Abstract: The instant disclosure provides for medical imaging systems that may be used in conjunction with an intraoperative medical device, such as an endoscope. Generally, the disclosed medical imaging systems include an illumination source configured to generate illuminating photons for illuminating a biological sample. An optical signal modulator is configured to separate one or more of the illuminating photons and photons that have interacted with the biological sample into a first optical signal having first multi-passband wavelengths and a second optical signal having second multi-passband wavelengths. At least one detector is configured to detect one or more of the first optical signal and the second optical signal and generate at least one image data set. A processor is configured to analyze the at least one image data set. In some embodiments, the processor is configured to differentiate between structures of the biological sample, such as between an ureter and surrounding tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for determining the presence of a target material in a sample. In general terms, the system and method disclosed herein provide collecting interacted photons from a sample having a target material. The interacted photons are passed through a tunable filter to a VIS-NIR detector where the VIS-NIR detector generates a VIS-NIR hyperspectral image representative of the filtered interacted photons. The hyperspectral image of the filtered interacted photons is analyzed by comparing the hyperspectral image of the filtered interacted photons to known hyperspectral images to identify the presence of a target material in a sample. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide easy identification of the presence of a target material in a sample.

Abstract: Medical imaging systems for use in conjunction with an endoscope are described. Generally, the medical imaging system includes an illumination source configured to generate illuminating photons. The illuminating photons are transmitted to one or more filters configured to filter a first plurality of illuminating photons and generate a first plurality of filtered photons comprising a first passband wavelength and a second plurality of filtered photons comprising a second passband wavelength. A sample is then illuminated with the first plurality of filtered photons and the second plurality of filtered photons to generate a first plurality of interacted photons and a second plurality of interacted photons. One or more detectors are configured to detect the first plurality of interacted photons and the second plurality of interacted photons and generate one or more image data sets.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for distinguishing tissue types are described herein. Such devices and systems may use dual polarization, conformal filters to acquire image data from target tissues and a processor to create an image in which the contrast between tissues has been enhanced.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing unknown materials on surfaces including, but not limited to, chemical materials, biological materials, hazardous materials, drug materials, and non-threat materials using SWIR and/or extended range SWIR hyperspectral and spectroscopic techniques. A system comprising a collection optics, a tunable filter, and a first detector for generating a test data set representative of the unknown sample. A second detector, comprising a visible imaging device, may be configured to operate in a scanning mode to locate areas of interest for further interrogation using SWIR. A method comprising generating a SWIR test data set representative of the unknown sample and analyzing the unknown sample to detect, identify and/or distinguish an unknown material as a known material. This analysis may be achieved by comparing the test data set to a reference data set using at least one chemometric technique.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a correction filter that may be configured to comprise a predetermined arrangement of thin film layers. This arrangement of thin film layers may be such that it effectively enables a correction filter to generate a predetermined spectral response, wherein said predetermined spectral response is substantially the same as a determined instrument response correction associated with an instrument. The invention of the present disclosure therefore provides for effectively compensating for transmission inefficiencies associated with an instrument without the need for separate reference measurements to determine and correct for instrument response.

Abstract: A portable system and method for analyzing biological tissue samples and detecting analytes associated with tissue oxygenation using a conformal filter. A conformal filter, which may comprise a tunable filter, is configured to filter interacted photons conforming to a spectral shape correlated with an analyte of interest. Conformal filter configurations may be selected by consulting a modified look-up table associated with an analyte. An iterative methodology may be used to calibrate a conformal design for an analyte of interest, refine a previous conformal filter design for an analyte of interest, and/or generate a new conformal filter design for an analyte of interest.

Abstract: A method for analyzing organ samples using hyperspectral imaging comprising illuminating an organ sample to generate interacted photons, collecting the interacted photons and passing the interacted photons through a tunable filter. The filtered interacted photons are detected to generate a hyperspectral image. A brightfield image is generated and associated with the hyperspectral image. Spectra from locations of interest are extracted and analyzed to assess a characteristic of the organ sample. A system may comprise an illumination source to illuminate an organ sample and generate interacted photons, a collection optics for collecting the interacted photons and a tunable filter to filter the interacted photons. A detector is configured to detect the filtered photons and generate at least one hyperspectral image. The detector may also be configured to generate at least one brightfield image representative of the organ sample.

