Birefringence characterization of biological tissue by use of optical coherence tomography

Everett, Matthew J.; Schoenenberger, Klaus; Colston, Bill W.; Silva, L. B. Da

doi:10.1364/ol.23.000228

Cited by 266 publications

(156 citation statements)

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“…In general, the polarization property of biological tissue is very complicated and cannot be assumed to be linearly birefringent with a fixed fast axis. 4,5 As is known in polarimetry, Stokes vectors and Mueller matrices 7 provide complete representations of polarization properties of light and optical samples, respectively. In this Letter we describe a novel polarization-sensitive OCT system for measuring the full 4 3 4 Mueller matrix of biological tissue with both depth and lateral resolution.…”

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confidence: 99%

Two-dimensional depth-resolved Mueller matrix characterization of biological tissue by optical coherence tomography

1999

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We built a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomographic system and measured the two-dimensional depth-resolved full 4 3 4 Mueller matrix of biological tissue for what is believed to be the f irst time. The Mueller matrix measurements, which we made by varying the polarization states of the light source and the detector, yielded a complete characterization of the polarization property of the tissue sample. The initial experimental results indicated that this new approach reveals some tissue structures that are not perceptible in standard optical coherence tomography. © 1999 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 120.2130, 170.4500, 260.5430, 290.7050. Optical coherence tomography 1 (OCT) is a noninvasive noncontact imaging technique that can provide high-resolution cross-sectional images of biological tissues. High spatial resolution ͑,2 mm͒ and high scanning speed (video rate) have been achieved over the past few years. 2,3Recently, polarizationsensitive measurements with OCT have received much attention. 4 -6 Results of these studies revealed the importance of polarization as a contrast mechanism. In general, the polarization property of biological tissue is very complicated and cannot be assumed to be linearly birefringent with a fixed fast axis. 4,5 As is known in polarimetry, Stokes vectors and Mueller matrices 7 provide complete representations of polarization properties of light and optical samples, respectively. In this Letter we describe a novel polarization-sensitive OCT system for measuring the full 4 3 4 Mueller matrix of biological tissue with both depth and lateral resolution.The Stokes vector S of a light beam is based on six f lux measurements with different analyzers in front of the detector: ± ͒ linear polarizer, a right-circular analyzer, and a left-circular analyzer in front of the detector, respectively. The superscript T transposes the row vector into a column vector. Because of the relationships H 1 V P 1 M R 1 L, a Stokes vector can be determined by four independent measurements. The Mueller matrix of a sample transforms an incident Stokes vector into the corresponding output Stokes vector. In other words, the Mueller matrix fully characterizes the polarization property of the sample. In the experiment, the Mueller matrix is obtained by measurements with different combinations of polarizers and analyzers. A total of at least 16 intensity measurements are required for a full Mueller matrix.In an OCT system, the interference signal generated by the light beams from the reference arm and the sample arm iswhere E s denotes the sample electric field; E r, A denotes the reference electric field with a polarization state of A; l s and l r are the optical path lengths of the sample arm and the reference arm, respectively; I s, A denotes the light intensity of the sample arm projected onto the polarization state of A; I r, A denotes the light intensity of the reference arm with the polarization state of A; V is the temporal coherence function of the field; Dl represents the path-leng...

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confidence: 99%

Two-dimensional depth-resolved Mueller matrix characterization of biological tissue by optical coherence tomography

1999

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“…Birefringence, an optical property that results from structure and composition of a substance or an object, can be used to identify structural orders in both biologic [1][2][3][4][5] and non-biologic materials [6][7]. In particular, measurement of the birefringence of biological materials has the potential to provide information on dynamic changes in the tissue structure [4] and to eliminate the signal degradation and artifacts commonly encountered when using optical imaging modalities [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, measurement of the birefringence of biological materials has the potential to provide information on dynamic changes in the tissue structure [4] and to eliminate the signal degradation and artifacts commonly encountered when using optical imaging modalities [2]. In the past decade the interest in studying the propagation of polarized light in birefringent media has significantly increased [8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the past decade the interest in studying the propagation of polarized light in birefringent media has significantly increased [8][9]. Polarization-based theoretical methods, such as timeresolved [10] and Mie theory-based [11] Monte Carlo algorithms, and experimental techniques, such as polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) [1][2][3][4] and cross-polarized confocal laser scanning microscopy (CPCLSM) [12][13] have advanced the understanding of birefringence in biological tissues. These theoretical and experimental tools were used to characterize a change in polarization of light due to birefringent properties of biological tissues.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jacques et al demonstrated that the image based on polarization ratio of two images acquired through an analyzing linear polarizer oriented parallel and perpendicular to the polarization of illumination can emphasize the imaging of superficial skin structures [14]. Examples of applications of polarization-based methods include burn depth estimation [4], early detection of carious lesions, evaluation of the efficacy of laser therapy [1], and elimination of artifacts found in conventional OCT images [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contrast improvement in scattered light confocal imaging of skin birefringent structures by depolarization detection

