to objective
Camera PGR Chameleon™ USB 2.0 Digital Camera
Lasers
Excitation 532 nm excitation 785 nm excitation
Single Mode
Multimode NA
Linewidth < 1 cm-1 ± 0.02 nm (single), ± 0.2 nm (multimode)
Coupling NA 9 μm Fiber Single Mode
50 μm Fiber Multimode
Wavelength 532 ± 0.5 nm 785 ± 0.5 nm
Power at Sample 20 - 22 mW > 15 mW (single mode)
> 150 mW (multimode)
Adjustment Power Neutral density filters at 100%, 79%,
50%, 25%, 10%, 5%, 1% and 0%
I2C controlled 0-100% adjustable
(for multimode laser only)
Spectrometer
Spectral Range 100 - 3050 cm-1 100 - 2550 cm-1
(100 - 3100 cm-1 optional)
Spectral Resolution 3.8 cm-1 3 cm-1 (4.5 cm-1 optional)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Silicon 3rd order Raman peak SNR > 6:1
Detector
Detector Type TE Cooled, Back-thinned, 2D-binning CCD
Detector Hamamatsu S10141-1107S, TE Cooled
TE Cooling Temperature -20°C
Maximum Quantum Efficiency 90%
Number of pixels(2D) 2048 (H) x 122 (V)
Pixel Size 12 x 12 μm
Pixel Resolution 1.75 cm-1
Adjustable Slit 0 - 2 mm Adjustable
Digitization Resolution 16-bit or 65,535:1
Digitizer Speed 250 KHz
Integration Time 12 ms - 120 min
Software
Software BWSpec™
Operation Mode Linear Mode & 2D Mode
Binning Option (2D Mode) Odd Row Binning
Data Format TXT, SPC, and EXCEL
System Operation
Computer Interface USB 2.0/1.1
Power Input 110-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz
Environment Temperature 20 - 28°C
Humidity < 75% RH
Form Factors
Model Olympus BX51 Nikon Eclipse 80i Retrofit
Dimension 318 x 412 x 415 mm 300 x 561 x 514 mm 345 x 128 x 355 mm
Weight 27 kg 27 kg 9 kg

Collects Data within 100cm-1 of the Rayleigh Line

The center wavelength of the laser line is precisely maintained even when the peak power is increased by utilizing a series of high end filters. A laser line filter is used to clean up any side bans and ensure a narrow excitation is delivered to the sample by removing all secondary excitation lines before exciting the sample. The light collected from the sample is then filtered via a notch filter. Finally, an ultra steep long pass filter further removes lingering laser line to allow accurate measurement of Raman peaks as close as 100cm-1 from the Rayleigh line.

Digitization of Photons

The Voyage™ features a back-thinned two dimensional charge coupled device (CCD) to detect the dispersed Raman signal. The CCD is used to obtain 90% QE via collection of incoming photons at wavelengths that would not pass through a front illuminated CCD. The detector is TE cooled to -20°C to maximize dynamic range by reducing dark current. 2D binning operation mode enables maximization of the SNR. As a result the 4th order Raman peak of Si can be detected in less than one minute.

Creating Raman Scatter

In Raman spectroscopy it is essential to utilize a clean, narrow bandwidth laser due to the fact that the quality of the Raman peaks are directly affected by the sharpness and stability of the delivered light source. The Voyage™ spectrometer system features a patented CleanLaze® technology with linewidth as narrow as 0.02 nm when equipped with our 785 nm laser. This technology results in the correct center wavelength and avoids the phenomenon of “mode hopping.” In addition, the laser output power can be adjusted in the software from 0 - 100%, preventing damage to the sample from laser exposure. Our standard automatic shutter will reduce photobleaching for a variety of different sample types.

Laser lifetime of 10,000 hours ensures quality data for years to come!

