Photonic Detectors Across The Spectrum: Enabling Biomedical Spectroscopy

Biomedical spectroscopy has become a cornerstone of modern diagnostics, enabling earlier detection, less invasive testing, and deeper insight into biological systems. In this session, Jezdan Gomez, Senior Applications Engineer at Opto Diode, steps back from individual components to examine how photonic detector technologies across the electromagnetic spectrum directly map to real biomedical needs.

The talk begins by framing why spectroscopy is so powerful in biophotonics, revealing how different wavelength regions interact uniquely with DNA, proteins, tissues, and gases. From deep ultraviolet measurements used in sequencing and PCR, through visible and near-infrared techniques for fluorescence imaging and tissue oxygenation, to mid-infrared approaches that unlock molecular fingerprints and breath analysis, each spectral window answers a different biological question. The detector, in turn, defines how clearly that question can be answered.

Attendees will gain a structured overview of detector families across the spectrum, including silicon, InGaAs, lead salts, thermal detectors, and emerging infrared materials. Rather than focusing on specifications alone, the session emphasizes practical tradeoffs—sensitivity, noise, stability, manufacturability, regulatory compliance, and total cost of ownership—that influence real instrument design.

Through three concrete case studies—high-throughput antimicrobial diagnostics, precision beam alignment in cancer therapy, and infrared breath analysis—the presentation shows how detector selection impacts reliability, scalability, and clinical outcomes. The session concludes with a forward look at technology trends and regulatory pressures shaping the future of biophotonic detectors.

The goal is a clear, application-driven understanding of how detector choice defines performance, reliability, and clinical impact across biomedical spectroscopy.