Automated Raman Spectral Preprocessing of Bone and Other Musculoskeletal Tissues.

Raman spectroscopy of bone is complicated by fluorescence background and spectral contributions from other tissues. Full utilization of Raman spectroscopy in bone studies requires rapid and accurate calibration and preprocessing methods. We have taken a step-wise approach to optimize and automate calibrations, preprocessing and background correction. Improvements to manual spike removal, white light correction, software image rotation and slit image curvature correction are described. Our approach is concisely described with a minimum of mathematical detail.