Retrofit Compatible with Multiple Microscopes

B&W Tek’s confocal design is compatible with the two most widely used microscopes: Olympus BX51 and Nikon 80i. For users who already have microscopes, the retrofit (an innovative, confocal sub-assembly) is an extremely cost-effective solution for them to turn their microscopes into confocal Raman microscopes. The retrofit is very simple to install with no alignment work needed.

Optimized Confocal Concept

To achieve the highest degree of confocality, B&W Tek’s confocal design features two optically conjugated pinholes, one of which is placed in the laser path and the other is placed at the entrance of the spectrometer. Therefore, the sample volume from which the light is collected and the amount of out-of-focus light blocked is precisely defined. Such design offers the real and the best confocal performance without any sacrificing efficiency or ease of use.

Smart Optical Design

B&W Tek’s proprietary design of double path transmission optics is a key element in achieving research level spectral resolution of 3 cm-1. The innovative optics makes the combination of high throughput and high resolution possible.

Bioscience and Medical Diagnosis:

  • Subtle changes within biomolecules, such as drug interactions, tissue healing, cosmetics, disease diagnosis
  • Intercellular SERS localization and interaction. Identification of drug binding to cells for Drug-DNA and cellular interaction analysis
  • Investigation of microorganisms in single cells; yeast cell classifications, single bacterium
  • Oxygenation measurements of blood and tissue
  • Molecular level cancer detection (cervical, lung, etc.)
  • Cardiovascular disease diagnosis (atherosclerosis)

Pharmaceutical Industry:

  • Analysis of tablets, liquids, and gel caps
  • High throughput screening techniques
  • Crystallization, end point detection
  • Process Analytical Technology (PAT) on-line, at-line monitoring and control: real-time monitoring of drying, coating, and blending
  • Identification and analysis of API, additives, and excipients
  • Drug identification control device: Purity and Quality
  • Raw material inspection: 100% incoming material identification & verification

Raman Microscopy:

  • Pharmaceutical drug analysis: micro-Raman and localized molecular species analysis in complex drug mixtures, such as beta-carotene in multivitamins
  • Material science thin film analysis, such as diamond film quality characterization
  • Trace forensic evidence analysis, including fibers, fabrics, pigments, inks, etc.

Polymers and Chemical Processes:

  • Quality Control: Incoming/Outgoing
  • Identification of contaminants during manufacturing
  • Real time monitoring of polymerization
  • Predicting the morphological properties of polymers
  • Multivariate Analysis/Chemometrics to predict physical properties: glass transition temperature, crystallization temperature, etc.
  • Chemical composition analysis

Environmental Science:

  • Water pollution detection using SERS technology
  • Identification of contaminants in water
  • Petrochemical analysis
  • Identification and analysis of sediments in water

Forensic Analysis:

  • Nondestructive drug and narcotic drug identification
  • Explosives: exact chemical compositions of materials, PETN, RDX and binding agents within explosive materials
  • Identification and analysis of toxic solvents and bio-warfare agents
  • Trace forensic evidence analysis, including fibers, fabrics, pigments, inks, etc., by Raman microscopy

Gemology

  • Non-invasive gemstone identification and examination
  • Identify unknown gemstone by unique Raman signal
  • Identification of isomorph or subspecies of gemstone
  • Analysis of gemstone origin through Raman microscopy
  • Anti-counterfeiting, such as identification of diamond from zircon

Geology and Mineralogy

  • Identification of geological materials
  • Examination of inclusions in minerals
  • Analysis of cement clinker by Raman microscopy
  • Ancient fossil analysis

Food & Agriculture Industry

  • Measuring the unsaturated fatty acid in food oils
  • Detecting bacteria and/or contaminants in food products
  • Identification of additive drugs: nutraceuticals in fruit drinks
  • Analysis of components in grain kernel

Semiconductor & Solar Industry:

  • Characterization of silicon crystallinity: Monitoring of the Raman band shift as silicon crystallinity changes from amorphous to a polycrystalline structure
  • Analysis of micron sized particles in situ to provide information on potential contamination
  • Mechanical stress monitoring for semiconductor process

Accessories:

Raman Probe Options

Two Raman probe options are available to allow sampling of various materials in the form of liquids, gels, powder, or solids under lab conditions (Lab Grade) or demanding environmental conditions (Industrial Grade).

