Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography based on a spun fiber (Conference Presentation)

Abstract

Polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) is a functional extension of optical coherence tomography (OCT). It provides addition information of the sample based on by analyzing polarization states of the backscattering light. Serval PS-OCT such as free-space optics, single model fiber and polarization maintaining (PM) fibers systems have been developed so far. However, the free space PS-OCT is prone to systematic errors and impractical in clinic settings. Dues to the uncontrolled polarization states, single model-based optics requires additional compensation and self-calibration techniques are required. Traditional PM fiber preserves the polarization states but found expensive and can not be used in rotating endoscopic or catheter probe. In this study, we develop a novel scheme of PS-OCT implementation using specific PM fiber, known as spun fiber, which has a structure of PM fiber twisted along the fiber optic axis and distinguishes two circular opalization states with different propagation speeds. Spun fiber has the advantages in maintaining the polarization states and regardless of fiber bends. The orientation insensitivity of the spun fiber makes it of great potential in endoscopic PS-OCT system. We tested our spun fiber-based PS-OCT system on chicken breast sample. The phase retardation image shows clear muscle structures compared to intensity-based OCT images, indicating our PS-OCT system has the ability to detect tissue birefringence.