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: A method for detecting unknown materials, such as drugs. A first location is surveyed using a video capture device to identify a second location comprising an unknown material. The second location is interrogated using SWIR spectroscopic and/or imaging methods to generate a SWIR hyperspectral image. The SWIR hyperspectral image is analyzed to associate the unknown material with a known drug material. A system for detecting unknown materials, such as drugs comprising a first collection lens for collecting interacted photons from a first location and a visible imaging device for generating a visible image. A second collection lens may collect a plurality of interacted photons from a second location and a tunable filter may filter the interacted photons. A spectroscopic imaging device may detect the interacted photons and generate a SWIR hyperspectral image. A processor may analyze the SWIR hypespectral image to associate an unknown material with a known material.

Abstract: A portable system and method for detecting drug materials. A portable system may comprise at least one collection lens for collecting a plurality of interacted photons, a tunable filter for filtering the photons, and a SWIR detector for generating at least one SWIR data set representative of a first location comprising an unknown sample. A processor may analyze the SWIR data set to associate the unknown material with a known drug material. A method may comprise collecting a plurality of interacted photons, filtering the interacted photons into a plurality of wavelength bands, detecting the filtered photons to generate a SWIR data set and analyzing the SWIR data set to associate an unknown material with a known drug material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a portable device for detecting the presence of explosive materials, including bulk explosive materials and out-gassed by products of explosive materials. The portable device may comprise a tunable filter and a NIR detector, configured so as to generate a NIR hyperspectral image representative of a target. The portable device may also comprise a RGB detector configured to generate a video image of a region of interest. The disclosure also provides for a method of detecting explosive materials using NIR hyperspectral imaging which may comprise collecting interacted photons, passing the interacted photons through a tunable filter, and detecting the interacted photons to generate a NIR hyperspectral image representative of a target. The method may also comprise surveying a region of interest using a RGB detector to identify a target for further inspection using NIR hyperspectral imaging.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection and identification of explosives and explosive residues using a combination of SWIR, Raman, and LIBS spectroscopy techniques, including imaging. A region of interest may be surveyed to identify a target area, wherein the target area comprises at least one unknown material. This surveying may be accomplished using visible imagery or SWIR imagery. The target area may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopy and LIBS spectroscopy to identify the unknown material. SWIR techniques may also be used to interrogate the target area. Fusion algorithms may also be applied to visible images, SWIR data sets, Raman data sets, and/or LIBS data sets.

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 generating an image of a sample that is informative of the disease state of a cell in the sample. A sample including the cell is irradiated with monochromatic light. The Raman scattered light is assessed. A digital brightfield image of the Raman scattered light is generated and combined with the Raman scattered light emitted by the cell whereby the Raman scattered light is informative of the disease state of the cell in the sample. The method can also be used to determine the metabolic activity of the cell, the inflammatory status of the cell and/or the infected status of the cell in the sample.

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 system and method for providing an instrument response correction. A sample is illuminated to generate a first plurality and a second plurality of interacted photons. The first plurality of interacted photons may be detected by a dispersive spectrometer to generate a reference spectrum representative of the sample. The second plurality of interacted photons may be passed through a tunable filter and detected using an imaging detector to generate at least one hyperspectral image. This hyperspectral image may comprise a Raman hyperspectral image or an infrared hyperspectral image. A system may comprise an illumination source, a collection optics, a dispersive spectrometer, a fiber optic, a tunable filter, and an imaging detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for assessing one or more components of a selected tissue in an animal. The present invention permits non-invasive assessment of tissue components in a body structure containing multiple tissue types by assessing multiple regions of the animal's body for an optical characteristic of the tissue of interest and separately assessing one or more optical (e.g., Raman or NIR) characteristics of the tissue component for one or more regions that exhibit the optical characteristic of the tissue of interest.

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 for determining at least one geometric property of a particle in a sample. A sample is irradiated to thereby generate Raman scattered photons. These photons are collected to generate a Raman chemical image. A first threshold is applied wherein the first threshold is such that all particles in the sample are detected. A particle in the sample is selected and a second threshold is applied so that at least one geometric property of the selected particle can be determined. At least one spectrum representative of the selected particle is analyzed to determine whether or not it is a particle of interest. The step of determining a second threshold may be iterative and automated via software so that candidate second thresholds are applied until a satisfactory result is achieved.

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 hyperspectral 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 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 he 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 unknown materials. A test data set, which may comprise a hyperspectral data set, is generated representative of a first location. The test data set may be analyzed to determine a second location which may be interrogated using a Raman spectroscopic device to generate a Raman data set. The Raman data set may be analyzed to associated an unknown material with a known material such as: a chemical material, a biological material, an explosive material, a hazardous material, a drug material, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated spectral calibration of a spectroscopy device. A method for simultaneous calibration and spectral imaging of a sample by: simultaneously illuminating the sample and a calibrant with a plurality of illuminating photons; receiving, at the spectrometer, a first plurality of photons collected from the sample and a second plurality of photons collected from the calibrant; forming a calibrant spectrum from the first plurality of collected photons and a sample spectrum from the second plurality of collected photons; comparing the calibrant spectrum with a reference spectrum of the calibrant to determine a wavelength-shift in the calibrant spectrum; applying the wavelength-shift to the sample spectrum to obtain a calibrated sample spectrum.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting unknown materials. A test data set, which may comprise a hyperspectral data set, is generated representative of a first location. The test data set may be analyzed to determine a second location which may be interrogated using a Raman spectrocscopic device to generate a Raman data set. The Raman data set may be analyzed to associated an unknown material with a known material such as: a chemical material, a biological material, an explosive material, a hazardous material, a drug material, and combinations thereof.

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 system and method of determining an attribute of a biological tissue sample or a drug delivery device. A sample is illuminated with substantially monochromatic light to thereby generate Raman scattered photons. The Raman scattered photons are assessed to thereby generate a spectroscopic data set wherein said spectroscopic data set comprises at least one of: a Raman spectra and a spatially accurate wavelength resolved image. The spectroscopic data set is evaluated to determine at least one of: an attribute of a biological tissue sample and a drug delivery device. In one embodiment, the biological tissue comprises arterial tissue. In another embodiment, the drug delivery device is a drug-eluting stent. In another embodiment, Raman chemical imaging can be used to evaluate a sample and identify at least one of: the tissue, a drug, a drug delivery device, and a matrix associated with a drug delivery device.

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.