Lab Grade (BAC100) Industrial Grade (BAC101)
Excitation Fiber 105μm core w/ FC/PC connector
Collection Fiber 200nm core with SMA 905 male connector
Fiber Length 1.5m
Excitation Wavelength 785nm, 532nm, Other options available
Laser Blocking OD6 default, OD8 optional
Shaft Material SS 316L SS 316L, Hastelloy C-276, Titanium
Shaft Diameter 9.5mm 12mm
Shaft Length 76.2mm 76.2mm - 203.2mm
(Custom lengths available)
Window Material Quartz Fused Silica, Sapphire, Sapphire Ball Lens
Seal Material Adhesive sealed Kalrez® O-ring, Custom
Working Distance 5.90mm 5mm, 10mm, 20mm
Spot Size 85μm 85μm
Maximum Pressure 30 PSI 300 PSI
Maximum Temperature 80°C 300°C at probe tip

Enhanced Raman Cuvetter Holder (BCR100A)

Our Enhanced Raman Cuvette Holder (BCR100A) is a uniquely designed sampling device that can increase Raman signal up to 3x’s in comparison to a standard cuvette holder by utilizing precise focusing; featuring a three point locking mechanism for reproducibilty. The enhanced Raman cuvette holder can be used with any standard 12.5mm x 12.5mm size cuvette to hold liquid or powder samples.

The BCR100A brings many advantages to Raman measurements; High Stability, Repeatability, Enhanced Raman Signal.

Liquid Sample Flow Cell

Liquid sample flow cell is a sampling device designed for Raman online process monitoring. It provides a sampling platform with high throughput and stability.

Our Flow Cells are constructed with your choice of three different cell materials, 316 SS, Titanium, or Teflon. Window options include Quartz or Sapphire. The BAC160 uses a Kalrez® O-ring which creates a chemical resistant sampling device.

Custom cell material and window construction available upon request.

Cell Material 316 SS or Titanium
Fitting 0.5in Swagelok
Tubing OD 0.5in – 2in
O-ring Material Kalrez® O-ring
Other materials on request
Window Material Quartz
Sapphire
Other materials on request
Working Distance Fixed
Excitation Wavelength Range 300nm – 2500nm
Maximum Temperature 150°C
Maximum Pressure 150 PSI
Weight 0.5 lbs

Probe Mount (BAC150)

With a small laser spot size of 85mm, laser focus at the sample area becomes critical in all dimensions. The BAC150 precision probe mount accessory provides coarse and fine adjustment knobs for the X, Y, and Z axes. Z-axis adjustment allows for laser focusing on the desired plane in order to maximize the Raman signal.

Sampling Platform (BAC151)

The BAC151 is a visual assisted sampling platform that utilizes video precision spot sampling at a fraction of the cost of a typical Raman Microscope. The digital camera and LED illuminator allows for precision targeting and focusing of the spot size by way of an on screen display via BWSpec™ software or an added external monitor. Standard objectives from 10x’s - 100x’s can be utilized and sample images can be easily recorded and saved. Both coarse and fine adjustment knobs are available for X, Y, and Z-axis control. Bright and dark field illumination optimizes the light required for various sample surfaces. Compatible with our Lab and Industiral Grade Raman probes, this video microscope system provides advantages of Raman microscopy at a fraction of the cost compared to similar research instruments.

Thermo Scientifica GRAMS/AI®

Thermo Scientific GRAMS/AI® Lab software package: for processing and managing spectroscopy data

PLSplus/IQ for Thermo Scientific GRAMS/AI 8: for creating qualitative and quantitative chemometric calibration models

Spectral ID for Thermo Scientific GRAMS/AI 8: for qualitative material identification through spectral library search

BWSpec™

The foundation for all B&W Tek, Inc. software platforms, BWSpec™ is ideal for broad Raman applications.

