| ChemImage Sensor Systems - VeroVision

General Description
VeroVision is a unique, portable shortwave infrared (SWIR) hyper spectral imaging (HSI) sensor. This sensor is specifically designed to help address the growing need for portable, safe, easy-to-use sensing technology for military, public safety, explosive ordnance disposal, law enforcement and first responder personnel to screen for/detect explosives, precursors, chemical threats and/or illicit drugs. Through advanced widefield multispectral imaging and analysis of light that is invisible to the naked eye, VeroVision can rapidly detect and classify materials of interest. Once a threat has been detected, VeroVision can acquire high-resolution hyperspectral data to identify the material of interest. When new threats are discovered, high-resolution spectral data is collected and automatically analyzed with specialized algorithms to down select the wavelengths to the optimal spectral components required for multispectral detection. The result is then saved to the VeroVision library for future use. The system is tripod mounted and highly portable. VeroVision can operate outdoors using only the sun as the light source. With auxiliary lighting, VeroVision can operate in the nighttime, indoors, or in other low light level conditions.

Technical Description
VeroVision incorporates shortwave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology. HSI combines conventional spectroscopy with digital imaging to provide images where contrast is indicative of the varying amount of absorbance, reflectance, or scatter associated with the materials present in the field of view (FOV). Facilitated by a liquid crystal tunable filter, images are collected as a function of wavelength. The resulting hypercube exhibits fully resolved spectra for each pixel present in the image. These spectra are compared to a library of known threats using various pattern matching algorithms. When an unknown spectrum is consistent with a material of interest, the software indicates a detection through a false color overlay on the SWIR image. For faster analysis, a multispectral dataset can be collected, using a subset of wavelengths from the whole hyperspectral datacube. Oftentimes, the multispectral data combined with advanced detection algorithm image processing provides enough information to make a preliminary detection. Once a detection has been made, high spectral resolution hyperspectral data can be collected for material classification/identification.

Evaluation Criteria

THROUGHPUT:

2 minutes or less for detection
Multiple samples, multiple tests/sample per run
Greater than 750 samples every 2 hours
The system or device is currently semi-automated
Device or system is intended for multiple detection assays
0-1 solutions, buffer, eluents, and/or reagents
0 components
Less than 5 minutes is required for set-up
1-2 steps are required for detection

LOGISTICS:

An afternoon of training and some technical skills required
Approximately the size of a carry-on luggage suitcase
Between 5 and 25 kg
Wireless and wired connections are available
System or device has 110V electrical requirement
2-4 hours battery life

OPERATIONS:

Can be used from 25°C to 37°C
This system does not require consumable components
Performance is not influenced by relative humidity
Greater than 10 years expected life
Results can be viewed in real-time
The system could easily be adapted into a fully autonomous system
The system software is closed and not available for modification
The system hardware is closed and not available for modification

DETECTION:

Possible the system could receive 510K clearance, no current efforts at this time
Possible the system could receive FDA approval, no current efforts at this time
Less than 10 μl
Fair specificity. System has a consistent level of false alarms
(5-10%)
> 1 ppt Not possible for the system to identify aerosolized chemical agent
System currently can identify liquid chemical agent

Tier Selection