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 phtons 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: 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 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 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: A system and method for assessing the presence or absence of a pathogenic microorganism in a biological sample. the sample is irradiated to generate interacted photons which are used to generate at least one Raman data set represetnive of the sample. The Raman data set may comprise at least one of: a Raman spectrum and a Raman chemical image. The Raman chemical image may comprise a hyperspectral image. The method may further identify the pathogenic microorganism and associate it with a particular microbiome, such as the digestive system. The method may further associate the sample with a disease state and/or stage.

Abstract: A system and method for multipoint assessment of a biological sample, which may comprise a bodily fluid. The sample is irradiated to generate a plurality of interacted photons. These photons are assessed to evaluate a component of the sample. The component may comprise at least one of: a protein, a flavonoid, a keratinoid, a metabolite, an electrolyte, an enzyme, and combinations thereof. The component may also comprise at least one of: a chemical agent, a biological toxin, a microorganism, a bacterium, a protozoan, a virus, and combinations thereof. The evaluation may comprise determining at least one of: a disease state, a disease stage, a metabolic state, a hydration state, an inflammatory state, and combinations thereof.

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 provides for a system and method for assessing chronic exposure of a biological sample, such as a bodily fluid, to an analyte of interest. A biological sample may be illuminated to thereby generate a one or more pluralities of interacted photons. These interacted photons may be detected to thereby generate one or more spectroscopic data sets representative of a biological sample. Spectroscopic data sets generated may be compared to at least one reference data set. Each reference data set may be associated with a known exposure to a known analyte. The present disclosure contemplates that the system and method disclosed herein may be used to analyze exposure of biological samples to at least one analyte over time. Data sets may be obtained at various time intervals to assess changes in a molecular composition as a result of chronic exposure to an analyte.

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.

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 portable device for detecting explosives and other target materials using SWIR spectroscopic imaging, including hyperspectral imaging. The device may comprise a lens, a tunable filter, and a detector. The device may use solar radiation, or may comprise an illumination source such as a laser, to illuminate at target material and thereby produce interacted photons. The device may utilize multi-conjugate liquid crystal filter technology to filter interacted photons. The disclosure also provides for a method for using the portable device comprising illuminating a target material to produce interacted photons. The interacted photons are used to form a SWIR spectroscopic image, which may be a hyperspectral image. This image is analyzed to thereby identify the target material. This analysis may comprise comparing at least one spectrum or image representative of the target material to a reference spectrum or image. This comparison may be accomplished using a chemometric technique.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting explosives and other materials in a sample scene. First interacted photons are produced from a target area wherein the first interacted photons are generated via solar radiation. The first interacted photons are assessed to thereby generate a SWIR hyperspectral image. The SWIR hyperspectral image is analyzed to identify an area of interest likely of comprising an explosive material. The area of interest is illuminated using laser light illumination to generate second interacted photons from the area of interest. These second interacted photons are assessed to determine whether it not an explosive material is present in the area of interest. The system and method may be configured in standoff, OTM, static and UGV configurations.

Abstract: Systems and method for detecting unknown samples wherein pattern recognition algorithms are applied to a visible image of a first target area comprising a first unknown sample to thereby generate a first set of target data. If comparison of the first set of target data to reference data results in a match, the first unknown is identified and a hyperspectral image of a second target area comprising a second unknown sample is obtained to generate a second set of test data. If comparison of the second set of test data to reference data results in a match, the second unknown sample is identified as a known material. Identification of an unknown through hyperspectral imaging can also trigger the visible camera to obtain an image. In addition, the visible and hyperspectral cameras can be run continuously to simultaneously obtain visible and hyperspectral images.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a diagnosis of a test biological sample. A system comprising a first illumination source to illuminate a sample, a first detector for generating a fluorescence data set of said sample, a means for determining a region of interest, a second illumination source to illuminate said region of interest, a second detector to generate a Raman data set of said region of interest, and a means for determining a diagnosis of said sample. A method comprising illuminating a sample, generating a fluorescence data set of said sample, and assessing the fluorescence data set to identify a region of interest, illuminating a region of interest, and generating Raman data set. This Raman data set may be assessed to determine a diagnosis of the sample. A diagnosis may include a metabolic state, a clinical outcome, a disease progression, a disease state, and combinations thereof.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.