Varghese

Verhagen

Tai

et al. 2011

Journal of Biophotonics

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Journal of BIOPHOTONICSHere we describe a method for enhancing the contrast in imaging skin birefringent structures. The method relies on polarization-dependent optical properties and is implemented using cross polarized confocal microscopy. The experimental data obtained using ex-vivo and invivo measurements on human scalp hairs and human skin demonstrate a significant dependence of the change in polarization of light that interacted with the birefringent hair on the orientation of the incident polarization. The polarization dependent contrast, defined as the ratio of intensity measured for different orientations of the incident polarization when observed using cross polarized confocal microscopy furthermore depends on the hair type/degree of pigmentation and on the focusing depth inside the hair. No such dependence was observed for the upper skin layers, including the stratum corneum and epidermis. We propose a new method for enhancing the contrast between the skin and the birefringent hair by the use of cross polarized confocal microscopy combined with the variation of the polarization of the incoming light. Potential applications of this method include imaging of hairs for assessing the efficacy of hair removal methods and measurement of skin birefringence. The underestimation of the birefringence content resulting from the orientation related effects associated with the use of linearly polarized light for imaging tissues containing wavy birefringent structures could be minimized by this method.CPCLSM images obtained in-vivo with the direction of incident polarization at different angles to the orientation of the hair axis.

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Optical Coherence Tomography

Fercher¹

2000

Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry

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Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a technique with which to peer inside a body noninvasively. Tissue structure defined by tissue absorption and scattering coefficients, and the speed of blood flow, are derived from the characteristics of light remitted by the body. Singly backscattered light detected by partial coherence interferometry (PCI) is used to synthesize the tomographic image coded in false colors. A prerequisite of this technique is a low time‐coherent but high space‐coherent light source, usually a superluminescent diode or a multimode semiconductor laser. This limits the wavelengths to the red and near‐infrared (NIR) region from about 600 nm to 1300 nm, the so‐called therapeutic window, where absorption (μ a ≈ 0.01 mm −1 ) is small enough. Transverse resolution in OCT is diffraction limited, as in conventional imaging; depth resolution is limited by the coherence length of the light. Both figures are of the order of micrometers. Velocity resolution is of the order of 0.1 mm s −1 . A few instruments are commercially available. At present, OCT is mainly used in the medical field, in particular in ophthalmology. Owing to the high transmissivity of ocular media, the depth penetration is considerable. Corresponding applications in dermatology are somewhat hindered by the strong scattering of epidermic tissue (μ s ≈ 10 2 mm −1 ). As OCT provides images with a resolution comparable to conventional histology, but in real time, it can be used as a biopsy technique in a wide range of biological systems to detect diseases. These include the tomographic imaging of the internal microstructure of in vitro atherosclerotic plaques, the tomographic real‐time diagnostics for intraoperative monitoring, and in microsurgical intervention. Optical biopsy based on OCT also provides diagnostic information by differentiating the architectural morphology of urological tissue, gastrointestinal tissue, and respiratory tissue.

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Birefringence characterization of biological tissue by use of optical coherence tomography

Cited by 266 publications

References 8 publications

Two-dimensional depth-resolved Mueller matrix characterization of biological tissue by optical coherence tomography

Two-dimensional depth-resolved Mueller matrix characterization of biological tissue by optical coherence tomography

Contrast improvement in scattered light confocal imaging of skin birefringent structures by depolarization detection

Optical Coherence Tomography

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