PARISS® Analytical Hyperspectral Imaging Systems, and Specifications

Figure 1. PARISS on an Olympus BX51	Figure 2. PARISS on a Nikon E800 CI confocal system	Figure 3. PARISS on a Zeiss Axioskop

PARISS hyperspectral/multispectral systems

• Interfaces to all major upright and inverted microscopes as an accessory
• Patented PARISS imaging spectrometer operates in "spectrograph" configuration with no moving parts. All wavelengths are acquired simultaneously
• Uses two Q-Imaging digital cameras one for wavelength measurement on the PARISS spectrometer; the other to capture an observed image of the field of view (FOV). (Note the observed image camera takes no part in the spectral imaging process, it is only there for the convenience of the operator.)
• A computer operated Prior Scientific stage with 10 nm step size
• Hyperspectral/multispectral software package that integrates all spectroscopy, spectral correlation and topographical imaging functions

PARISS: Spectral Imaging System interface

• Interfaces to all major upright and inverted microscopes as an accessory
• Patented PARISS imaging spectrograph
• Uses one Q-Imaging digital cameras for wavelength measurement on the PARISS spectrometer
• All spectroscopic functions including absorption (in OD), reflection, fluorescence, luminescence, color measurement

PARISS Imaging Spectrometer specifications (1)

• Physical size: 230 x 70 x 60 mm
• Supported cameras: Most digital cameras manufactured by Q-Imaging (2)
• Optical geometry patented prism and reflector (3)
• Type: Imaging flat field spectrograph
• Moving parts in the imaging spectrometer none
• Spectral range Nominally 360 to 920 NM limited by the camera (4)
• Spectral resolution 1 NM FWHM at 435 NM with standard QICAM. Spectral resolution can be limited by the size of the pixels in the camera. (5)
• Spectral accuracy <0.3 nm over the range from 365 to 800 nm. Depends on the pixel size of the camera
• Slit width 25 micron for the best compromise for spectral and spatial resolution and light throughput (6)
• Slit height 5 mm
• Spatial resolution ~0.6 micron at the sample with a 25 micron slit-width and 40x objective (7)
• Computer operated stage 10 nm/step over an unlimited FOV. An entire slide can be automatically scanned from end to end

Selected PARISS imaging spectroscopy software functions

• LabVIEW The PARISS software is written entirely in LabVIEW
• Spectral classification Automatic and manual: "unmix" multiple fluorophores.
• Standard spectroscopy functions including absorption (in Optical Density (OD)), %reflection, %transmittance, file subtraction, addition, division, multiplication, CIE color measurement
• Topographical mapping (spectral imaging) the location of any chosen spectrum or set of spectra can be mapped onto a grayscale image of the FOV to a user selected tolerance
• Spectral histograms All selected classified spectra that appear in a spectral image can be represented in ratio format as spectral histograms for statistical representation
• Spatial Regions of Interest (ROI) can be selected and repeatedly scanned over a user selected period of time
• Spectral ROI User selects the wavelength range of interest. PARISS always acquires ALL wavelengths even if few are user selected
• Hardware control The PARISS software operates and synchronizes all functions including both cameras and microscope stage
• File saving Save in ASCII, tif and prs (tif with headers to enable off-line wavelength identification in stored files)
• Calibration A wavelength calibration lamp (MIDL) is supplied with every instrument to verify that the instrument is in optimum alignment, focus and wavelength accuracy.

PARISS data processor key specifications

• Windows XP professional
• >3.4 GHz processor
• 128 MB video card
• Firewire IEEE1394 card
• 1GB Ram

Notes
(1) Specifications and hardware choices may change without notice
(2) LightForm reserves the right to add or remove any camera or manufacturer from its list
(3) Prism assembly is manufactured under a license to US patent 5,127,728 owned by The Aerospace Corporation.
(4) The nominal spectral range from 365 to 920 NM is limited by the QE of the camera and the size of the chip. These specifications can change without notice.
(5) Spectral resolution is limited by the width of the slit, and the size of pixels on the camera. For a tutorial on the Optics of Spectroscopy that goes into the details of spectral resolution and wavelength linearity click here.
(6) Fixed slit widths can be selected prior to purchase. LightForm deliberately made this design choice because adjustable slits makes it difficult, if possible, to maintain spectral libraries.
(7) Actual spatial resolution depends on pixel size and scattering in the sample. Spatial resolution can be approximated by dividing the slit width by the magnification of the objective.