Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for using a fiber array spectral translator-based (“FAST”) spectroscopic system for performing spectral unmixing of a mixture containing multiple polymorphs. In an embodiment, a first spectrum of a mixture containing polymorphs of a compound is obtained using a photon detector and a fiber array spectral translator having plural fibers. A set of second spectra is provided where each spectrum of the set of second spectra may be representative of a different polymorph of the compound. The first spectrum and the set of second spectra may be compared, and based on the comparison, the presence of one or more polymorphs in the mixture may be determined.

Abstract: A system and method of correlating Raman measurements with digital images of a treated sample to classify the disease state of the sample. A spectroscopic data set is obtained for the sample positioned in the field of view of a spectroscopic device. Information about the field of view is stored. The sample is removed from the field of view and treated. The treated sample is repositioned in the field of view using the stored information. A digital image of the treated sample is obtained and the spectroscopic data set is linked with the digital image. A database is provided having a plurality of spectroscopic data sets. Each data set is linked to a corresponding digital image, and associated with the known sample. Each corresponding digital image is associated with the known treated samples. The database is searched to identify and match a data set of a known sample and the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods for assessing occurrence of a hazardous agent in a sample by performing multimodal spectral analysis of the sample. Methods of employing Raman spectroscopy for entities in a sample which exhibit one or more optical properties characteristic of a hazardous agent are disclosed. Devices and systems suitable for performing such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Spectra data collected from a mixture defines an n-dimensional data space (n is the number of data points), and application of PCA techniques yields a subset of m-eigenvectors that effectively describe all variance in that data space. Bach member of a library of known components is examined based by representing each library spectrum as a vector in the m-dimensional space. Target factor testing techniques yield an angle between this vector and the data space. Those library members that have the smallest angles are considered to be potential mixture members and are ranked accordingly. Every combination of the top y library members is considered as a potential solution and a multivariate least-squares solution is calculated using the mixture spectra for each of the potential solutions. A ranking algorithm is then applied and used to select the combination that is most likely the set of pure components in the mixture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for detecting and classifying an unknown substance in a sample. The method including the steps of (a) providing a spectrum for each of a predetermined number of reference substances; (b) detecting an area of interest on said unknown substance; (c) targeting said area of interest; (d) determining a spectrum from said area of interest; (e) comparing the determined spectrum with the spectrum of one of the reference substances; and (f) classifying said unknown substance based on the comparison of spectra.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for using a fiber array spectral translator-based (“FAST”) spectroscopic system for performing spectral unmixing of a mixture containing multiple polymorphs. In an embodiment, a first spectrum of a mixture containing polymorphs of a compound is obtained using a photon detector and a fiber array spectral translator having plural fibers. A set of second spectra is provided where each spectrum of the set of second spectra may be representative of a different polymorph of the compound. The first spectrum and the set of second spectra may be compared, and based on the comparison, the presence of one or more polymorphs in the mixture may be determined.

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: A system and method of correlating Raman measurements with digital images of a treated sample and using this correlation to classify the disease state of the sample. A spectroscopic data set is obtained for the sample positioned in the field of view of a spectroscopic device. The positional information about the field of view is stored. With the sample removed from the field of view, the sample is treated with a contrast enhancing agent. Using the stored positional information for the field of view, the treated sample is repositioned in the spectroscopic device's field of view. A digital image of the treated sample positioned in the field of view is obtained. The spectroscopic data set is linked with the digital image by defining a transformation to map the image spatial coordinates of the digital image to the spectral spatial coordinates of the spectroscopic data. A database having a plurality of spectroscopic data sets, for samples having well characterized pathology, is provided.

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: 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 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: 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: 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: The present invention is directed generally toward the field of spectral analysis and, more particularly, toward an improved method of identifying unknown components of a mixture from a set of spectra collected from the mixture using a spectral library including potential candidates. For example, the present method is directed to identifying components of a mixture by the steps which comprise obtaining a set of spectral data for the mixture that defines a mixture data space; ranking a plurality of library spectra of known elements according to their angle of projection into the mixture data space; calculating a corrected correlation coefficient for each combination of the top y ranked library spectra; and selecting the combination having the highest corrected correlation coefficient, wherein the known elements of the selected combination are identified as the components of the mixture.

Abstract: Pathogenic microorganisms are detected and classified by spectral imaging of the Raman light scattered by the organisms.

Abstract: Pathogenic microorganisms are detected in a wide field of view and classified by Raman light scattered light from these organisms together with digital pattern recognition of their spectral patterns.

Abstract: A shelf assembly has expandable shelves connected to upright legs that horizontally support the shelves in a locker. A drawer slidably mounted on one shelf for movement between open and closed positions engages a longitudinal rib to maintain the drawer generally horizontal when the drawer is moved to the out position. The drawer when in the closed position can be moved into a nested position in the shelf to facilitate packaging and display in a flat box. The legs having tight fit connections with the corners of the shelf.

Abstract: A shelf assembly has expandable shelves connected to upright legs that horizontally support the shelves in a locker. A drawer slidably mounted on one shelf for movement between open and closed positions engages a longitudinal rib to maintain the drawer generally horizontal when the drawer is moved to the out position. The drawer when in the closed position can be moved into a nested position in the shelf to facilitate packaging and display in a flat box. The legs having tight fit connections with the corners of the shelf.