One aspect of the invention relates to a method for intraoperative assessment of parathyroid gland viability in a surgery. The method includes diffusing a beam of light onto a tissue surface of a parathyroid gland of a patient to illuminate the tissue surface; acquiring images of the illuminated tissue surface, where each of the acquired images includes a speckle pattern; and processing the acquired images to obtain speckle contrast images for the intraoperative assessment of parathyroid gland viability.

Incoherent millimeter wave, sub-millimeter wave and terahertz test signals are used to probe metal substrates covered by a protective coating or outer layer, such as paint or thermal insulation, obscuring direct assessment of the substrate. The incoherent test signals, provide signal dispersion and angular variation of the test signals with respect to angular incidence to the substrate. Illumination of the substrate permits differentiation between un-corroded and corroded sections of the sample because reflectivity (and emissivity) from a metal-based substrate is heavily dependent on the surface resistivity which is dependent on the corroded state. A detector/camera is arranged to pick up reflections from the substrate and an associated control system identifies regions of the sample that reflect the test signal illumination differently or otherwise indicate a variation from a reference value. The differences therefore signify the presence or lack of corrosion or other abnormalities within or on the substrate.

Provided herein is an apparatus, including an optical characterization device; a photon detector array configured to sequentially receive a first set of photons scattered from surface features of an article and a second set of photons scattered from surface features of the article and subsequently processed by the optical characterization device; and a chemical characterization means for chemically characterizing the surface features of the article, wherein the chemical characterization means is configured for processing the first set of photons received by the photon detector array and the second set of photons received by the photon detector array.

Hyperspectral dermoscopy images obtained in N wavelengths in the 350 nm to 950 nm range with a hyperspectral imaging camera are processed to obtain imaging biomarkers having a spectral dependence. Machine learning is applied to the imaging biomarkers to generate a diagnostic classification.

A system and method for characterization of patterns marked on a fabric. The system includes a light source generating a light beam to impinge on a fabric; an optical arrangement including a parabolic mirror with a hole and an optical device, directing said light beam towards the fabric; a wavelength division unit; a light detection unit; and a computing device. The optical device changes and orients the direction of the light beam towards the fabric providing a scan of an area of the fabric, line-by-line, and redirects scattered light towards the light detection unit. The wavelength division unit separates the scattered light into spectral bands or colors and the computing device characterizes a pattern marked on the fabric by executing an algorithm that analyzes electrical voltage signals and that computes a quality measure of said marked pattern.

Systems and procedures for implementing radiometric calibration are disclosed. In some embodiments a radiometry system includes a light source that generates light. The radiometry system further includes a transmissive diffuser configured to receive the light and comprising a first translucent element having a surface and/or internal diffusion structure that substantially scatters the light. An optical detector is configured to receive and detect diffused light from the transmissive diffuser.

A system and method for characterization of patterns marked on a fabric. The system includes a light source generating a light beam to impinge on a fabric; an optical arrangement including a parabolic mirror with a hole and an optical device, directing said light beam towards the fabric; a wavelength division unit; a light detection unit; and a computing device. The optical device changes and orients the direction of the light beam towards the fabric providing a scan of an area of the fabric, line-by-line, and redirects scattered light towards the light detection unit. The wavelength division unit separates the scattered light into spectral bands or colors and the computing device characterizes a pattern marked on the fabric by executing an algorithm that analyzes electrical voltage signals and that computes a quality measure of said marked pattern.

A method of detecting porosity at and near a composite surface is disclosed, including projecting polarized light on a surface of a composite component and filtering out light reflected off of the surface. The method further includes imaging light scattered from inhomogeneities in the composite component, and generating a map of absence of composite material near the composite surface based on scatter intensity detected in the imaging step.

A sheet distinction device includes a measurer, a housing, a shutter, a calibration plate, and a controller. The measurer emits light to a sheet, receives light reflected from the sheet, and acquires detection information for determining physical properties of the sheet. The housing houses the measurer and is provided with an opening through which the emitted light and the reflected light pass. The shutter switches between a closed state in which the opening is closed and an open state in which the opening is open. The calibration plate is provided on a surface of the shutter which is on an inner side in the closed state. In the closed state, the measurer emits light to a calibration plate and receives reflected light to acquire acquisition information. The controller calibrates the measurer based on the acquisition information.

Cure monitoring systems for and methods of monitoring polymerizable material to determine the degree of curing of the polymerizable material. A monitoring light source delivers visible monitoring light at one or more different visible wavelengths and a visible light detector detects the monitoring light diffusely reflected by the polymerizable material. The monitoring light has a wavelength of maximum emission (max-mon) that does not effectively induce polymerization of the polymerizable material. Change in intensity of the monitoring light reflected from the polymerizable material is used to determine when a selected degree of curing is reached in the polymerizable material.