Infrared photonics for healthcare: A roadmap for proactive and predictive health management
Authors:
Borislav Hinkov,
Johannes Kunsch,
Werner Mäntele,
Lukasz Sterczewski,
Ángel Sánchez-Illana,
Jaume Béjar-Grimalt,
Víctor Navarro-Esteve,
David Perez-Guaita,
Alexander Mittelstädt,
Philippa Clark,
Valentino Lepro,
Sergius Janik,
Thorsten Lubinski,
Luis Felipe das Chagas e Silva de Carvalho,
Hugh James Byrne,
Filiz Korkmaz,
Michael Kaluza,
Mattia Saita,
Lars Melchior,
Alicja Dabrowska,
Georg Ramer,
Bernhard Lendl,
Nathalie Woitzik,
Klaus Gerwert,
Peter Gardner
, et al. (60 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The field of infrared (IR) photonics is currently undergoing remarkable progress, moving rapidly towards practical sensing applications demanded by medical therapy and diagnostics (theranostics). The Developments can be divided into three main categories: (i) novel devices and measurement concepts including advanced updates of classical approaches that push medical sensing into the spotlight; (ii)…
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The field of infrared (IR) photonics is currently undergoing remarkable progress, moving rapidly towards practical sensing applications demanded by medical therapy and diagnostics (theranostics). The Developments can be divided into three main categories: (i) novel devices and measurement concepts including advanced updates of classical approaches that push medical sensing into the spotlight; (ii) new demonstrations of photonic integrated circuit (PIC-)based IR devices enabling highly miniaturized sensors for point-of-care application as well as medical and wellness wearables; and (iii) technologically-mature IR demonstrators that enable first medical sensing and treatment applications. This roadmap paper provides a consolidated overview of this highly dynamic and interdisciplinary research field with a focus on the major roadblocks that limit the widespread adoption of IR photonics in large-scale medical diagnostics. Special attention is given to the ambivalence between the molecular-level spectroscopic interpretation and a broader health-state assessment, highlighting the need for a common framework. Additionally, the paper discusses the critical importance of unified measurement standards, calibration protocols, and medical certification processes to ensure the validity of experimental results, reproducibility, and clinical trust, particularly when novel experimental techniques and AI algorithms are involved. Perspectives from major past and current contributors to application-oriented IR photonics will be provided.
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Submitted 8 February, 2026;
originally announced February 2026.
Ultra-broadband room-temperature Fourier transform spectrometer with watt-level power consumption
Authors:
Jakub Mnich,
Johannes Kunsch,
Matthias Budden,
Thomas Gebert,
Marco Schossig,
Jarosław Sotor,
Łukasz A. Sterczewski
Abstract:
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has matured into a versatile technique with relevance for environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical research, and food safety applications. However, compared to other spectroscopic methods, it experiences slower progress in terms of power optimization, miniaturization, and adoption by industry. To overcome this limitation, we developed an ultra-broadba…
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Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has matured into a versatile technique with relevance for environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical research, and food safety applications. However, compared to other spectroscopic methods, it experiences slower progress in terms of power optimization, miniaturization, and adoption by industry. To overcome this limitation, we developed an ultra-broadband room-temperature FTIR instrument relying on commercially available components that offers a spectral coverage from 1.6 $μ$m to 31 $μ$m (9.7-190 THz) without changing optics at a single-Watt-level of electrical power consumption. To demonstrate the capabilities of the instrument, we measured atmospheric species in multiple spectral regions with better than 1.5 cm$^{-1}$ resolution.
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Submitted 3 September, 2024;
originally announced September 2024.