Fast identification and differentiation of mineral components in prostate stones using a portable fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy

We report a potential application of a portable fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy for fast prostatic calculi diagnosis. A portable Raman analyzer with a fiber-optic probe was first used to identify and differentiate the mineral components of prostate stones. The study indicates that three types of stones, hydroxyapatite (HA) stone, calcium oxalate dehydrate (COD) stone and mixed stone including HA, calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) and COD, were directly detected from 15 patients with prostatic calculi in a short time. The present study reveals that this portable fiber-optic Raman spectroscopic technique was an easy and fast "real-time" tool to differentiate the mineral components in prostatic calculi.