Reference Arm Research Articles

NiO thickness measurement using a rectangular-type Sagnac interferometer as the material transport layer in a perovskite solar cell

This work aims to utilize a phase-shifting technique in a rectangular-type Sagnac interferometer (RTSI) to measure the thickness of a thin film of nickel (II) oxide (NiO) in an electron transport layer (ETL) in perovskite solar cell preparation. The NiO layer is deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate. In the RTSI setup, the signal output from the interferometer is divided into the reference and testing arms using a nonpolarizing beam splitter (NPBS). The balanced photodetectors then detect the signal, with the FTO/NiO layer placed in the testing arm and pure FTO in the reference arm. By analyzing the signal intensities at polarization settings of 0° to 180°, the phase shift and thickness of the NiO layer can be determined. The thickness values of FTO and NiO films obtained through three different phase-shifting algorithms of three-, four-, and five-steps are calculated. The obtained NiO thickness values are validated against scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, by considering the NiO thickness value that exhibits the lowest percentage error compared to one from SEM, it is confirmed that the three-step algorithm is the most suitable scheme for obtaining intensities at 0°, 45°, and 90°. Therefore, the proposed setup shows promise as a replacement for SEM in thickness measurements.

MFOLFIRINOX versus mFOLFOX 6 as adjuvant treatment for high-risk stage III colon cancer - the FROST trial: study protocol for a multicenter, randomized controlled, phase II trial

BackgroundHigh-risk stage III colon cancer has a considerably poorer prognosis than stage II and low-risk stage III colon cancers. Nevertheless, most guidelines recommend similar adjuvant treatment approaches for all these stages despite the dearth of research focusing on high-risk stage III colon cancer and the potential for improved prognosis with intensive adjuvant treatment. Given the the proven efficacy of triplet chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer treatment, the goal of this study is to evaluate the oncologic efficacy and safety of mFOLFIRINOX in comparison to those of the current standard of care, mFOLFOX 6, as an adjuvant treatment for patients diagnosed with high-risk stage III colon cancer after radical resection.MethodsThis multicenter, randomized (1:1), open-label, phase II trial will assess and compare the effectiveness and toxicity of mFOLFIRINOX and mFOLFOX 6 in patients with high-risk stage III colon cancer after radical resection. The goal of the trial is to enroll 312 eligible patients, from 11 institutes, aged between 20 and 70 years, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0–2, or between 70 and 75 with an ECOG performance status of 0. Patients will be randomized into two arms - Arm A, the experimental arm, and Arm B, the reference arm - and will receive 12 cycles of mFOLFIRINOX and mFOLFOX 6 every 2 weeks, respectively. The primary endpoint of this study is the 3-year disease-free survival, and secondary endpoints include the 3-year overall survival and treatment toxicity.DiscussionThe Frost trial would help determine the oncologic efficacy and safety of adjuvant triplet chemotherapy for high-risk stage III colon cancers and ultimately improve prognoses.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05179889, registered on 17 December 2021.

Characteristics of nausea and its impact on health-related quality of life in cisplatin-treated patients receiving dexamethasone-sparing prophylaxis: an analysis of the LUNG-NEPA study.

We investigated the intensity and duration of nausea as well as its impact on health-related quality of life among cisplatin-treated patients who participated in a study of dexamethasone (DEX)-sparing regimens based on NEPA (netupitant/palonosetron). This retrospective analysis included chemo-naive patients from a trial evaluating non-inferiority of DEX on day 1 (DEX1 arm) combined with NEPA, compared with the same regimen with DEX administered on days 1-4 (DEX4; reference arm) following cisplatin (≥ 70mg/m2) administration. Nausea intensity was self-rated using a four-point Likert scale. Extended nausea duration was considered ≥ 3days within the 5days post-chemotherapy. Patients completed the Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE) questionnaire on day 6. In the DEX1 arm, more patients (20/76) experienced acute nausea, influencing the outcome of delayed nausea (38/76). During days 1 to 5, 51.3% (39/76) and 39.5% (30/76) of patients experienced nausea in the DEX1 and DEX4 arms, respectively (P = 0.192). Of these, 43.6% and 60% reported moderate-to-severe nausea, respectively, in the DEX1 and DEX4 arms (P = 0.200), while 74.4% and 56.7% of patients experienced extended nausea duration (P = 0.122). Similar between-arm rates of nauseated patients reported an impact on daily life (79.5% vs. 70%; P = 0.408). In analyses stratified for antiemetic regimen, moderate-to-severe nausea or extended nausea duration was associated with an impact on daily life (P ≤ 0.001). Despite the higher incidence, there was no suggestion of any strong adverse effect of NEPA plus single-dose DEX on the characteristics of nausea as well as its impact on daily life in patients with cisplatin-induced nausea. Further prospective controlled study is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04201769. Registration date: 17/12/2019.

