By Oleksii Ilchenko, Yaroslav Aulin, and Ramona Molnar
Lightnovo ApS has launched a miniRaman product line designed for operators in the field. A spin-off from the Technical University of Denmark, Lightnovo was founded in 2019 by an enthusiastic team united by the goal of revolutionizing the field of Raman spectroscopy through innovative, high-performance solutions.
Our mission is to democratize the power of high-end Raman spectroscopy for the benefit of mankind.We aim to provide premium performance Raman spectrometers and microscopes with the world’s smallest form factors. With this innovation, Lightnovo addresses the need for portable, reliable field instruments at an affordable price.
Raman in the Defense and Homeland Security Sector
The defense and homeland security sector is one of several verticals within our comprehensive strategy, which is built on three pillars: research and development, original equipment manufacturer partnerships, and verticals. Lightnovo’s strategic approach demonstrates how Raman systems are both versatile and scalable, enabling their application across a wide range of industries.
Our key focus area in the defense and homeland security sector is the detection, identification, and quantification of unknown, hazardous, and illegal substances such as explosives, chemical weapons, toxic chemicals, narcotics, as well as their precursors. Our target market within this specific sector encompasses diverse customer segments with critical operational needs.
Firstly, law enforcement agencies, including forensic divisions and intelligence units, require advanced tools for rapid and accurate drug detection to combat trafficking both in the field and in laboratories. Secondly, first responders and firefighters demand reliable systems for on-site substance identification to ensure public safety during border control operations and emergency responses.
Meanwhile, customs agents operating at airports and border crossings rely on portable, precise equipment to detect contraband efficiently. Additionally, military units, including specialized CBRN teams, focus on bulk and trace detection solutions for hazardous and illicit substances in both field and laboratory environments.
These customer segments demand solutions that address dual requirements: bulk detection for large-scale, portable applications like screening vehicles or public spaces at events, and trace analysis for high-precision identification of small quantities of emerging psychoactive and explosive substances in forensic and investigative settings. Lightnovo’s innovative Raman technology meets these needs, providing versatile, compact, and reliable tools designed to support these critical requirements.
Value of Raman Spectroscopy
Raman spectroscopy is the gold standard when it comes to detection and tracking illicit substances and trace elements. This is because Raman spectroscopy works without needing reagents or other chemical substances. It can detect even very low doses several weeks after exposure to the sample, and it is entirely non-destructive, meaning that the sample is not damaged or in any way altered.
In Raman spectroscopy the sample is irradiated by the laser, and the backscattered light is captured by the spectrometer. Each compound exhibits a unique vibrational fingerprint embedded in the scattered light spectrum. This distinctive fingerprint enables the identification of unknown substances with high accuracy and through a library search powered by artificial intelligence. Both measurement and data analysis are performed in seconds. The technique is contactless, eliminating the need to open containers such as plastic bags or glass bottles containing the unknown substance. As a result, it minimizes health and safety risks for field personnel while keeping the sample intact.
A key challenge is to make a small and lightweight handheld Raman spectrometer with premium performance. Such devices must be small enough to fit comfortably on the belt of the police or the customs officer, or in the pocket of a soldier deployed in a war zone. Another important requirement for such a device is ease of operation and the ability to be efficiently used even by unskilled personnel with only minimal training.
miniRaman Operator Spectrometer
Lightnovo ApS is introducing the miniRaman Operator spectrometer specifically tailored for the CBRNEcommunity. This innovative device was developed in close collaboration with leading institutions in the defense and security sectors, ensuring that it meets the practical needs and stringent requirements of field operators.
Measuring 10.5x5x4.5cm and weighing only 360g without the probe, the miniRaman Operator spectrometer is compact in size. It complies with IP67 standards for dust and humidity resistance as well as with military grade drop test requirements. The device features a secure embedded Linux operating system, it includes inbuilt libraries of relevant substances, and it features a display of the operation menu and identification results. Designed for ease of use, the device requires just a single button to operate.