BWSpec™ is a spectral data acquisition software developed by B&W Tek, Inc. for use with our spectrometers, systems, and accessories. It is included with the purchase of any product which uses it to operate. The software delivers a wide range of features designed to perform complex measurements and calculations at the click of a button. BWSpec™ features multiple data formats and the capability to optimize scanning parameters such as integration time and laser output power control. In addition to data acquisition and data processing, other features include automatic dark removal, spectrum smoothing, and manual/auto baseline correction. The software also contains an OCX interface for users to collect spectra in Thermo Scientific GRAMS/AI®.

    Key Features
  • Compatible with our spectrometers, systems, and accessories (if applicable)
  • Raman measurements
  • Continuous and single scan acquistion
  • Dark subtract
  • Spectral file format: txt, spc
  • Spectral file exportable to Excel®
  • Manual and automatic baseline correction
  • Peak smoothing algorithms: FFT, Savitzky-Golay, Boxcar
  • Thermo Scientific GRAMS/AI® OCX control interface

BWID™

Built on the proven BWSpec™ platform, BWID™ is optimized for identification and verification of materials

BWID™ has been specifically designed for Raman spectroscopy. This software will rapidly identify and verify materials stored in your own personal easy-to-create library or easy-to-load third-party library. One click is all you need to create or expand a Raman library. The combination of BWID™ and any of B&W Tek’s Raman spectrometer systems unite to create a powerful and effective solution for identification and verification of materials. The reporting capability enables a user to save, view, and print any analysis report.

    Key Features
  • Fast identification of unknown materials with “MATCH” or “NO MATCH” results
  • Fast verification of known materials with “PASS” or “FAIL” results
  • User-definable method for automated sequences of testing
  • Facilitates inspection of incoming raw materials
  • Build user-defined spectral libraries
  • Supports third-party libraries
  • Seven search algorithms
  • Capable of automatic performance test
  • Simplified menu driven GUI
  • Save, View and Print Analysis Reports

BWID™-PHARMA

For industrial Raman applications that require federal compliance: BWIDTM-Pharma supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Compliance

BWID™-PHARMA is designed for pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities that are facing the increasing need for 100% inspection of incoming raw materials. In addition to all the features provided in BWID™, BWID™-PHARMA provides enhanced system access security and an audit trail of data activities that support compliance with the FDA 21 CFR Part 11 regulation for Electronic Records and Electronic Signatures, benefiting pharmaceutical system validations including Installation Qualifications (IQs) and Operational Qualifications (OQs) procedures.

    Key Features
  • Includes all BWID™ features
  • FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Regulation Compliance: Electronic Records and Electronic Signatures
  • Three user levels: Administrator, Developer, Operator
  • System Access Security
  • Audit Trails
  • Pharmaceutical System Validations - IQ and OQ Procedures

Voyage™

True Confocality and True Flexibility

The Voyage™ is a Confocal Raman Microscope System that is designed to deliver true confocality and true flexibility. Its robust opto-mechanical design provides one design to fit multiple microscopes, including Olympus BX51 research microscope or Nikon Eclipse 80i advanced research microscope. In addition, the innovative design of the confocal sub-assembly provides the retrofit for users to turn their own microscopes into confocal Raman microscope. Its optimized optical design for confocal concept, combined with B&W Tek’s patented CleanLaze® laser and patent pending high resolution spectrometer, delivers the smallest spot size in the market and a high spectral resolution of 3 cm-1.

Features:

  • Optimized True Confocal Design
  • Spectral Resolution 3 cm-1
  • 100 cm-1 of the Rayleigh Line
  • Two-Stage TE-cooling Detector to -20ºC
  • One Design Fits Multiple Microscopes
  • Retrofit for Users with Microscopes
  • Adjustable Slit

Raman Product Line

MiniRam™ MiniRam™ III i-Raman™ innoRam™ Voyage™ Accessories