University of Houston

Spectral imaging systems have long been used in the fields of astronomy and remote sensing. More recently, such systems have been coupled to microscopes for use in medical imaging applications such as karyotyping of hybridization experiments and general cell visualization. Spectral imaging allows for the measurement of the wavelength spectrum (transmitted or emitted) at every pixel of a two-dimensional image, thereby, combining the features of spectroscopy and imaging to provide new insights into specimen structure and composition, allowing the spatial detection of subtle spectral changes. In this thesis, we describe a spectral imaging system and its calibration for measuring the absorption of light at different wavelengths on a microscope under transmitted illumination. We report on the ability of this system and calibration method to accurately measure spectra of optical filters and biological samples and describe techniques and methods for visualizing this high-dimensional data.