The Infotech Unit at TECNALIA has recently acquired a hyperspectral scanner from the Finnish SPECIM company, the first of its kind in Spain and which will enable the study in depth of applications that require the analysis of images with wavelengths that are not visible.
This scanner, known as SisuCHEMA, is a work station that integrates all the elements required for acquiring an image of a sample in a spectral range of 900 to 2500nm, known as SWIR (short-wavelength infrared).
This station will complement the hyperspectral image analysis software developed by Tecnalia-Infotech that enables the evaluation of the viability of the technology in various applications.
This powerful technology is not limited to laboratory applications but, after assessing its viability, it is also possible to integrate it into continuous process lines.
This type of equipment has a wide range of applications, such as quality control in chemistry/pharmacy, analysis in biology/biochemistry, diagnosis in biomedical sciences, quality control in food and forensic areas or toxicology, amongst others.
Amongst the applications for the agricultural food sector is the quality control of the ripeness of fruit. The analysis, for example, of fruit using various wavelengths, enables obtaining data for the firmness of the fruit, their soluble solids and the amount of sugar contained, as well as the density and structural characteristics thereof. It will also help in the detection of pathogens in meat or detect the tenderness of meat as a function of its muscle profile.
In the medical sector, this innovative equipment will be of great use for the detection of cancer cells, enabling doctors to better differentiate melanomas and other skin conditions, for example.
In the Construction Sector, the analysis of the chemical properties of cements will be possible, in order to detect the physical properties of the same.