In terms of connectivity and interface, the miniRaman Operator spectrometer is equipped with a USB-C port enabling charging, data transfer, and control via the PC with a Windows 10 or 11 operating system. Additionally, bluetooth connectivity allows for control from Android or iOS smartphones, as well as PC. For enhanced security, all the wireless communication features can be disabled when operational conditions demand it. Moreover, the device supports an ROS 2 interface, enabling the integration of the spectrometer with robots and drones, further reducing operators’ risks in hazardous environments.
The miniRaman Operator spectrometer incorporates a groundbreaking optical design based on Lightnovo’s patented technology, featuring an inbuilt reference channel. This innovative reference channel enables the device to perform self-calibration at each acquisition eliminating the need for regular calibration of the device by the operator. This ensures reliable and accurate results even under drastically changing environmental conditions such as fluctuations in ambient temperature. The miniRaman Operator supports various interchangeable probes making it highly versatile for different applications.
This includes a middle-distance probe for identifying unknown liquids through a glass or plastic bottle in a contactless mode, and a contact probe ideal for analyzing unknown powders through plastic bags.
The spectrometer features a 785nm laser for excitation, and an optical spectrometer based on transmission gratings design. This set-up allows for better throughput with an NIR enhanced CMOS detector, boosting sensitivity.
miniRaman Operator Microscope
In addition to the miniRaman Operator spectrometer, Lightnovo is introducing the miniRaman Operator microscope designed to empower field operators with enhanced analytical capabilities. The microscope is invaluable for analyzing inhomogeneous samples, mixture analysis, as well as trace detection. These are applications where point detection Raman spectroscopy either fails or does not provide conclusive results. With the introduction of the miniRaman Operator microscope, microscopy analysis can be performed in the field, immediately after sample collection. This eliminates the need to send samples to a laboratory, saving critical time essential for rapid decision-making.
The miniRaman Operator microscope is a compact, portable, and lightweight device with a footprint of approximately 20x20x40cm and weighing about 12kg. It can be used in mobile forensic laboratories, vehicle-mounted setups, or direct field deployment since it fits into a rucksack and it can be powered via a powerbank that supports 15V, 1.5A standard USB-C power delivery.
The innovative miniRaman microscope retains all the benefits of the miniRaman Operator spectrometer, such as self-calibration and a stable operation under varying environmental conditions as it incorporates the spectrometer at its core. Its modular design allows the spectrometer to be easily removed for point measurements and seamlessly reinserted without requiring realignment or recalibration.
The miniRaman Operator microscope also features compact precise micromotion XYZ stages, enabling automatic microscopy sample scanning. Lightnovo’s proprietary technology facilitates simultaneous monitoring of visible microscopy images and Raman microscopy data collection. The microscope supports various interchangeable microscope objectives allowing for different degrees of spatial resolution.
The miniRaman Operator microscope can be controlled via a laptop using a USB-C interface supported by Lightnovo’s Miraspec software with a simple and intuitive interface.
Summary
Lightnovo introduces a modular miniRaman Operator product line, comprising a handheld miniRaman Operator spectrometer, and a portable miniRaman Operator microscope. Both products are specially designed with field operators in mind. The main advantages of both products are compactness allowing for practical field operations, self-calibration eliminating the need of regular calibration and checks by the operators, as well as providing reliable results independent of environmental conditions while not compromising on ease of use and affordability.
Oleksii Ilchenko is CEO and Founder of Lightnovo ApS. He studied at the Technical University of Denmark, Department of Health Technology, Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics. Yaroslav Aulin is the Head of Customer Support at Lightnovo ApS. He studied at Delft University of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering. Ramona Molnar is the Head of Sales and Marketing at Lightnovo ApS. She studied at Copenhagen Business School. Click here to read more about optics miniaturization for demanding Raman spectroscopy applications.