Full-range depth-encoded swept source polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography.

To realize the high sensitivity polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) imaging, a fiber-based full-range depth-encoded swept source PS-OCT (SS-PS-OCT) method is proposed. The two OCT images corresponding to the orthogonal polarized input light are located on the high sensitivity imaging region of the opposite sides relative to the zero optical path difference position. The full-range OCT images can be obtained by implementing the spatial phase modulation in the reference arm. The detection sensitivity of the system was measured experimentally to be 67 dB when the imaging depth approaching to 2 mm. The imaging of the biological tissue verifies that the proposed full-range depth-encoded SS-PS-OCT system has the higher detection sensitivity compared with the conventional depth encoded SS-PS-OCT system. Finally, we demonstrated the full-range high sensitivity phase retardation image of the bovine tendon and skin of human fingertip. The fiber-based full-range depth-encoded SS-PS-OCT method can realize the high sensitivity birefringence imaging in the medical diagnosis scenes with the requirements for long imaging range and high detection sensitivity.

Low-noise co-arm differential sensor for an optical frequency comb sampling an E-field test system.

Optical frequency comb (OFC) technology can realize the rapid measurement of electric fields (E-fields) with large bandwidth. However, this technology suffers from the problem of high intensity noise, resulting in low sensitivity and a blind frequency region. In order to solve the above problems, a dual-path optical E-field sensor with a common reference arm based on a lithium niobate optical waveguide is proposed. The introduction of the reference arm improves the balance of optical paths and the degree of integration. A segmented electrode is also designed to ensure the generation of reverse electrical signals on two Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs). After exiting from the differential photodetector (PD), the intensity noise can be removed, and the sensitivity of the sensor can be improved. After testing, the maximum intensity noise reduction is about 37 dB, the average noise reduction is about 22.3 dB, and the blind frequency region can be eliminated with the co-arm differential optical E-field (CDOE) sensor in the process of measuring the signal. This sensor can be used in the 1 MHz-12 GHz bandwidth with a sensitivity better than 10 mV/m·√Hz.

Strip-loaded Mach–Zehnder interferometer for absolute refractive index sensing

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) on a strip-loaded platform specifically developed for the measurement of refractive index variations in liquids. A novel approach of large opening in the sensing region enhances the sensitivity by using the analyte as the loading strip. This allows surpassing the performances of the conventional perforations and trenched-based MZIs and prevent protecting the reference arm. The implementation of this design resulted in a high confinement factor of approximately 23%\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\%$$\\end{document} in the cladding, enabling an effective interaction between the evanescent field and analyte. Ethanol-water solutions with varying concentrations were used as analyte for the characterization of the device. The strip-loaded waveguide was a 200 nm TiO2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$_2$$\\end{document} thin film on a silicon dioxide wafer and a 1.2 μ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\upmu $$\\end{document}m wide for 800 nm-thick nLOF resist served as loading strip. The sensing area featured a 10 μ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\upmu $$\\end{document}m wide open-ing in the loading material with a sensing length of 5 mm. The homogeneous sensitivity was experimentally determined to be 0.128, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed design, which enabled a refractive index change monitoring of 10-6\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-6}$$\\end{document}.

