Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100081127 | System and Method of Chemical Imaging Using Pulsed Laser Excitation and Time-Gated Detection to Determine Tissue Margins During Surgery - System and method for differentiating tissue margins in a biological sample using pulsed laser excitation and time-gated detection. A region containing a biological tissue is irradiated with substantially monochromatic pulsed laser light to thereby produce Raman scattered photons. The Raman scattered photons are detected using time-gated detection to thereby obtain a Raman spectroscopic image from the irradiated region characteristic of either a neoplastic portion or a non-neoplastic portion of the region containing the biological tissue. A boundary between a neoplastic portion and a non-neoplastic portion is differentiated and the boundary location in the Raman spectroscopic image is displayed. | 04-01-2010 |
20100213376 | Method and Apparatus for Compact Spectrometer for Multipoint Sampling of an Object - A method and a portable device for assessing the occurrence of an agent in a sample. A sample is illuminated with photons emanating from a portable device to produce photons reflected, emitted, or absorbed from a set of multiple points in the sample having a defined geometric relationship. The portable device is used to simultaneously illuminate the sample and analyze the photons reflected, emitted, or absorbed from the set of multiple points using spectroscopic methods, including infrared, fluorescence, and UV/visible. The agent assessed may include a hazardous agent, a chemical agent, a biological agent, a microorganism, a bacterium, a protozoan, a virus, and combinations thereof. | 08-26-2010 |
20100225899 | Chemical Imaging Explosives (CHIMED) Optical Sensor using SWIR - A sample is illuminated to thereby generate a plurality of first interacted photons selected. The first interacted photons are assessed using a visible imaging device to thereby determine an area of interest in the sample. The area of interest is illuminated to thereby generate a plurality of second interacted photons. The second interacted photons are assessed using a spectroscopic device to thereby generate a SWIR data set representative of said area of interest. A database is searched wherein said database comprises a plurality of known SWIR data sets associated with an explosive material. The data sets comprise at least one of: a plurality of SWIR spectra and a plurality of spatially accurate wavelength resolved SWIR images. An explosive material in the area of interest is thereby identified as a result of the search. | 09-09-2010 |
20100265502 | Spatially and Spectrally Parallelized Fiber Array Spectral Translator System and Method of Use - System and method for spatially and spectrally parallelized FAST. A sample is illuminated to thereby produce interacted photons. The photons are passed through a filter and received at a two-dimensional end of a FAST device wherein said FAST device comprises a two-dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one-dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two-dimensional array of optical fibers into a curvilinear field of view, and wherein said two-dimensional array of optical fibers is configured to receive said photons and transfer said photons out of said fiber array spectral translator device and to a spectrograph through said one-dimensional fiber stack wherein said one-dimensional fiber stack comprises at least two columns of fibers spatially offset in parallel at the entrance slit of said spectrograph. The photons are then detected at a detector to thereby obtain a spectroscopic data set representative of the sample. | 10-21-2010 |
20100271629 | Method and system for combined raman and libs detection - In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for interrogating a sample by: illuminating a first region of the sample with a first illumination pattern to obtain a plurality of first sample photons; illuminating a second region of the sample with a second illumination pattern to obtain a plurality of second sample photons; processing the plurality of first sample photons to obtain a characteristic atomic emission of the first region and processing the plurality of second sample photons to obtain a Raman spectrum; and identifying the sample through at least one of the characteristic atomic emission of the first region or the Raman spectrum of the second region of the sample. | 10-28-2010 |
20100309464 | Raman Chemical Imaging of Threat Agents Using Pulsed Laser Excitation and Time-Gated Detection - The disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting a threat agent. A sample is illuminated to produce photons Raman scattered and emitted by the sample. The Raman scattered photons are collected using time-gated detection without collecting the emitted photons. A Raman spectroscopic data set is generated from said Raman scattered photons wherein said Raman spectroscopic data comprises at least one of a Raman spectrum and a Raman chemical image. The Raman spectroscopic data is assessed to thereby determine the presence or absence of a threat agent in the sample. The sample may be in a target area. The sample may be illuminated using a pulsed laser or an intensity modulated laser. The illumination source may be synchronized with a gating element that enables time-gated detection. | 12-09-2010 |
