Abstract: A system and method to search spectra databases and to identify unknown materials. A library having a plurality of sublibraries is provided wherein each sublibrary contains a plurality of reference data sets generated by a corresponding one of a plurality of spectroscopic data generating instruments associated with the sublibrary. Each reference data set characterizes a corresponding known material. A plurality of test data sets is provided that is characteristic of an unknown material, wherein each test data set is generated by one or more of the plurality of spectroscopic data generating instruments. For each test data set, each sublibrary is searched where the sublibrary is associated with the spectroscopic data generating instrument used to generate the test data set.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of dynamic chemical imaging, including methods of cellular imaging. The method comprises illuminating at least a portion of a cell with substantially monochromatic light and assessing Raman-shifted light scattered from the illuminated portion at a plurality of discrete times. The Raman-shifted light can be assessed at a plurality of Raman shift (RS) values at each of the discrete times, and the RS values can be selected to be characteristic of a pre-selected component at each of the discrete times. Multivariate analysis of Raman spectral features of the images thus obtained can yield the location and chemical identity of components in the field of view. This information can be combined or overlaid with other spectral data (e.g., a visible microscopic image) obtained from the field of view.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for automated spectral calibration of a spectroscopy device. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to 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: A system and method to automatically obtain spectra for samples. The method involves a two phase process including a photobleaching phase and a spectral acquisition phase. In the photobleaching phase, a series of spectral data sets of a sample are collected. A relative difference is determined between the background of subsequent spectral data sets is determined and compared to a predetermined threshold value. If threshold difference is less than the relative difference between the background of subsequent spectral data sets, the steps of collecting a series of spectra data sets is automatically repeated. In the spectrum acquisition phase, a series of Raman data sets of the sample are collected until a target SNR is obtained.

Abstract: A method for the detection and identification of pathogenic microorganisms using Raman scattered light and emitted light. The method may include passing the Raman scattered light and emitted light through a FAST fiber array spectral translator.

Abstract: A method for the detection and identification of pathogenic microorganisms using Raman scattered light and transmitted light in the near infrared spectral region. The method may include passing the Raman scattered light and transmitted light through a FAST fiber array spectral translator.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a portable and/or handheld bioagent detector and methodology described herein that is based in part on advanced Raman Chemical Imaging (“RCI”) technology. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the detection system may include a fiber array spectral translator (“FAST”) and may also include a probe which may include a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera. The probe alleviates the need to place the main instrument close to an unconfined release of a potentially hazardous material and facilitates analysis of a sample that is situated in a hard-to-reach location while minimizing contamination of the detector and operator.

Abstract: A device and method is described that uses an ultrasonic nozzle for high efficiency deposition of an analyte. Certain embodiments include a plurality of spray applications over the same spatial location to thereby increase the analyte concentration so as to localize and improve the overall molecular chemical imaging sensitivity and specificity. A spectral analysis of the analyte may be conducted and compared with the spectra of biothreat agents.

Abstract: A set of spectral data is collected from a mixture and corrected to remove instrumental artifacts. The collected mixture spectra define an n-dimensional data space, where n is the number of data points in the spectra. Principal component analysis (PCA) techniques are applied to the n-dimensional data space to generate and select a subset of m eigenvectors that effectively describe all variance in the original data space. The members of a spectral library of known, pure components are examined based on this reduced dimensionality data space using target factor testing techniques. Each library spectrum is represented as a vector in the m-dimensional reduced data space, and target factor testing results in an angle between the library vector and the data space for each spectral library member. Those spectral library members that have the smallest angles with the data space are considered to be potential members, or candidates, of the mixture and are submitted for further testing.

Abstract: An ion implanted semiconductor surface is illuminated with a flood illumination of monochromatic radiation, and an image of the surface is taken using light which has been Raman scattered. The illumination and imaging system are calibrated by flood illuminating a uniformly Raman scattering surface.