MFOLFIRINOX versus mFOLFOX 6 as adjuvant treatment for high-risk stage III colon cancer (FROST trial): Study protocol for an open label, multicenter, randomized, phase II study.

TPS230 Background: Patients with high-risk stage III colon cancer have a significantly poorer prognosis than those with stage II or low-risk stage III colon cancer. Despite this distinction, most guidelines recommend similar adjuvant treatment approaches for all stages, and there is a dearth of research focusing on high-risk stage III colon cancer and the potential for improved prognosis through more intensive adjuvant treatment. Given the proven efficacy of triplet chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer, this study aims to assess the effectiveness and toxicity of modified 5-fluoropyrimidine (5-FU)/leucovorin plus irinotecan and oxaliplatin (mFOLFIRINOX) in comparison with the current standard of care—modified oxaliplatin and 5-FU (mFOLFOX-6)—as an adjuvant treatment for patients diagnosed with high-risk stage III colon cancer. Methods: This multicenter, randomized (1:1), open-label, phase II trial aims to compare the adjuvant treatment efficacy of mFOLFIRINOX and mFOLFOX-6 in patients with high-risk stage III colon cancer. The trial aimed to enroll 312 eligible patients aged between 20 and 70 years with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, or between 70 and 75 years with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0. All patients underwent radical resection and were randomized into two arms: Arm A experimental arm, received 12 cycles of mFOLFIRINOX every 2 weeks, while arm B, the reference arm, received 12 cycles of mFOLFOX 6 every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint of this study was the 3-year disease-free survival, whereas the secondary endpoints included assessing the 3-year overall survival and treatment toxicity. Discussion: The Frost trial is expected to elucidate the safety and oncologic efficacy of mFOLFIRINOX compared to mFOLFOX 6 as adjuvant treatment for high-risk stage III colon cancers, and provide evidence about this treatment, and contribute to improve the prognoses ultimately. Clinical trial information: NCT05179889 .

Optical biosensor based on weak measurement for ultra-sensitive detection of calreticulin in human serum.

A novel real-time optical phase sensing method based on the Mach-Zehnder interference principle has been proposed for the detection of calreticulin (CRT) levels in human serum samples. In this approach, anti-CRT antibodies are utilized to capture CRT molecules in serum, leading to a phase shift in both the measuring and reference arms of the system. By employing the concept of weak amplification within the framework of weak measurements, it becomes feasible to continuously monitor the response of CRT in real-time, allowing for the precise determination of serum CRT content at the picomolar level. Our achievement may pave the way in establishing CRT as a diagnostic biomarker for a wide range of medical applications, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Advancing Optical Coherence Tomography through Opto-Electronic Frequency Shifting

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) stands out for its ability to combine the high resolution of microscopy with the penetration-depth of clinical imaging. However, in practice this is still limited to a few millimetres. Interestingly, the imaging-depth of the latest swept-source systems is not limited by their spectral width but by the analog-to-digital sampling rate. In lieu of slow reference arm length adjustments, we leverage opto-electronic frequency shifting. This allows for depth adjustments on the microsecond timescale and a modest detector bandwidth of 200MHz. The opto-electronic scheme immediately gives us access to an 8mm range, a fourfold increase over the nominal 2mm range of the source. Moreover, by circumventing the need for a mechanical reference arm, changes in the axial displacement of the sample can be compensated in real-time. This makes it attractive for imaging arbitrarily-curved surfaces. We showcase this with wide-field OCT imaging of the curved retina.

Inter-arm blood pressure difference in post-stroke patients with hemiparesis.