20110012916 | System and method for component discrimination enhancement based on multispectral addition imaging - A system and method for performing multispectral color addition imaging. An optical image is obtained for a sample scene comprising one or more target materials. Spectroscopic data is obtained for one or more target materials. A first and second waveband of interest are obtained for one or more target materials. A ratio of the first and second wavebands of interest is obtained and compared to one or more ranges of threshold values. Based on this comparison, a result is displayed wherein this result comprises a pseudo color overlay on said optical image. The pseudo color image may comprise one or more pseudo colors assigned to one or more target materials so as to differentiate and identify the target materials present in the sample scene. | 01-20-2011 |
20110080577 | System and Method for Combined Raman, SWIR and LIBS Detection - A system and method for the detection and identification of explosives and explosive residues using a combination of SWIR, Raman, and LIBS spectroscopy techniques, including imaging. A region of interest may be surveyed to identify a target area, wherein the target area comprises at least one unknown material. This surveying may be accomplished using visible imagery or SWIR imagery. The target area may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopy and LIBS spectroscopy to identify the unknown material. SWIR techniques may also be used to interrogate the target area. Fusion algorithms may also be applied to visible images, SWIR data sets, Raman data sets, and/or LIBS data sets. | 04-07-2011 |
20110085164 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED SPECTRAL CALIBRATION - A method and apparatus for automated spectral calibration of a spectroscopy device. 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. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085165 | System and Method for Combined Raman and LIBS Detection - A system and method for detection and identification of unknown samples using a combination of Raman and LIBS detection techniques. A first region of a sample and a second region of a sample are illuminated using structured illumination to thereby generate a first plurality of interacted photons and a second plurality of interacted photons. This first plurality and second plurality of interacted photons may be passed through a fiber array spectral translator device. Said first plurality of interacted photons are assessed using Raman spectroscopy to thereby generate a Raman data set. Said second plurality of interacted photons are assessed using LIBS spectroscopy to thereby generate LIBS data set. These data sets may be analyzed to identify the sample. These data sets may also be fused for further analysis. | 04-14-2011 |
20110089323 | System and methods for explosives detection using SWIR - 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. | 04-21-2011 |
20110242533 | System and Method for Detecting Hazardous Agents Including Explosives - A system and method for MWIR hyperspectral imaging to detect hazardous agents including explosive agents. A system comprising an illumination source, a tunable filter, and an imaging detector configured for MWIR hyperspectral imaging of a target comprising an unknown material. A method comprising illuminating a target comprising an unknown material, passing interacted photons through a tunable filter, and generating a MWIR hyperspectral image of the target. Algorithms and chemometric techniques may be applied to assess the MWIR hyperspectral image to identify the unknown material as comprising an explosive agent or a non-explosive agent. A video imaging device may also be configured to provide a video image of an area of interest, which may be assessed to identify a target for interrogation using MWIR hyperspectral imaging. | 10-06-2011 |
20110261351 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING EXPLOSIVES USING SWIR AND MWIR HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING - A system and method for detection of explosive agents using hyperspectral imaging. A system comprising an illumination source, a spectral encoding device, and at least one imaging detector configured for at least one of SWIR and MWIR hyperspectral imaging of a target comprising an unknown material. A method comprising illuminating a target comprising an unknown material, assessing interacted photons using a spectral encoding device, and detecting interacted photons using at least one of SWIR hyperspectral imaging and MWIR hyperspectral imaging. Algorithms and chemometric techniques may be applied to assess the MWIR hyperspectral image to identify the unknown material as comprising an explosive agent or a non-explosive agent. A video imaging device may also be configured to provide a video image of an area of interest, which may be assessed to identify a target for interrogation using SWIR and MWIR hyperspectral imaging. | 10-27-2011 |
20120038908 | System and Method for Combined Raman and LIBS Detection with Targeting - 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. | 02-16-2012 |
20120062697 | Hyperspectral imaging sensor for tracking moving targets - 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. | 03-15-2012 |
20120062740 | Hyperspectral imaging sensor for tracking moving targets - 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. | 03-15-2012 |
20120062874 | System and Method for Combined Raman and LIBS Detection with Targeting - 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. | 03-15-2012 |
20120133775 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING EXPLOSIVE AGENTS USING SWIR, MWIR, AND LWIR HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING - A system and method for hyperspectral imaging to detect hazardous agents including explosive agents. A system comprising a tunable laser, a collection optics, and one or more hyperspectral imaging detectors configured for hyperspectral imaging of a target comprising an unknown material. A method comprising illuminating a target comprising an unknown material via a tunable laser to thereby generate a plurality of interacted photons. Detecting said interacted photons to generate at least one hyperspectral image representative of the target. One or more hyperspectral images may be obtained including SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR hyperspectral images. Algorithms and chemometric techniques may be applied to assess the hyperspectral images to identify the unknown material as comprising an explosive agent or a non-explosive agent. A video imaging device may also be configured to provide a video image of an area of interest, which may be assessed to identify a target for interrogation using hyperspectral imaging. | 05-31-2012 |
