Abstract: A novel approach for chemical imaging is disclosed. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a system for producing a spatially accurate wavelength-resolved image of a sample from photons scattered from the sample, comprising an optical lens; a first optical fiber bundle of M fibers; a second optical fiber bundle of N fibers; an optical fiber switch; and a charge coupled device, wherein the image comprises plural sub-images, and wherein each sub-image is formed from photons scattered from a predetermined two spatial dimension portion of the sample, and wherein the scattered photons forming each sub-image have a predetermined wavelength different from a predetermined wavelength of scattered photons forming the other sub-images, and wherein the scattered photons for each sub-image are collected substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A SWIR hyperspectral imaging filter has serial stages along an optical signal path with angularly distributed birefringent retarders and polarizers. The retarders can include active retarders such as tunable liquid crystal birefringent elements, passive retarders such as fixed retarders, and/or combinations thereof. Distinctly different periodic transmission spectra are provided by different filter stages, each having multiple retarders, in particular with some stages having broad bandpass peaks at wide spectral spacing and other stages have very narrow closely spaced peaks. The respective spectra include at least one tunably selectable band at which the transmission spectra of the filter stages coincide, whereby the salutary narrow bandpass and wide spectral spacing ranges of different stages apply together, resulting in a high finesse wavelength filter suitable for spectral imaging.

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: A system and method for detection of explosive agents using hyperspectral imaging. A system comprising an illumination source, a spectral encoding device, and at least one imaging detector configured for at least one of SWIR and MWIR hyperspectral imaging of a target comprising an unknown material. A method comprising illuminating a target comprising an unknown material, assessing interacted photons using a spectral encoding device, and detecting interacted photons using at least one of SWIR hyperspectral imaging and MWIR hyperspectral imaging. Algorithms and chemometric techniques may be applied to assess the MWIR hyperspectral image 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 SWIR and MWIR hyperspectral imaging.

Abstract: A system and method for MWIR hyperspectral imaging to detect hazardous agents including explosive agents. A system comprising an illumination source, a tunable filter, and an imaging detector configured for MWIR hyperspectral imaging of a target comprising an unknown material. A method comprising illuminating a target comprising an unknown material, passing interacted photons through a tunable filter, and generating a MWIR hyperspectral image of the target. Algorithms and chemometric techniques may be applied to assess the MWIR hyperspectral image 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 MWIR hyperspectral imaging.

Abstract: A method to diagnosis a disease state of an unknown sample. A test Raman data set for an unknown sample is generated. A reference Raman database is provided where the database contains a plurality of reference Raman data sets and a plurality of reference Raman difference data sets. The reference Raman difference data set is generated by determining a difference between a first reference Raman data set and a second reference Raman data set. A first reference Raman data set is associated with first known sample and associated with one or more of: a first known disease state and a first known clinical outcome. A second reference Raman data set is associated with a second known sample and associated with one or more of: a second known disease state and a second known clinical outcome.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an instrument response correction based on transmission efficiency. Test data may be acquired at a first operating point. A look-up table may be searched to determine an instrument response correction. This look-up table may comprise a plurality of instrument response corrections, each instrument response correction corresponding to an intensity response of the sample at an operating point. The instrument response correction may then be applied to correct for environmental factors that may affect transmission efficiency. A system may comprise an illumination source, a collection optics, a tunable filter, a detector, a sensor and a control unit. The detector may detect interacted photons generated by illuminating a sample and generate test data. The sensor may be configured to sense an operating condition and transmit this information to the control unit which is configured to search a look-up table to determine the appropriate instrument response correction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for interrogating a sample by: illuminating a first region of the sample with a first illumination pattern to obtain a plurality of first sample photons; illuminating a second region of the sample with a second illumination pattern to obtain a plurality of second sample photons; processing the plurality of first sample photons to obtain a characteristic atomic emission of the first region and processing the plurality of second sample photons to obtain a Raman spectrum; and identifying the sample through at least one of the characteristic atomic emission of the first region or the Raman spectrum of the second region of the sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method for analyzing treated fingerprints on a document. A sample document is provided. A digital image of the sample document is obtained. The sample document is treated with a reagent and a hyperspectral image of the document is obtained. The hyperspectral image of the document is analyzed to determine a region of interest and a hyperspectal image is obtained of the region of interest. The present disclosure also provides for a system comprising a carrier frame, an imaging station for obtaining a digital image of the sample document, a first processing station for treating the document and a second processing station for developing the treated document, a second imaging station for obtaining a hyperspectral image of at least one of the document and a region of interest of the document, and a robotic subsystem for transporting the document through the system.

Abstract: A system and method for determining at least one of: a disease state, a metabolic state, a clinical outcome, and a disease progression of a test renal or prostate sample. A test Raman data set is obtained from the sample wherein said test Raman data set may comprise at least one of a plurality of Raman spectra and a plurality of spatially accurate wavelength resolved Raman images. The test Raman data set is compared to a plurality of reference Raman data sets using a chemometric technique. For analysis of renal samples, each of these reference Raman data sets may have an associated known renal sample and an associated known metabolic state, clinical outcome, and/or disease progression. For analysis of prostate samples, each of these reference Raman data sets may have an associated known prostate sample and an associated known disease state, metabolic state, clinical outcome, and/or disease progression.

