Long-range common-path spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Abstract

Fiber-based common-path spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is compact and polarization insensitive, which is usually used in endoscopic biomedical imaging. In this study, we investigate a method to extend the working distance of a common-path SD-OCT system. Common-path OCT light, which consisting of sample and reference light signal, is directed into a free space optical interferometer. The OCT light is split spatially into two beam segments by a wavefront-splitting mirror, and the two parallel beams interfere noncollinearly in the interferometer. Distance between the end of the probing fiber, which serves as the reference plane of our OCT system, and the OCT sample is about 140 mm. The OCT performance is demonstrated by imaging biological samples. The proposed method can be used to develop polarization insensitive OCT probe for biomedical imaging applications.