Abstract: A hybrid spectral imager apparatus has an imaging head arrangement (IHA), a control and processing unit (CPU), and a display. The IHA includes an optical imager, multiband filtering optics (MBFO), and a sensor arrangement. The optical imager collects and focuses an image of a target scene or object along an imaging path. The multiband optics includes a beam divider for generating at least two replica images of the target image, and a multiband filter (MF) interposed into the imaging path and effecting multi-bandpass filtering in the image replicas. The sensor arrangement has at least one Mosaic filter array (MFA) focal plane array (FPA) sensor onto which the multiband filtered image replicas are focused, and a focal plane array masked, in a pixelized manner, with at least three wide-band primary color-type filters, with each primary color-type response separating and capturing one single-band.

Abstract: The invention discloses a Trace Microanalysis Microscope System for high throughput screening. A multimodal imaging sensor arrangement acquires color, multispectral, hyperspectral and multi-directional polarized imaging, independently and in combinations thereof. In one aspect of this disclosure, the multimodal acquisition is combined with a plurality of sample illumination modes, further expanding the dimensionality of the generated data. In another aspect of this invention, machine learning-based methods combining and comparing a- priori data with the acquired multimodal data space, provide unique identifiers for the composition of the analyzed target objects. In yet another aspect of this invention, projection mapping of the identified compositional features navigates secondary sampling for subsequent analyses.

Abstract: A hybrid spectral imager apparatus has an imaging head arrangement (IHA), a control and processing unit (CPU), and a display. The IHA includes an optical imager, multiband filtering optics (MBFO), and a sensor arrangement. The optical imager collects and focuses an image of a target scene or object along an imaging path. The multiband optics includes a beam divider for generating at least two replica images of the target image, and a multiband filter (MF) interposed into the imaging path and effecting multi-bandpass filtering in the image replicas. The sensor arrangement has at least one Mosaic filter array (MFA) focal plane array (FPA) sensor onto which the multiband filtered image replicas are focused, and a focal plane array masked, in a pixelized manner, with at least three wide-band primary color-type filters, with each primary color-type response separating and capturing one single-band.

Abstract: The invention discloses a hybrid and scanning/snapshot spectral imager operating in both staring-spectral scanning and video snapshot spectral imaging modes. Snapshot spectral imaging operation at a set of selectable critical spectral bands comprise the basis for a machine learning-based estimation and video-rate display of a full hyperspectral cube, without compromising spatial resolution. Operating in the staring-type scanning mode, the disclosed hybrid spectral imager acquires sets of narrow band images at a given tuning step and for a plurality of tuning steps until completing a hyperspectral cube sampling. Scanning operation may be used for optimally configuring snapshot operation, such that redundant information present in the collected spectra is discarded. The disclosed hybrid spectral imager includes embodiments susceptible for miniaturization and low power operation, allowing for their integration into mobile phone and computer platforms.

Abstract: The invention discloses a hybrid and scanning/snapshot spectral imager operating in both staring-spectral scanning and video snapshot spectral imaging modes. Snapshot spectral imaging operation at a set of selectable critical spectral bands comprise the basis for a machine learning-based estimation and video-rate display of a full hyperspectral cube, without compromising spatial resolution. Operating in the staring-type scanning mode, the disclosed hybrid spectral imager acquires sets of narrow band images at a given tuning step and for a plurality of tuning steps until completing a hyperspectral cube sampling. Scanning operation may be used for optimally configuring snapshot operation, such that redundant information present in the collected spectra is discarded. The disclosed hybrid spectral imager includes embodiments susceptible for miniaturization and low power operation, allowing for their integration into mobile phone and computer platforms.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum arrangement includes a blade system for opening the vagina having a first blade (1) and a second blade (2) physically separable from one another, and an injection mechanism for dispensing a diagnostic marker onto the surface of the examined tissue having an injection probe (7). The direction of application of the diagnostic marker by the injection probe is not influenced by separation of the first and second blades and thus the injection probe (7) allows for a substantially homogeneous application of the diagnostic marker on a desired area in the examined vaginal or cervical tissue, irrespective of the degree of separation of the blades (1,2). The probe may be a nozzle generating a desirable injection pattern. The probe may be affixed to an extension rod, which may be mechanically coupled with the speculum blades.

Abstract: This invention refers to an imaging method and apparatus capable of performing non-destructive, in situ analysis of art-objects. The invention relays on the comparison of diffuse reflectance and/or fluorescence spectra (intensity vs. wavelength), of painting material models of known composition, with the intensities emitted and captured at the same wavelengths and for any spatial point of the art-object of unknown composition. This composition, performed for any spatial point of the area of interest, improves notably the diagnostic information and enables the analysis of heterogeneous art-objects.

Abstract: This invention refers to an imaging method and apparatus capable of performing non-destructive, in situ analysis of art-objects. The invention relays on the comparison of diffuse reflectance and/or fluorescence spectra (intensity vs. wavelength), of painting material models of known composition, with the intensities emitted and captured at the same wavelengths and for any spatial point of the art-object of unknown composition. This composition, performed for any spatial point of the area of interest, improves notably the diagnostic information and enables the analysis of heterogeneous art-objects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for the in vivo, non-invasive, early detection of alterations and mapping of the grade of these alterations, caused in the biochemical and/or in the functional characteristics of epithelial tissues during the development of tissue atypias, dysplasias, neoplasias and cancers. The method is based, at least in part, on the simultaneous measurement of the spatial, temporal and spectral alterations in the characteristics of the light that is re-emitted from the tissue under examination, as a result of a combined tissue excitation with light and special chemical agents. The topical or systematic administration of these agents result in an evanescent contrast enhancement between normal and abnormal areas of tissue. The apparatus enables the capturing of temporally successive imaging in one or more spectral bands simultaneously.