Variables affecting polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography imaging examined through the modeling of...

Characteristics of tissue birefringence provide valuable diagnostic information when optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is performed. We mathematically model single-detector polarization-sensitive (PS) OCT (PS-OCT) for imaging an alternating layered phantom with birefringence. The theoretical analysis and the simulated data all reveal complexities associated with PS-OCT imaging. Various tissue parameters affect the retrieved PS-OCT signal and hence the image features. A better understanding of the mechanisms that control PS-OCT imaging would be useful for interpretation of tissue images and ultimately useful to provide more diagnostic information.