20120145906 | Portable system for detecting explosives and a method of use thereof - 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. | 06-14-2012 |
20120154792 | Portable system for detecting hazardous agents using SWIR and method for use thereof - The disclosure provides for a portable device for detecting hazardous agents, including explosives using SWIR hyperspectral imaging. The device may comprise a collection optics, a SWIR multi-conjugate filter, a SWIR camera, and a display. The device may also comprise an RGB camera. The disclosure also provides for a method of using said portable device wherein interacted photons are collected and passed through a SWIR multi-conjugate filter. The interacted photons are detected to generate at least one SWIR hyperspectral image. The SWIR hyperspectral image may be analyzed to determine the presence or absence of a hazardous agent on a target. An RGB image of a target may also be generated and analyzed to survey a sample scene. | 06-21-2012 |
20130038877 | Dual Polarization with Liquid Crystal Tunable Filters - 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. | 02-14-2013 |
20130082180 | Multipoint Method for Assessing a Biological Sample - 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. | 04-04-2013 |
20130114070 | Targeted Agile Raman System for Detection of Unknown Materials - 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 spectrocscopic 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. | 05-09-2013 |
20130135609 | Targeted Agile Raman System for Detection of Unknown Materials - 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. | 05-30-2013 |
20130214162 | System and Method for Detecting Unknown Materials Using Short Wave Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging - 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. | 08-22-2013 |
20130341509 | Portable system for detecting explosive materials using near infrared hyperspectral imaging and method for using thereof - The present disclosure provides for a portable device for detecting the presence of explosive materials, including bulk explosive materials and out-gassed by products of explosive materials. The portable device may comprise a tunable filter and a NIR detector, configured so as to generate a NIR hyperspectral image representative of a target. The portable device may also comprise a RGB detector configured to generate a video image of a region of interest. The disclosure also provides for a method of detecting explosive materials using NIR hyperspectral imaging which may comprise collecting interacted photons, passing the interacted photons through a tunable filter, and detecting the interacted photons to generate a NIR hyperspectral image representative of a target. The method may also comprise surveying a region of interest using a RGB detector to identify a target for further inspection using NIR hyperspectral imaging. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342683 | System and Method for Detecting Environmental Conditions Using Hyperspectral Imaging - A system and method for detecting environmental conditions using SWIR hyperspectral imaging. A method may comprise collecting a plurality of interacted photons from at least one location and passing the interacted photons through a tunable filter, filtering the interacted photons into a plurality of wavelength bands. These filtered photons may be detected and analyzed to determine the presence or absence of an environmental condition. A system may comprise at least one collection lens configured to collect at least one plurality of interacted photons from at least one location and a tunable filter for filtering the interacted photons into a plurality of wavelength bands. The system may further comprise a detector configured to detect the filtered photons and generate at least one hyperspectral image representative of the location. The system may further comprise a processor for analyzing the hyperspectral data set and determining the presence or absence of an environmental condition. | 12-26-2013 |
20140042322 | Portable System and Method for Detecting Drug Materials - A portable system and method for detecting drug materials. A portable system may comprise at least one collection lens for collecting a plurality of interacted photons, a tunable filter for filtering the photons, and a SWIR detector for generating at least one SWIR data set representative of a first location comprising an unknown sample. A processor may analyze the SWIR data set to associate the unknown material with a known drug material. A method may comprise collecting a plurality of interacted photons, filtering the interacted photons into a plurality of wavelength bands, detecting the filtered photons to generate a SWIR data set and analyzing the SWIR data set to associate an unknown material with a known drug material. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043488 | System and Method for Drug Detection Using SWIR - A method for detecting unknown materials, such as drugs. A first location is surveyed using a video capture device to identify a second location comprising an unknown material. The second location is interrogated using SWIR spectroscopic and/or imaging methods to generate a SWIR hyperspectral image. The SWIR hyperspectral image is analyzed to associate the unknown material with a known drug material. A system for detecting unknown materials, such as drugs comprising a first collection lens for collecting interacted photons from a first location and a visible imaging device for generating a visible image. A second collection lens may collect a plurality of interacted photons from a second location and a tunable filter may filter the interacted photons. A spectroscopic imaging device may detect the interacted photons and generate a SWIR hyperspectral image. A processor may analyze the SWIR hypespectral image to associate an unknown material with a known material. | 02-13-2014 |
