Polarization Maintaining Fiber-Based Depth Encoded Cross-Polarized Optical Coherence Tomography

Romodina MN, Blessing K, Singh K (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

IEEE Access Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Book Volume: 10

Pages Range: 132685-132691

DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3229974

Abstract

Cross-polarized optical coherence tomography offers improved imaging contrast of birefringent tissue, such as collagen organization, compared to conventional optical coherence tomography systems. Therefore, it is a promising diagnostic tool for fibrosis and cancer. Existing cross-polarized optical coherence tomography systems require free-space polarization-controlling elements, which makes these systems bulky. In this work, we present a polarization-maintaining fiber-based minimalistic system for cross-polarization optical coherence tomography suitable for endoscopic applications. A long section of a polarization maintaining fiber is placed in the sample arm and acts as a delay line due to a large group-delay difference for two orthogonally polarized modes of the fiber. Co- and cross-polarized images appear at different depth positions within the image, providing a contrast enhancement due to visualization of the change of the light's polarization state in tissue. We demonstrate system designs for both benchtop and hand-held configurations. The images of a mouse's esophagus ex-vivo and the nailbed of a human volunteer are presented and reveal changes in the light's polarization state due to the presence of collagen in the tissue. The proposed all-fiber-based cross-polarized optical coherence tomography system has a high potential for endoscopy and can be translated to clinical applications.

Authors with CRIS profile

Katharina Blessing Physics Underlying Life Science

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für die Physik des Lichts (MPL) / Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Romodina, M.N., Blessing, K., & Singh, K. (2022). Polarization Maintaining Fiber-Based Depth Encoded Cross-Polarized Optical Coherence Tomography. IEEE Access, 10, 132685-132691. https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3229974

MLA:

Romodina, Maria N., Katharina Blessing, and Kanwarpal Singh. "Polarization Maintaining Fiber-Based Depth Encoded Cross-Polarized Optical Coherence Tomography." IEEE Access 10 (2022): 132685-132691.

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