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 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: 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 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.