Polarization-Sensitive Module for Optical Coherence Tomography Instruments

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Imaging Technology
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) quantifies tissue birefringence by analyzing backscattered light polarization.
• Conventional PS-OCT systems require specialized hardware, limiting their widespread adoption in research and clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a modular PS-OCT framework compatible with standard spectral-domain OCT platforms.
• To enable quantitative birefringence imaging with minimal hardware modifications for broader accessibility.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a detachable rotating achromatic half-wave plate into the sample arm of a commercial OCT system.
• Acquisition of multiple measurements at different waveplate orientations to reconstruct the sample's round-trip Jones matrix.
• Implementation of a retarder-constrained phase optimization strategy to correct for phase variations between measurements.

Main Results:

• Successful validation of the PS-OCT framework using birefringent phantoms and in vivo human retina imaging.
• Reliable reconstruction of key polarization properties, including retardance and optic axis orientation.
• Demonstration of compatibility with mainstream OCT systems, requiring only minor hardware adjustments.

Conclusions:

• The developed modular PS-OCT framework significantly lowers technical barriers for implementing advanced birefringence imaging.
• This approach facilitates the rapid and widespread deployment of PS-OCT across diverse biomedical research and clinical applications.
• The system's adaptability promotes broader utilization of PS-OCT for enhanced diagnostic capabilities.