The aim of this study was to investigate that inter-arm blood pressure (BP) difference (IAD) and reference arm in 420 post-stroke patients with hemiparesis. Synchronous bilateral-arm BP was measured with two automatic BP devices, and the systolic BP difference of ≥10 mm Hg was recorded as increased sIAD. The arm with higher systolic BP (SBP) was assigned as the reference arm. Our results showed that the prevalence of sIAD was 18.1% in the total group. The paretic arms had similar mean SBP levels (133.6±18.4 vs. 133.8±18.4 mm Hg, NS) and DBP (77.8±11.5 vs. 77.2±10.9 mm Hg, NS) as compared with the unaffected arms. The detection rate of hypertension or uncontrolled hypertension on the SBP values of the reference arm was higher than that on the unaffected arm (41.8% vs. 36.3%). It is concluded that in the post-stroke patients with hemiparesis in the rehabilitation period, the prevalence of sIAD ≥10 mmHg was relatively higher, and using the unaffected arm, rather than the unaffected arm, for BP measurement could induce correctly detection of hypertension.

Ultraviolet sensing based on an in-fiber ZnO microwire constructed Mach–Zehnder interferometer

We propose a Mach–Zehnder interferometer based on an in-fiber ZnO microwire structure for ultraviolet sensing. The device undergoes femtosecond laser micromachining and chemical etching on a single-mode optical fiber initially, creating a microgroove that extends to half of the core’s depth, into which a single ZnO microwire is transferred. The ZnO microwire and the remaining core are used as the sensing arm and the reference arm, respectively, forming a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. To enhance the stability and the sensitivity, ZnO nanoparticles are filled into the microgroove after the ZnO microwire is transferred. The fabricated device exhibits a sensitivity of 0.86 nm/(W·cm−2) for ultraviolet sensing, along with a response time of 115 ns (rise time) and 133 µs (decay time), respectively. The proposed sensor exhibits good ultraviolet sensitivity, offering a novel approach for ultraviolet sensing technology.

Reduction of daily maintenance inhaled corticosteroids in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma treated with benralizumab (SHAMAL): a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 4 study

Stepwise intensification of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is routine for severe eosinophilic asthma, despite some poor responses to high-dose ICS. Dose reductions are recommended in patients responding to biologics, but little supporting safety evidence exists. SHAMAL was a phase 4, randomised, open-label, active-controlled study done at 22 study sites in four countries. Eligible participants were adults (aged ≥18 years) with severe eosinophilic asthma and a five-item Asthma Control Questionnaire score below 1·5 and who received at least three consecutive doses of benralizumab before screening. We randomly assigned patients (3:1) to taper their high-dose ICS to a medium-dose, low-dose, and as-needed dose (reduction group) or continue (reference group) their ICS-formoterol therapy for 32 weeks, followed by a 16-week maintenance period. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients reducing their ICS-formoterol dose by week 32. The primary outcome was assessed in the reduction group, and safety analyses included all randomly assigned patients receiving study treatment. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04159519. Between Nov 12, 2019, and Feb 16, 2023, we screened and enrolled in the run-in period 208 patients. We randomly assigned 168 (81%) to the reduction (n=125 [74%]) and reference arms (n=43 [26%]). Overall, 110 (92%) patients reduced their ICS-formoterol dose: 18 (15%) to medium-dose, 20 (17%) to low-dose, and 72 (61%) to as-needed only. In 113 (96%) patients, reductions were maintained to week 48; 114 (91%) of patients in the reduction group had zero exacerbations during tapering. Rates of adverse events were similar between groups. 91 (73%) patients had adverse events in the reduction group and 35 (83%) in the reference group. 17 patients had serious adverse events in the study: 12 (10%) in the reduction group and five (12%) in the reference group. No deaths occurred during the study. These findings show that patients controlled on benralizumab can have meaningful reductions in ICS therapy while maintaining asthma control. AstraZeneca.