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 analyzing biological samples, such as dried human blood serum, to determine a disease state such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Using dried samples may hold potential for enhancing localized concentration and/or segmentation of sample components. The method may comprise illuminating at least one location of a biological sample to generate a plurality of interacted photons, collecting the interacted photons and generating at least one Raman data set representative of the biological sample. A system may comprise an illumination source to illuminate at least one location of a biological sample and generate at least one plurality of interacted photons, at least one mirror for directing the interacted photons to a detector. The detector may be configured to generate at least one Raman data set representative of the biological sample. The system and method may utilize a FAST device for multipoint analysis or may be configured to analyze a sample using a line scanning configuration.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting at least one target of interest using at least two conformal filters in a dual polarization configuration. A plurality of interacted photons are collected from a sample comprising at least one analyte of interest. The plurality of interacted photons are separated into at least a first and second optical component. The first optical component is passed through a first conformal filter and the second optical component is passed through a second conformal filter. A Data set corresponding to each filtered optical component is generated and an optical computation is applied to assess at least one characteristic of the analyte.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting explosives and explosive residues. A region of interest is surveyed using a video capture device to thereby identify a target area wherein the target area comprises an unknown material. The target area is interrogated using SWIR spectroscopic methods to form a SWIR hyperspectral image of the target area. The SWIR hyperspectral image is analyzed to thereby identify the unknown material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for analyzing a sample comprising at least one unknown material. A first location may be scanned to generate a SWIR hyperspectral image. The SWIR hyperspectral image may be generated using dual polarization techniques. The SWIR hyperspectral image may be analyzed to target a second location comprising the unknown material. This second location may be further analyzed using Raman spectroscopic techniques and a Raman data set may be generated. The Raman data set may be further analyzed to associate the unknown material with a know material.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting analytes using a conformal filter. A conformal filter, which may comprise a tunable filter, is configured to filter interacted photons conforming to a spectral shape correlated with an analyte of interest. Conformal filter configurations may be selected by consulting a modified look-up table associated with an analyte. An iterative methodology may be used to calibrate a conformal design for an analyte of interest, refine a previous conformal filter design for an analyte of interest, and/or generate a new conformal filter design for an analyte of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting and identifying unknown targets. At least one region of interest comprising an unknown target in a sample scene may be targeted using SWIR spectroscopic techniques. A region of interest may be surveyed to thereby determine whether or not a human is present. This surveying may be achieved my assessing LWIR data, data acquired from motion sensors, and combinations thereof. If no human is present in a region of interest, the region may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopic techniques to thereby obtain a Raman data set representative of the region of interest. This Raman data set may be assessed to thereby identify said unknown target. This assessment may be achieved by comparing the Raman data set to a reference data sets in a reference database, where each reference data set is associated with a known target.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a contaminant in a sample. The contaminant may comprise melamine or a derivative thereof and the sample may comprise a feed material. The method may comprise illuminating a sample to thereby generate a first plurality of interacted photons, collecting the interacted photons, passing the interacted photons through a tunable filter, and detecting the interacted photons to generate a near infrared data set representative of the sample. This near infrared sample may comprise a hyperspectral near infrared image. The method may further comprise fusing said near infrared data set with a Raman data set representative of sample. A system may comprise an illumination source, one or more collection optics, a tunable filter, and a detector configured to generate a near infrared data set. The system may further comprise a second detector configured for generating a Raman data set representative of a sample.

Abstract: A high passband transmission ratio is obtained by splitting a light beam from an objective lens into two orthogonally-polarized components processed along distinct paths through two independently controllable liquid crystal tunable filters (LCTFs). The filtered portions may be combined at an imaging plane or may be separately processed without recombining. Using two LCTFs, the arrangements discussed herein may ideally achieve 100% transmission in a single passband when two orthogonal components of a single wavelength are tuned, or 50% transmission at two distinct passbands when two orthogonal components from two different wavelengths (one component from each wavelength) are tuned. The dual polarization configuration described herein may be used to improve contrast or detected signal intensity in various microscopy and spectroscopic/chemical imaging applications and to increase the speed of detection.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes security screening systems and methods for identifying a suspect material in a sample. In general terms, the system and method disclosed herein provide collection optics configured to collect a first plurality of interacted photons from an illuminated sample and generating a first optical signal. The first optical signal is separated into a plurality of optical components where the plurality of optical components are filtered by a plurality of filters. Each filter of the plurality of filters is configured to filter the plurality of optical components into a passband wavelength to generate a plurality of filtered components. The plurality of filtered components are detected by one or more detectors and one or more wavelength specific spectral images are generated. A processor is configured to analyze the one or more wavelength specific spectral images in order to identify the suspect material in the sample.

Abstract: A first location comprising an unknown material may be scanned using SWIR hyperspectral imaging in a dual polarization configuration. Surveying may also be applied to thereby determine whether or not a human is present. This surveying may be achieved my assessing LWIR data, data acquired from motion sensors, and combinations thereof. If no human is present, a second location may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopic techniques to thereby obtain a Raman data set representative of the region of interest. This Raman data set may be assessed to associate an unknown material with a known material. This assessment may be achieved by comparing the Raman data set to one or more reference data sets in a reference database, where each reference data set is associated with a known material.

Abstract: A VIS-NIR 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.