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This work reports an optomechanical, electronic system consisting of LEDs emitting light in the near-infrared region. The 147 light-emitting diodes were distributed in a semi-spherical dome so that each focused light upon the center of the radius. The LEDs received electrical polarization so that the optical power of each provided 16 ± 0.36 mW for a total of 2.4 W. The developed system allows multifunctional applications in phototherapy, making it possible to perform this clinical technique for the treatment of skin lesions and contusions at the musculoskeletal level. The geometry of the developed system also allows the use of phototherapy in the treatment of neurological pathologies. In terms of instrumentation, the three-dimensional light intensity distribution and the thermographic images were obtained using three working distances from the system to the target. Three-dimensional light intensity distributions were obtained considering each working distance. These were inserted in the thermographic images as indications of the emitted temperature distributions. This work verified that the optomechanical and electronic system developed with LEDs may be used for multiple applications in phototherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copaiba oleoresin presents several compounds with known biologic activity and physiologic effects, including analgesic and insecticide properties. Among them are the terpenoids (mainly diterpenes and sesquiterpenes) with β-caryophyllene, the main representative of the terpenoids and considered to be a chemical marker. This study employed Raman spectroscopy and principal component analysis (PCA) techniques to identify and quantify the β-caryophyllene marker in copaiba oil samples purchased from popular markets in Brazil. A dispersive Raman spectrometer (830 nm, 250 mW, 2 cm−1 spectral resolution) was used. Results showed the identification of the main Raman peaks from the β-caryophyllene in copaiba oil samples (main peaks at 507, 771, 1442, 1638, and 1673 cm−1). The loading vector 2 (PC2) extracted the spectral information from β-caryophyllene in the samples and the eigenvalue 2 (score 2) allowed the estimation of the concentration of this marker in commercial samples, with the concentrations from 15 to 34%. Raman spectroscopy combined with PCA may be considered to be a potential analytical tool for the quality control of Copaifera oil samples by quantifying β-caryophyllene using its unique spectral information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes the development of an optical catheter with bending control of the distal end. The probe consists of seven optical fibers wrapped in a resin and a biocompatible flexible teflon tube with a novel mechanical device that allows bending of the distal extremity to access a desired location of a human organ. A central fiber is used for tissue Raman excitation, five fibers are used for Raman signal collection, and the seventh for "optoclinical" treatment applications. Infrared, dispersive Raman spectra at 785 nm excitation were employed to optically characterize the proposed catheter. An excitation transmission loss of 16% was found compared to the traditional six collecting fibers catheter, both with their distal tip straight. By bending of the distal tip at different angles, with turning the intermediated section of the catheter around cylinders of different diameters (one finds a correlation between curvature angle of the tip and cylinder diameter), the transmission loss coefficient and transmission were determined for each distal tip angle. A transmission reduction of 5% was found for a 180° curvature. This optical catheter could be very useful in clinics, providing a way to control the fiber tip position and angle onto the tissue or organ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]