Novel system for measuring giant spectral images and its application for cancer detection

Abstract

Spectral imaging is an important method that is used for a whole spectrum of applications, but measuring very large spectral images is a challenge that so far was not achieved. We present a novel system for scanning very large spectral images of microscopy samples in a rather short time. The system captures the information while the sample is continuously being scanned on the fly. It therefore breaks the size and speed limits that resulted from existing spectral imaging methods. The spectral separation is achieved through Fourier spectroscopy by using an interferometer mounted along the optical axis (no moving parts). We describe the system and its use for pathological samples.