Longitudinal spatial coherence of computational ghost imaging through atmospheric turbulence

The resolution and imaging quality of ghost imaging is determined by the longitudinal spatial coherence (LSC) of speckle beams on the signal and reference arms. Based on the cross-correlation function, long-exposure and short-exposure computational ghost imaging through turbulent atmosphere is investigated analytically and numerically in the framework of the traditional imaging theory. According to the point spread function (PSF), the modulation transfer function (MTF) is derived, both of which are utilized to evaluate imaging resolution and imaging quality of computational ghost imaging (CGI), respectively. By simulating long-exposure and short-exposure ghost imaging through atmospheric turbulence, the comprehensive effects of atmospheric turbulence and beam initial parameters on the complex degree of coherence (CDC), PSF, and MTF are studied, respectively. It is found that the degradation of LSC between the two planes on the reference and signal path implies a narrower PSF and increased MTF values, which represent the better resolution and imaging quality. Thus, reducing the atmospheric turbulence strength, the speckle particle size, the wavelength and the propagation distance, and increasing the source size contribute to improving resolution and image quality of CGI because of the degradation of LSC. Furthermore, short-exposure CGI can provide imaging performance superior to long-exposure CGI in terms of resolution and imaging quality due to the decrease of LSC.

Temperature compensation of fiber optic unbalanced interferometers for high resolution static strain sensing

Accurate temperature compensation challenges the use of fiber optic unbalanced interferometers in static strain sensing. We propose a temperature compensation theory and scheme of unbalanced interferometers using sensing fibers with different temperature coefficients, aiming at resolving the temperature disturbance of optical fibers and achieving high strain resolution. For the first time, we comprehensively analyze the thermal response of interferometers due to different temperature coefficients, different thermal behaviors, and inconsistent temperature disturbances in the optical fiber arms. A sensing combination and a reference combination are designed. The sensing combination measures a strain and compensates for the temperature disturbance of the sensing arm, and the reference combination provides a reference to compensate for the temperature disturbance of the reference arm and frequency drift of the interferometer in the sensing combination. The proposed scheme can compensate for the temperature disturbances of interferometers in the sensing combination completely. To verify the theory and scheme, bend-insensitive single-mode fibers and Boron/Germanium co-doped fibers are used as sensing fibers in the experiment. The experimental results show that the temperature resolution of the sensing arm is about 3.43 × 10−4 °C, and the static strain resolution of the unbalanced interferometer within 24 h after temperature compensation is about 2.55 nε. The temperature-compensated strain resolution of ∼nε indicates that the proposed temperature compensation theory and scheme can be used in high-resolution, long-term, low-frequency, and static strain sensing, such as crustal deformation observation in geophysical applications.

Smartphone-Based Blood Pressure Monitoring via the Oscillometric Finger Pressing Method: Analysis of Oscillation Width Variations Can Improve Diastolic Pressure Computation.

Oscillometric finger pressing is a potential method for absolute blood pressure (BP) monitoring via a smartphone. The user presses their fingertip against a photoplethysmography-force sensor unit on a smartphone to steadily increase the external pressure on the underlying artery. Meanwhile, the phone guides the finger pressing and computes systolic BP (SP) and diastolic BP (DP) from the measured blood volume oscillations and finger pressure. The objective was to develop and evaluate reliable finger oscillometric BP computation algorithms. The collapsibility of thin finger arteries was exploited in an oscillometric model to develop simple algorithms for computing BP from the finger pressing measurements. These algorithms extract features from "width" oscillograms (oscillation width versus finger pressure functions) and the conventional "height" oscillogram for markers of DP and SP. Finger pressing measurements were obtained using a custom system along with reference arm cuff BP measurements from 22 subjects. Measurements were also obtained during BP interventions in some subjects for 34 total measurements. An algorithm employing the average of width and height oscillogram features predicted DP with correlation of 0.86 and precision error of 8.6mmHg with respect to the reference measurements. Analysis of arm oscillometric cuff pressure waveforms from an existing patient database provided evidence that the width oscillogram features are better suited to finger oscillometry. Analysis of oscillation width variations during finger pressing can improve DP computation. The study findings may help in converting widely available devices into truly cuffless BP monitors for improving hypertension awareness and control.

