Patent Application
20080007734
The present invention relates to systems and methods for a fiber-based optical imaging using a low coherence light beam reflected from a sample surface and combined with reference light beam, in which an evolution of the polarization state of the sample arm light can be used to determine the polarization parameters of the sample.
Optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique that measures the interference between a reference beam of light and a beam reflected back from a sample. A detailed system description of traditional time-domain OCT was first described in Huang et al. “Optical Coherence Tomography,” Science 254, 1178 (1991). Detailed system descriptions for spectral-domain OCT and Optical Frequency Domain Interferometry are given in International Patent Application No. PCT/US03/02349 and U.S. Patent Application No. 60/514,769, respectively. Polarization-sensitive OCT provides additional contrast by observing changes in the polarization state of reflected light. The first fiber-based implementation of polarization-sensitive time-domain OCT was described in Saxer et al., “High-speed fiber-based polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography of in vivo human skin,” Opt. Lett. 25, 1355 (2000).
In polarization-sensitive time-domain OCT, simultaneous detection of interference fringes in two orthogonal polarization channels allows complete characterization of the reflected polarization state as described in J. F. de Boer et al., “Determination of the depth-resolved Stokes parameters of light backscattered from turbid media by use of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 24, 300 (1999). There are two non-depolarizing polarization parameters: birefringence, characterized by a degree of phase retardation and an optic axis orientation, and diattenuation, which is related to dichroism and characterized by an amount and an optic axis orientation. There are two generally accepted and approximately equivalent formalisms for characterizing polarization states: using complex orthogonal electric fields and Jones matrices, and using Stokes vectors and Mueller matrices. A review of the evolution of Stokes parameters as a function of depth has been used to characterize polarization properties such as birefringence and optic axis orientation in a variety of biological samples as described in the Saxer publication and B. Cense et al., “In vivo depth-resolved birefringence measurements of the human retinal nerve fiber layer by polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 27, 1610 (2002).
The polarization state reflected from the sample can be compared to the state incident on the sample quite easily in a bulk optic system, as the polarization state incident on the sample can be controlled and fixed. However, an optical fiber has a disadvantage of that propagation through optical fiber can alter the polarization state of light. In this case, the polarization state of light incident on the sample is not easily controlled or determined. Also, the polarization state reflected from the sample is not necessarily the same as that received at the detectors. Assuming negligible diattenuation, or polarization-dependent loss, optical fiber changes the polarization states of light passing through it in such a manner as to preserve the relative orientation between states. The overall effect of propagation through optical fiber and non-diattenuating fiber components is similar to an overall coordinate transformation or some arbitrary rotation. In other words, the relative orientation of polarization states at all points throughout propagation is preserved as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,415.
There have been a number of approaches that take advantage of this fact to determine the polarization properties of a biological sample imaged with polarization-sensitive OCT. However, all of these techniques are disadvantageous in some manner. A vector-based method has been used to characterize birefringence and optic axis orientation only by analyzing rotations of polarization states reflected from the surface and from some depth for two incident polarization states perpendicular in a Poincaré sphere representation as described in the Saxer Publication, J. F. de Boer et al., “Determination of the depth-resolved Stokes parameters of light backscattered from turbid media by use of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 24, 300 (1999), and B. H. Park et al., “In vivo burn depth determination by high-speed fiber-based polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography,” J. Biomed. Opt. 6, 474 (2001). Mueller matrix based methods are capable of determining birefringence, diattenuation, and optic axis orientation as described in S. L. Jiao et al., “Two-dimensional depth-resolved Mueller matrix of biological tissue measured with double-beam polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 27, 101 (2002), S. Jiao et al., “Optical-fiber-based Mueller optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 28, 1206 (2003), and S. L. Jiao et al., “Depth-resolved two-dimensional Stokes vectors of backscattered light and Mueller matrices of biological tissue measured with optical coherence tomography,” Appl. Opt. 39, 6318 (2000).
These techniques typically invoke a multitude of measurements using a combination of incident states and detector settings and limits their practical use for in vivo imaging. Jones matrix based approaches have also been used to fully characterize the non-depolarizing polarization properties of a sample as described in S. Jiao et al., “Optical-fiber-based Mueller optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 28, 1206 (2003) and S. L. Jiao and L. V. Wang, “Jones-matrix imaging of biological tissues with quadruple-channel optical coherence tomography,” J. Biomed. Opt. 7, 350 (2002). The description of these approaches has limited the use of optical fiber and fiber components such as circulators and fiber splitters such that these components must be traversed in a round-trip fashion. A methodology that allows a determination of non-depolarizing polarization parameters with the unrestricted use of such components in an optical imaging system may be desirable.
