Abstract: Raman molecular imaging (RMI) is used to detect mammalian cells of a particular phenotype. The disclosure includes the use of RMI to detect transplanted and/or grafted cells, to differentiate between normal and diseased cells or tissues, as well as in determining the grade of said cancer cells. Raman scattering data may be analyzed to determine the transplant efficiency, disease state, clinical outcome, and/or prognosis of cells or tissue. This data may be combined with visual image data to produce hybrid images which depict both a magnified view of the cellular structures and information relating to the disease state of the individual cells in the field of view. Also, RMI techniques may be combined with visual image data and validated with other detection methods to produce confirm the matter obtained by RMI.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a portable device for detecting hazardous agents, including explosives using SWIR hyperspectral imaging. The device may comprise a collection optics, a SWIR multi-conjugate filter, a SWIR camera, and a display. The device may also comprise an RGB camera. The disclosure also provides for a method of using said portable device wherein interacted photons are collected and passed through a SWIR multi-conjugate filter. The interacted photons are detected to generate at least one SWIR hyperspectral image. The SWIR hyperspectral image may be analyzed to determine the presence or absence of a hazardous agent on a target. An RGB image of a target may also be generated and analyzed to survey a sample scene.

Abstract: System and method for differentiating tissue margins in a biological sample using pulsed laser excitation and time-gated detection. A region containing a biological tissue is irradiated with substantially monochromatic pulsed laser light to thereby produce Raman scattered photons. The Raman scattered photons are detected using time-gated detection to thereby obtain a Raman spectroscopic image from the irradiated region characteristic of either a neoplastic portion or a non-neoplastic portion of the region containing the biological tissue. A boundary between a neoplastic portion and a non-neoplastic portion is differentiated and the boundary location in the Raman spectroscopic image is displayed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting, identifying and/or distinguishing between ignitable liquid residues on various types of substrates. A method may comprise generating a fluorescence data set representative of a substrate, which may comprise a fluorescence hyperspectral image. This fluorescence data set may be analyzed to determine the presence and/or identity of an ignitable liquid residue. Regions of a substrate comprising an ignitable liquid residue may further be interrogated using Raman techniques. This may comprise generating and analyzing a Raman data set representative of a region of interest of a substrate to thereby identify an ignitable liquid residue. A system may comprise an illumination source, a tunable filter, and a first detector configured to generate a fluorescence data set. The system may further comprise a second detector configured to generate a Raman data set representative of a region of interest of a substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for hyperspectral imaging to detect hazardous agents including explosive agents. A system comprising a tunable laser, a collection optics, and one or more hyperspectral imaging detectors configured for hyperspectral imaging of a target comprising an unknown material. A method comprising illuminating a target comprising an unknown material via a tunable laser to thereby generate a plurality of interacted photons. Detecting said interacted photons to generate at least one hyperspectral image representative of the target. One or more hyperspectral images may be obtained including SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR hyperspectral images. Algorithms and chemometric techniques may be applied to assess the hyperspectral images to identify the unknown material as comprising an explosive agent or a non-explosive agent. A video imaging device may also be configured to provide a video image of an area of interest, which may be assessed to identify a target for interrogation using hyperspectral imaging.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying an unknown substance in a sample comprising multiple entities. A method may comprise generating a RGB image representative of a sample and assessing said RGB image to identify at least one region of interest. This region of interest may he assessed to generate a spatially accurate wavelength resolved image, which may be a hyperspectral image. This spatially accurate wavelength resolved image may comprise a fluorescence, Raman, near infrared, short wave infrared, mid wave infrared and/or long wave infrared image. This spatially accurate wavelength resolved image may be assessed to identify said unknown substance. A system may comprise: a reference database, a first detector for generating an RGB image, a second detector for generating a spatially accurate wavelength resolved image, and a means for assessing said RGB image and said spatially accurate wavelength resolved image.

Abstract: A system and method for standoff detection of explosives and explosive residue. A laser light source illuminates a target area having an unknown sample producing luminescence emitted photons, scattered photons and plasma emitted photons. A first optical system directs light to the target area. A video capture device outputs a dynamic image of the target area. A second optical system collects photons, and directs collected photons to a first two-dimensional array of detection elements and/or to a fiber array spectral translator device which device includes a two-dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one-dimensional fiber stack. A spectrograph is coupled to the one-dimensional fiber stack of the fiber array spectral translator device, wherein the entrance slit of the spectrograph is coupled to the one dimensional fiber stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods for assessing occurrence of a hazardous agent in a sample by performing multipoint spectral analysis of the sample. Methods of employing Raman spectroscopy and other spectrophotometric methods are disclosed. Devices and systems suitable for performing such multipoint methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for using telescope optics and a fiber array spectral translator-based (“FAST”) spectroscopic system for improved imaging, spectral analysis, and interactive probing of a sample. In an embodiment, the confocality of a fiber array spectral translator-based spectroscopic system is improved through the use of structured illumination and/or structured collection of photons. User input may be received and acted upon to allow a user to interactively in real time and/or near real time view and analyze specific regions of the sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for diagnosing biological samples that combines the visual staining features familiar to pathologists with the accurate, reliable, and nondestructive capabilities of Raman chemical imaging. The invention disclosed herein may be applied to diagnose lung cancer samples. A method may comprise illuminating a biological sample to generate interacted photons, filtering said interacted photons using a tunable filter, and detecting interacted photons to generate a test Raman data set representative of said sample. The method may further comprise applying at least one chemometric technique and/or a digital stain to said test Raman data set. This test Raman data set may be analyzed to diagnose said sample as comprising at least one of: adenocarcinoma, mesothelioma, and combinations thereof. A system may comprise an illumination source, a tunable filter, and a detector configured to generate a test Raman data set representative of a biological sample.