Abstract: Raman molecular imaging (RMI) is used to detect mammalian cells of a particular phenotype. For example the disclosure includes the use of RMI to differentiate between normal and diseased cells or tissues, e.g., cancer cells as well as in determining the grade of said cancer cells. In a preferred embodiment benign and malignant lesions of bladder and other tissues can be distinguished, including epithelial tissues such as lung, prostate, kidney, breast, and colon, and non-epithelial tissues, such as bone marrow and brain. Raman scattering data relevant to the disease state of cells or tissue can be combined with visual image data to produce hybrid images which depict both a magnified view of the cellular structures and information relating to the disease state of the individual cells in the field of view. Also, RMI techniques may be combined with visual image data and validated with other detection methods to produce confirm the matter obtained by RMI.

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

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for assessing occurrence of one or more hazardous agents in a sample by performing multipoint spectral analysis of the sample using a portable or hand-held device. 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 method and apparatus for determining the progress of a disease. A pre-determined vector space is determined where the vector space mathematically describes a reference set of wavelength resolved data at a plurality of time intervals. A sample containing at least one cell is irradiated with light. Target data is collected where the target data corresponds to at least one of light emitted from or scattered by the sample and includes a plurality of spatially accurate wavelength resolved measurements of light. The target data is transformed into the pre-determined vector space for each spatially accurate wavelength resolved measurement of light. A distribution of transformed points is analyzed in the plurality of pre-determined vector space. Based on the analysis, a transition of a disease condition of the sample is classified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging biological objects. A SERS surface is provided having enhancing structures uniformly distributed on the surface. The surface includes a two dimensional area of at least 5×105 nm. The enhancing structures may have a size, in at least one dimension of height, width and length, ranging from 100 nm to 1000 nm. A biological material is deposited on the SERS surface. The biological material on the SERS surface is illuminated using a monochromatic light source producing Raman scattered photons. The Raman scattered photons are filtered using a tunable filter into a plurality of predetermined wavelength bands. A two-dimensional array detector detects the filtered Raman scattered photons, in a spatially accurate manner. The results of filtering and detecting steps are combined to produce a plurality of spectrally resolved Raman images of the biological material.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a portable system having a fiber array spectral translator (“FAST”) for obtaining a spatially accurate wavelength-resolved image of a sample having a first and a second spatial dimension that can be used for the detection of hazardous agents by irradiating a sample with light, forming an image of all or part of the sample using Raman shifted light from the sample, and analyzing the Raman shifted light for patterns characteristic of one or more hazardous agents.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a portable system for obtaining a spatially accurate wavelength-resolved image of a sample having a first and a second spatial dimension that can be used for the detection of hazardous agents by irradiating a sample with light, forming an image of all or part of the sample using Raman shifted light from the sample, and analyzing the Raman shifted light for patterns characteristic of one or more hazardous agents.

Abstract: A chemical imaging system is provided which uses a near infrared radiation microscope. The system includes an illumination source which illuminates an area of a sample using light in the near infrared radiation wavelength and light in the visible wavelength. A multitude of spatially resolved spectra of transmitted, reflected, emitted or scattered near infrared wavelength radiation light from the illuminated area of the sample is collected and a collimated beam is produced therefrom. A near infrared imaging spectrometer is provided for selecting a near infrared radiation image of the collimated beam. The filtered images are collected by a detector for further processing. The visible wavelength light from the illuminated area of the sample is simultaneously detected providing for the simultaneous visible and near infrared chemical imaging analysis of the sample. Two efficient means for performing three dimensional near infrared chemical imaging microscopy are provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to identifying one or more regions of interest within a broader field of view of a dynamic sample using one or more optical components and illuminating photons. Once the region of interest is identified within a section of the broader field of view, chemical information in the form of Raman spectrum is obtained from the region of interest by focusing the illuminating photons or the optical components on the region of interest.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a multimode imaging apparatus for simultaneously obtaining multiple wavelength-discriminative spectral images of a sample.