Hyperspectral visible absorption imaging of molecular probes and dyes in biomaterials

Abstract

A system and method for obtaining hyperspectral visible absorption images. The system includes a light source which illuminates a sample containing light absorbing material, a platform, an optical lens, a detector. The platform has a section for placement of the sample and a section devoid of sample. The transmitted photons produced by the sample and collected by the optical lens are separated into a plurality of wavelength bands using a filter or a fiber array spectral translator coupled to a spectrometer. The system includes a programmable code for operating in a sample mode or background mode and calculating an absorption image. In the background mode, the platform motion is controlled so the optical lens collects transmitted photons from the, portion of the platform devoid of sample to generate a background transmission image. In the sample mode, the platform motion is controlled so the optical lens collects transmitted photons from the sample to generate a sample transmission image. The sample transmission image and the background transmission image are used to generate a photon absorption image of the sample.