According to the present invention, exemplary systems, software arrangements and processes are provided for determining the non-depolarizing polarization properties of a sample imaged by OCT with no restrictions on the use of optical fiber or non-diattenuating fiber components, such as circulators and splitters. These properties include, but are not limited to, cumulative and differential phase retardation, cumulative and differential diattenuation, and cumulative and differential optic axis orientation.
The exemplary embodiments of the process, software arrangement and system according to the present invention are capable of characterizing the amount and orientation of the axis of birefringence, assuming little or no diattenuation, between two locations of a sample imaged by OCT with no restrictions on the use of optical fiber or non-diattenuating fiber components. In addition, it is possible to characterize the amount and orientation of diattenuation, assuming little or no birefringence, between two locations of a sample imaged by OCT with no restrictions on the use of optical fiber or non-diattenuating fiber components.
In addition, the exemplary embodiments of the process, software arrangement and system according to the present invention can be used to determine the non-depolarizing polarization properties of a sample by comparing the light reflected from two different locations within the sample probed with a minimum of two unique incident polarization states in such a way that allows for the unrestricted use of optical fiber and non-diattenuating fiber components throughout the system.
Thus, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to:
According an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, arrangement, system and method for a polarization effect for a interferometric signal received from sample in an optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) system are provided. In particular, an interferometric information associated with the sample and a reference can be received. The interferometric information is then processed thereby reducing a polarization effect created by a detection section of the OCT system on the interferometric signal. Then, an amount of a diattenuation of the sample may be determined. The interferometric information can be provided at least partially along at least one optical fiber which can be provided in optical communication with and upstream from a polarization separating arrangement.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one polarization property of the sample can be determined. The polarization property may include a depolarizing property, a birefringence property, an optic axis of the polarization property, and/or further information associated with at least two polarization states incident on the sample. The interferometric information can be processed by:
For example, at least two of the first through fourth states which are obtained at locations that are at least one of the same as or different from the first and second locations are averaged.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, apparatus and method are provided for transmitting electromagnetic radiation to a sample. For example, at least one first arrangement can be provided which is configured to provide at least one first electromagnetic radiation. A frequency of radiation provided by the first arrangement can vary over time. At least one polarization modulating second arrangement can be provided which is configured to control a polarization state of at least one first electro-magnetic radiation so as to produce at least one second electromagnetic radiation. Further, at least one third arrangement can be provided which is configured to receive the second electromagnetic radiation, and provide at least one third electromagnetic radiation to the sample and at least one fourth electromagnetic radiation to a reference. The third and fourth electro-magnetic radiations may be associated with the second electromagnetic radiation.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one fifth electro-magnetic radiation can be provided from the sample, and at least one sixth electromagnetic radiation may be provided from the reference. The fifth and sixth electro-magnetic radiations are associated with the third and fourth electromagnetic radiations, respectively. In addition, at least one fourth arrangement can be provided which is configured to receive at least one seventh electromagnetic radiation which is associated with the fifth and sixth electro-magnetic radiations, and produce at least one eighth electromagnetic radiation having a first polarization state and at least one ninth electromagnetic radiation a second polarization state based on the seventh electromagnetic radiation. The first and second polarization states are preferably different from one another.
At least one fifth arrangement can be provided which is configured to receive and/or detect the eighth and ninth electromagnetic radiations, and determine an amplitude and/or a phase of the eighth and/or ninth electromagnetic radiations. In addition or alternatively, the fifth arrangement can receive and/or detect the eighth and ninth electromagnetic radiations, receive and/or detect at least one tenth radiation associated with the first, second, fourth and/or sixth electromagnetic radiations, thereby reducing noise associated with fluctuations of the first electromagnetic radiation and/or the second electromagnetic radiation. Further, the fifth arrangement is capable of determining the amplitude and/or the phase of the eighth electromagnetic radiation and/or the electromagnetic radiation.
According to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, polarization states associated with the fifth electromagnetic radiation can be determined at different depth in the sample and/or a proximity of the sample as a function of the amplitude and/or the phase of the eighth and/or ninth electromagnetic radiations, and based on the second electromagnetic radiation. At least one of first through ninth electromagnetic radiations can be propagated via at least one optical fiber.
Pursuant to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one ophthalmic imaging sixth arrangement can be provided which is configured to received the third electromagnetic radiation, and produce the fifth electromagnetic radiation. A processing arrangement can be provided, which when executing a predetermined technique, can be configured to receive data associated with the amplitude and/or the phase of the eighth and/or ninth electromagnetic radiations, and process the data thereby reducing a polarization effect created by at least one portion of the apparatus (e.g., OCT system) on the seventh electromagnetic radiation, and determining polarization properties of the sample. The polarization properties can include birefringence, diattenuation, depolarization, optic axis of the birefringence, and/or optic axis of the diattenuation.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:
The exemplary embodiments of systems, software arrangements and processes can be implemented in a variety of OCT or OFDI systems.