Abstract: A system and method to search spectral databases and to identify unknown materials. A library comprising sublibraries is provided, each sublibrary containing a plurality of reference data sets corresponding to known materials. Test data sets are provided, characteristic of an unknown material. Each test data set is generated by one or more spectroscopic data generating instruments. Each sublibrary is searched and a corresponding set of scores is produced, indicating a likelihood of a match. Relative probability values are calculated for each searched sublibrary. All relative probability values are fused producing a set of final probability values, used to determine whether the unknown material is represented through a known material in the library. A highest final probability value is selected compared to a minimum confidence value. If the probability value is greater than or equal to the minimum confidence value, the known material is reported.

Abstract: A system and method for locating and identifying unknown samples. A targeting mode may be utilized to scan regions of interest for potential unknown materials. This targeting mode may interrogate regions of interest using SWIR and/or fluorescence spectroscopic and imaging techniques. Unknown samples detected in regions of interest may be further interrogated using a combination of Raman and LIBS techniques to identify the unknown samples. Structured illumination may be used to interrogate an unknown sample. Data sets generated during interrogation may be compared to a reference database comprising a plurality of reference data sets, each associated with a known material. The system and method may be used to identify a variety of materials including: biological, chemical, explosive, hazardous, concealment, and non-hazardous materials.

Abstract: A method for operating an optical filter in multiple modes. In one embodiment, an optical filter may be operated in a sensitivity mode to thereby generate a white light image representative of a region of interest. The optical filter may then be operated in a specificity mode to thereby generate a hyperspectral image representative of said region of interest. The white light image and the hyperspectral image may be fused to generate a hybrid image that provides morphological and hyperspectral data. The white light image and the hyperspectral image may be generated using a single detector, eliminating the need for image realignment.

Abstract: A system and method to provide a diagnosis of the breast disease state of a test breast sample. A database containing a plurality of reference SWIR data sets is provided where each reference SWIR data set has an associated known breast sample and an associated known breast disease state. A test breast sample is irradiated with substantially monochromatic light to generate scattered photons resulting in a test SWIR data set. The test SWIR data set is compared to the plurality of reference SWIR data sets using a chemometric technique. Based on the comparison, a diagnosis of a breast disease state of the test breast sample is provided. The breast disease state includes invasive ductal carcinoma or invasive lobular carcinoma disease state.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for aerial detection, identification, and/or tracking of unknown ground targets. A system may comprise collection optics, a RGB detector, a SWIR MCF, a SWIR detector, and a sensor housing affixed to an aircraft. A method may comprise generating a RGB video image, a hyperspectral SWIR image, and combinations hereof. The RGB video image and the hyperspectral SWIR image may be analyzed to detect, identify, and/or track unknown targets. The RGB video image and the hyperspectral SWIR image may be generated simultaneously.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for rapid, accurate, and reliable targeting and interrogation of pharmaceutical samples. An autofluorescence image of a sample may be generated and analyzed to identify areas of interest that exhibit autofluorescence characteristic of APIs. These areas of interest may then be targeted for analysis using Raman chemical imaging. This Raman chemical image may be used to determine geometric properties of particles present in a sample such as size and particle distribution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting, sizing, and classifying multiple particles in a sample. A Raman chemical image may be generated representative of a sample. This Raman chemical image may be analyzed to thereby determine at least one geometric property of at least one particle in the sample. Each pixel in the sample may be classified as comprising a particle associated with an active pharmaceutical ingredient of interest. This classification may be achieved by comparing a spectrum associated with each pixel with a reference spectrum. This comparison may be achieved by applying at least one chemometric technique.

Abstract: System and method for spatially and spectrally parallelized FAST. A sample is illuminated to thereby produce interacted photons. The photons are passed through a filter and received at a two-dimensional end of a FAST device wherein said FAST device comprises a two-dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one-dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two-dimensional array of optical fibers into a curvilinear field of view, and wherein said two-dimensional array of optical fibers is configured to receive said photons and transfer said photons out of said fiber array spectral translator device and to a spectrograph through said one-dimensional fiber stack wherein said one-dimensional fiber stack comprises at least two columns of fibers spatially offset in parallel at the entrance slit of said spectrograph. The photons are then detected at a detector to thereby obtain a spectroscopic data set representative of the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods for assessing occurrence of a hazardous agent in a sample by performing multipoint spectral analysis of the sample. Methods of employing Raman spectroscopy and other spectrophotometric methods are disclosed. Devices and systems suitable for performing such multipoint methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: System and method for differentiating tissue margins in a biological sample using pulsed laser excitation and time-gated detection. A region containing a biological tissue is irradiated with substantially monochromatic pulsed laser light to thereby produce Raman scattered photons. The Raman scattered photons are detected using time-gated detection to thereby obtain a Raman spectroscopic image from the irradiated region characteristic of either a neoplastic portion or a non-neoplastic portion of the region containing the biological tissue. A boundary between a neoplastic portion and a non-neoplastic portion is differentiated and the boundary location in the Raman spectroscopic image is displayed.