Polarization response measurement and simulation of rigid endoscopes

Polarized light can reveal diagnostic information about tissue morphology. To promote easy adoption of polarization imaging techniques in the clinic it would be beneficial if they can be used with standard medical imaging instruments such as rigid endoscopes. We have characterized the polarization properties of two commercial laparoscopes and observed birefringence effects that complicate polarization imaging. Possible solutions are discussed that may be of interest to other tissue polarization imaging researchers.