Abstract: System and method for assessing the occurrence of an unknown substance in a sample that comprises multiple entities. A reference library is provided comprising a plurality of reference data sets representative of at least one known substance. A first feature of the entities is assessed wherein the first feature is characteristic of the unknown substance. A region of interest is selected wherein the region of interest comprises at least one entity exhibiting the first feature. A spatially accurate wavelength resolved Raman image is obtained wherein each pixel in the image is the Raman spectrum of the sample at the corresponding location. The spatially accurate wavelength resolved image is assessed to thereby identify the unknown substance.

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 Raman data sets is provided where each reference Raman 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 Raman data set. The test Raman data set is compared to the plurality of reference Raman 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: A method and apparatus of obtaining a spectral image of a plurality of predetermined chemical species. A sample is illuminated to produce photons. These photons are collected to produce a plurality of images for each predetermined chemical species, wherein each image comprises a frame consisting of a plurality of pixels. A wavelength range is identified wherein a chemical species exhibits a unique absorption of radiation. Pixels are identified that do not comprise the chemical species. The steps may be repeated for a plurality of chemical species. If more than one chemical species is present, the contribution of each in a pixel is separated and separate spectral images of each species is composed.

Abstract: A system and method to search spectral databases to identify unknown materials, specifically pathogenic microorganisms. A library is provided, having sublibraries containing reference data sets of known materials and test data sets, both generated by at least one spectroscopic data generating instrument. For each test data set, each sublibrary associated with the instrument used is searched. A set of scores for each searched sublibrary is produced, representing the likelihood of a match between the reference data set and test data set. Relative probability values are calculated for each searched sublibrary. All relative probability values are fused producing a set of final probability values, used in determining whether the unknown material is represented through a known material in the library. The known material represented in the libraries having the highest final probability value is reported, if the highest final probability value is greater than or equal to the minimum confidence value.

Abstract: The spectral method for determining the concentrations of a substance in a mixture of any number of substances is defined by a chemical image having a plurality of pixels (520). The method includes steps of providing a spectrum for each of the n number of substances in the mixture (530), and obtaining the spectrum for one of the plurality of pixels, and calculating a plurality of estimated concentrations of each substance in the mixture as a function of the spectrum for each substance and the spectrum for the pixel, and calculating a deviation value for each of the plurality of estimated concentrations as a function of the spectrum of each of the number of substances in the mixture, and selecting the estimated concentration with the lowest deviation factor as a most likely concentration of each substance in the mixture (550).

Abstract: A system and method for detection and identification of unknown samples using a combination of Raman and LIBS detection techniques. A first region of a sample and a second region of a sample are illuminated using structured illumination to thereby generate a first plurality of interacted photons and a second plurality of interacted photons. This first plurality and second plurality of interacted photons may be passed through a fiber array spectral translator device. Said first plurality of interacted photons are assessed using Raman spectroscopy to thereby generate a Raman data set. Said second plurality of interacted photons are assessed using LIBS spectroscopy to thereby generate LIBS data set. These data sets may be analyzed to identify the sample. These data sets may also be fused for further analysis.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for analyzing questioned documents. A sample document is illuminated to thereby generate a first plurality of interacted photons. The first plurality of interacted photons are detected at a first detector to thereby generate a digital image. The digital image is analyzed to thereby identify at least one region of interest of the sample document. This region of interest is illuminated to thereby generate a second plurality of interacted photons. This second plurality of interacted photons are passed through a tunable filter and detected at a second detector to thereby generate a hyperspectral image representative of the region of interest. The hyperpsectral image may then be analyzed to evaluate changes to or differentiate different inks present in the sample document. Chemometric techniques such as k-means clustering, PCA, and/or PLSDA may also be applied.

Abstract: A system and method for performing multispectral color addition imaging. An optical image is obtained for a sample scene comprising one or more target materials. Spectroscopic data is obtained for one or more target materials. A first and second waveband of interest are obtained for one or more target materials. A ratio of the first and second wavebands of interest is obtained and compared to one or more ranges of threshold values. Based on this comparison, a result is displayed wherein this result comprises a pseudo color overlay on said optical image. The pseudo color image may comprise one or more pseudo colors assigned to one or more target materials so as to differentiate and identify the target materials present in the sample scene.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for enhancing the ability of nuclear, chemical, and biological (“NBC”) sensors, specifically mobile sensors, to detect, analyze, and identify NBC agents on a surface, in an aerosol, in a vapor cloud, or other similar environment. Embodiments include the use of a two-stage approach including targeting and identification of a contaminant. Spectral imaging sensors may be used for both wide-field detection (e.g., for scene classification) and narrow-field identification.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting a threat agent. A sample is illuminated to produce photons Raman scattered and emitted by the sample. The Raman scattered photons are collected using time-gated detection without collecting the emitted photons. A Raman spectroscopic data set is generated from said Raman scattered photons wherein said Raman spectroscopic data comprises at least one of a Raman spectrum and a Raman chemical image. The Raman spectroscopic data is assessed to thereby determine the presence or absence of a threat agent in the sample. The sample may be in a target area. The sample may be illuminated using a pulsed laser or an intensity modulated laser. The illumination source may be synchronized with a gating element that enables time-gated detection.