Computational refocusing in phase-unstable polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Ophthalmic Imaging
• Optical Coherence Tomography

Background:

• Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) provides valuable microstructural and birefringence information.
• Phase instability in fiber-based PS-OCT systems limits spatial resolution and depth-of-field.
• Accurate polarimetric parameter calculation is crucial for tissue characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce computational refocusing for PS-OCT to enhance spatial resolution and extend the depth-of-field.
• To adapt aberration correction techniques for phase-unstable PS-OCT systems.
• To improve image quality in anterior segment tissue polarimetry.

Main Methods:

• Computational refocusing was implemented in a Stokes-based PS-OCT system.
• The short A-line range phase-stability adaptive optics (SHARP) technique was adapted for aberration correction.
• Spectral binning was used to mitigate chromatic polarization effects.

Main Results:

• Computational refocusing significantly improved spatial resolution in polarimetric parameters.
• The technique extended the effective depth-of-field in the phase-unstable PS-OCT system.
• Enhanced image quality was demonstrated in ex vivo swine eye anterior segment tissue polarimetry.

Conclusions:

• Computational refocusing is an effective method to overcome limitations in fiber-based PS-OCT.
• The adapted SHARP technique combined with spectral binning improves PS-OCT image quality.
• This approach holds potential for advanced anterior segment imaging and polarimetry.