High‐accuracy optical delay measurement based on linear frequency sweeping technology

AbstractA high‐accuracy and wide‐range optical delay measurement method based on linear frequency modulation (LFM) of a microwave source is proposed, which can measure the delay of each channel in a parallel multichannel interference structure. The light wave emitted by the light source is injected into the dual‐parallel Mach‒Zehnder modulator (DPMZM) as a carrier wave. The LFM microwave signal is loaded into the radio frequency ports of the DPMZM through a 90° hybrid couple, and the bias voltages of the DPMZM are adjusted to make it work in carrier suppression single sideband (CS‐SSB) modulation mode. The CS‐SSB optical signal output by the modulator enters the test links, including a Mach‒Zehnder interference loop composed of the reference arm and the device under test arm. Then, the output optical signal of the interference loop is input into a photodetector, and the intermediate frequency (IF) signals are obtained by the beat frequency. The frequency of the IF signal is obtained through data acquisition and fast Fourier transform calculation. Thus, the delay time is calculated. By increasing or decreasing the LFM signal scanning time, the delay measurement range can be extended, or the measurement accuracy over a short distance can be improved. The feasibility of this method is verified by experiments, and the delay of parallel multichannel measurement is carried out.

Identifying Referent Control Variables Underlying Goal-Directed Arm Movements.

The referent control theory (RCT) for action and perception is an advanced formulation of the equilibrium-point hypothesis. The RCT suggests that rather than directly specifying the desired motor outcome, the nervous system controls action and perception indirectly by setting the values of parameters of physical and physiological laws. This is done independently of values of kinematic and kinetic variables including electromyographic patterns describing the motor outcome. One such parameter-the threshold muscle length, λ, at which motoneurons of a given muscle begin to be recruited, has been identified experimentally. In RCT, a similar parameter, the referent arm position, R, has been defined for multiple arm muscles as the threshold arm position at which arm muscles can be quiescent but activated depending on the deflection of the actual arm position, Q, from R. Changes in R result in reciprocal changes in the activity of opposing muscle groups. We advanced the explanatory power of RCT by combining the usual biomechanical descriptions of motor actions with the identification of the timing of R underlying arm movements made with reversals in three directions and to three different extents. We found that in all movements, periods of minimization of the activity of multiple muscles could be identified at ∼61%-86% of the reaching extent in each direction. These electromyographic minimization periods reflect the spatial coordinates at which the R and Q overlap during the production of movements with reversals. The findings support the concept of the production of arm movement by shifting R.

Design of a Photonic Integrated Device with an on-Chip k-Clock and Tunable Reference Arm for Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Design of a Photonic Integrated Device with an on-Chip k-Clock and Tunable Reference Arm for Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Bimekizumab treatment in biologic DMARD-naïve patients with active psoriatic arthritis: 52-week efficacy and safety results from the phase III, randomised, placebo-controlled, active reference BE OPTIMAL study

ObjectivesBimekizumab (BKZ) is a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin (IL)-17F in addition to IL-17A. BKZ treatment has demonstrated superior efficacy versus placebo (PBO) at Week 16 in biologic...

Non-invasive in vivo imaging of human corneal microstructures with optical coherence microscopy.

Non-invasive imaging systems with cellular-level resolution offer the opportunity to identify biomarkers of the early stage of corneal diseases, enabling early intervention, monitoring of disease progression, and evaluating treatment efficacy. In this study, a non-contact polarization-dependent optical coherence microscope (POCM) was developed to enable non-invasive in vivo imaging of human corneal microstructures. The system integrated quarter-wave plates into the sample and reference arms of the interferometer to enable deeper penetration of light in tissues as well as mitigate the strong specular reflection from the corneal surface. A common-path approach was adopted to enable control over the polarization in a free space configuration, thus alleviating the need for a broadband polarization-maintained fiber. The POCM achieved volumetric imaging of corneal microstructures, including endothelial cells over a field of view 0.5 × 0.5 mm2 with an almost isotropic resolution of ∼2.2 µm and a volume (500 × 500 × 2048 voxels) rate of 1 Hz. A self-interference approach between the corneal surface and underlying layers was also developed to lessen the corneal curvature and axial motion artifacts, thus enabling high-resolution imaging of microstructures in the anterior cornea, including squamous epithelial cells, wing epithelial cells, basal epithelial cells, sub-basal nerve plexus, and stromal keratocytes.