Daylight Solutions Inc of San Diego,CA,USA,which makes molecular detection,spectroscopic imaging and high-power illumination systems based on quantum cascade lasers(QCLs),has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR)grant from the National Science Foundation(NSF).The firm will use the grant to advance and commercialize its infrared microscope platform.
Under NSF Phase I SBIR funding,Daylight developed a new approach to infrared microscopy based on its system level expertise in mid-IR imaging and its patented technology in broadly tunable,external-cavity,quantum cascade lasers(QCLs).The integration of a high power,tunable infrared laser illumination source enables full-frame spectroscopy and chemical imaging applications with data acquisition times up to 50 times faster than traditional infrared approaches,such as Fourier Transform Infrared(FTIR)microscopy,says the firm.The benchtop microscope allows users to generate full infrared spectra at every pixel in an image,enabling chemical and molecular identification of samples in addition to traditional visual inspection.Its integrated software suite provides features that allow for flexible data acquisition,hyperspectral imaging,data visualization and archiving,and spectral database matching for sample identification.
NSF Phase II SBIR funding will be used for the development of a commercial prototype and to prepare for production.
"Daylight's QCL-based infrared microscope is a true game-changer in the chemical imaging space,"says company president and COO,Paul Larson."This innovative approach will enable exciting new research and commercial capabilities in medical diagnostics,forensics,food safety,and many other market sectors."
