The continuing pace of technological advancements in scientific instruments has recently led to a wide range of commercially viable portable and handheld instruments, and the Raman spectroscopy market is no exception. While security applications have received much of the early attention in relation to handheld instruments, other applications are beginning to replace demand from the security markets.

The adoption of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for imaging applications is a major recent development in the market. Applications lie squarely in the life sciences area, being primarily in histopathology. The market for MALDI imaging products already accounts for a significant and rapidly growing portion of the aftermarket for MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

First developed in the mid-1980s, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) added a complementary mass spectrometry ionization technique to others that were already on the market, such as electrospray ionization (ESI).

While the overall laboratory UV and Visible spectroscopy market was worth well over $700 million in 2007, the UV/Vis/NIR segment represented less than 10% of it. UV/Vis/NIR instruments utilize multiple detectors to cover a broader spectrum of analysis, and typically are among the highest-end systems in the UV-Vis market.

The concept of portable mass spectrometry has been around for some time, but the realization of such technology has been largely limited until very recently. More than ever before, recent technological advances now make smaller, lighter, and more effective mass spectrometers possible. Such advances will lend themselves to a growing spectrum of applications as well.

Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy is an important optical emission technique, with strong applications in environmental testing and related areas. The basic principle of ICP involves the introduction of a liquid sample into an argon plasma torch, which provides the excitation energy required to stimulate atomic emission in the sample. The geometry of the torch with respect to the optical components provides one source of control over the analysis. The axial mode, with the optics directed toward the plasma jet, provides better detection levels, although the radial (side-on) mode generally is less problematic.

Fourier transform–infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy technology has progressed considerably over the past two decades, and it is now a relatively established analytical technique for process monitoring in addition to being a standard tool in the laboratory. The inherent design of FT-IR systems makes them preferable for use as a process monitoring and analysis tool, particularly in the life science industries, which is a promising market.

Although overshadowed by other technologies, demand for fluorescence microscopy is already strong and is growing rapidly. The technology is proving to be very useful for specific life science applications.

The high-flying field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which is continuing to see strong growth as it approaches the $1 billion mark in annual market revenues, overshadows the market for low-field and fixed magnet NMR. These systems are far simpler and less expensive than the larger systems many have come to think of when they hear the term NMR. The range of applications for low-field and fixed magnet NMR is vast, which is contributing to strong growth in demand.