The probe guard extends about the tip of the probe and leaves a majority of the surface area of the tip exposed to a flow that is angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the tip of the probe.

The tip (46) of the needle (12) penetrates the tissue in advance of the tip (16) of the probe.

  The tip of the diamond probe is wear resistant.

The excitation fiber is connected to the red LASER source and terminates in the first end of the probe adjacent the tip of the probe.

Electrical signals are received which are indicative of the position of the tip of the probe.

  While feeding a solvent into the tip of the probe (11) that has captured the sample, high voltage is applied to the probe (11) for electro-spray to ionize molecules of the sample (S) located at the tip of the probe.

The emission fibers are connected to the Raman spectroscope and terminate in the first end of the probe adjacent the tip of the probe.

The tip of the probe is intended to come in contact with the tissue to be examined.

The tip of the probe may be shaped to match the surface being measured.

When the amount of sample is large, the height (h2) of the tip of the sample dispensing probe (17) is high relative to the height (h'), and the sample at the tip of the sample dispensing probe (17) is convex.

Oscillations of the probe tip due to the Raman force interactions are then measured.

The probe tip is largely formed of plastics material, whilst the head portion (14) of the tip as used for surgery is formed from brass.

In one embodiment, the first receiver (26) is disposed at the tip of the probe (16).

Conductive leads extend from the sensing element, through the probe tip to the handle.

Thus, the tip of the probe is located at, or very close to, the centre of the object.