20140104607 | SWIR Targeted Agile Raman System for Detection of Unknown Materials Using Dual Polarization - The present disclosure provides for a system and method for analyzing a sample comprising at least one unknown material. A first location may be scanned to generate a SWIR hyperspectral image. The SWIR hyperspectral image may be generated using dual polarization techniques. The SWIR hyperspectral image may be analyzed to target a second location comprising the unknown material. This second location may be further analyzed using Raman spectroscopic techniques and a Raman data set may be generated. The Raman data set may be further analyzed to associate the unknown material with a know material. | 04-17-2014 |
20140118722 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAFER DETECTION OF UNKNOWN MATERIALS USING DUAL POLARIZED HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING AND RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY - A first location comprising an unknown material may be scanned using SWIR hyperspectral imaging in a dual polarization configuration. Surveying may also be applied to thereby determine whether or not a human is present. This surveying may be achieved my assessing LWIR data, data acquired from motion sensors, and combinations thereof. If no human is present, a second location may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopic techniques to thereby obtain a Raman data set representative of the region of interest. This Raman data set may be assessed to associate an unknown material with a known material. This assessment may be achieved by comparing the Raman data set to one or more reference data sets in a reference database, where each reference data set is associated with a known material. | 05-01-2014 |
20140198315 | System and Method for Assessing Analytes Using Conformal Filters and Dual Polarization - 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. | 07-17-2014 |
20140231626 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING TARGET MATERIALS USING A VIS-NIR DETECTOR - 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. | 08-21-2014 |
20140267684 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING CONTAMINATION IN FOOD USING HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING - The present disclosure provides systems and methods for determining the presence of a contaminate in a food sample. Interacted photons from a food sample having a contaminate of interest are collected. The interacted photons are passed through a tunable filter to a hyperspectral detector that generates a hyperspectral image representative of the filtered interacted photons. The hyperspectral image is analyzed by comparing the hyperspectral image obtained from the food sample to known hyperspectral images to identify a contaminate in the food sample. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide an easy and non-destructive tool for identifying contaminates in a food sample. | 09-18-2014 |
20140268104 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAFER DETECTION OF UNKNOWN MATERIALS USING DUAL POLARIZED HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING AND RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY - A first location comprising an unknown material may be scanned using SWIR hyperspectral imaging in a dual polarization configuration. Surveying may also be applied to thereby determine whether or not a human is present. This surveying may be achieved my assessing LWIR data, data acquired from motion sensors, and combinations thereof. If no human is present, a second location may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopic techniques to thereby obtain a Raman data set representative of the region of interest. This Raman data set may be assessed to associate an unknown material with a known material. This assessment may be achieved by comparing the Raman data set to one or more reference data sets in a reference database, where each reference data set is associated with a known material. | 09-18-2014 |
20140300897 | SECURITY SCREENING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present disclosure describes security screening systems and methods for identifying a suspect material in a sample. In general terms, the system and method disclosed herein provide collection optics configured to collect a first plurality of interacted photons from an illuminated sample and generating a first optical signal. The first optical signal is separated into a plurality of optical components where the plurality of optical components are filtered by a plurality of filters. Each filter of the plurality of filters is configured to filter the plurality of optical components into a passband wavelength to generate a plurality of filtered components. The plurality of filtered components are detected by one or more detectors and one or more wavelength specific spectral images are generated. A processor is configured to analyze the one or more wavelength specific spectral images in order to identify the suspect material in the sample. The systems and methods disclosed herein may find particular use in a security setting. | 10-09-2014 |