Confocal Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Ceramic Hip Joints

Abstract

A survey of confocal Raman/fluorescence microprobe spectroscopic techniques is presented with emphasis placed on surface analysis of artificial hip joints. Suitable instrumental configurations are first explained in some details in order to describe the versatility of the spectroscopic microprobes to biomedical materials analyses. Then, these notions, which represent the foundation for structural and mechanical analyses of joint surfaces, are applied to selected cases of paramount importance in hip arthroplasty.