The exemplary embodiments of the method, system and arrangement according to the present invention can be implemented in a variety of imaging systems. For example, as shown in
After passing through an optical circulator 120 that is provided in the exemplary arrangement, the light/electromagnetic radiation may be separated and transmitted to the sample arm (which includes a sample 155) and the reference arm of the interferometer via a 90/10 fiber splitter 125. A polarization controller 130 may be provided in the reference arm (which includes a reference/delay line 135), and can be used to control the arrangement such that a constant amount of power associated with the light/electromagnetic radiation is transmitted and reflected from the delay line 135. For example, this can be done regardless of the polarization state of the light/electromagnetic radiation in the source arm. The sample arm can be composed of a collimating lens 140, a scanning mechanism 145, and a lens 150 that focuses the beam into the sample 155. The light/electromagnetic radiation returning from both the sample and reference arms then passes back through the fiber splitter 125 and the optical circulator 120 before passing through a polarization controller 160, and then split by a polarization separating element 165. The resulting two sets of interference fringes from the split signals are measured by separate detectors 170, 175.
For example, the optical path from the source to the sample can be represented by a Jones matrix Jin 180, and the optical path from the sample to the detectors can be represented by Jout 185. In particular, Jin, Jout, and JS are the Jones matrix representations for the one-way optical path from the polarization modulator to the scanning hand-piece, the one-way optical path back from the scanning hand-piece to the detectors 170, 175, and the round-trip path through some depth in the sample 155, respectively. In this manner, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be used in interferometric imaging systems. According to one further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the optical circulator 120 and the splitter 125 can be replaced by a single fiber coupler.
This exemplary arrangement can be used in a time-domain OCT configuration, a spectral-domain OCT configuration, an OFDI configuration, and other similar configuration. For example, in the time-domain OCT configuration, the source 100 can be a broadband source, the delay line is capable of scanning over a range, the polarization separating element 165 can be a fiber-polarizing beam splitter, and the detectors 170, 175 can be photodiodes. For the exemplary spectral-domain OCT configuration, the source 100 can be a broadband source, the delay line 135 may be of a fixed length, the polarization separating element 165 can be a polarizing beam splitter cube, and the detectors 170, 175 can be line scan cameras in a spectrometer. In the exemplary OFDI configuration, the source 100 may be a swept source, the delay line 135 can have a fixed length, the polarization separating element 165 can be a fiber-polarizing beam splitter, and the detectors 180, 175 may be photodiodes.
In general, the exemplary embodiments of the system, arrangement and process according to the present invention which are provided for analyzing the polarization properties of electromagnetic radiation can be applied to any apparatus or arrangement that is configured to determine the electric fields reflected from or transmitted through a sample by interfering the sample arm light with a reference. For example, the electric fields may be determined in approximately orthogonal polarized channels by use of a polarization sensitive splitter, that more than one polarization state is used to probe the sample, and that this information is acquired for more than one wavelength in parallel or consecutively at approximately the same sample location. The above described general preferences can be implemented by detection methods known in the art such as but not restricted to time domain optical coherence tomography as described above and also in N. A. Nassif et al., “In vivo human retinal imaging by ultrahigh-speed spectral domain optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 29, 480 (2004), Spectral Domain or Fourier Domain OCT described in the PCT patent application identified above in the Nassif Publication, and Optical Frequency Domain Imaging or Swept Source OCT which was also described above in the identified patent provisional patent application and S. H. Yun et al., “High-speed optical frequency-domain imaging,” Opt. Exp. 11, 2953 (2003).
The non-depolarizing polarization properties of an optical system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be described by its complex Jones matrix, J. This matrix can transform an incident polarization state, described by a complex electric field vector, {right arrow over (E)}=[H V]T, to a transmitted state, {right arrow over (E′)}=[H′V′]T, and can be decomposed in the form J=JRJP=JP′JR′, where JR and JP are the Jones matrices for a retarder and a polarizer, respectively as described in J. J. Gil et al., “Obtainment of the polarizing and retardation parameters of a non-depolarizing optical system from the polar decomposition of its Mueller matrix,” Optik 76, 67 (1987). Birefringence, described by JR, can be parameterized by 3 variables: a degree of phase retardation, η, about an axis defined by two angles, γ and δ. Diattenuation, described by JP, is defined as d=(P12−P22)/(P12+P22) and can be parameterized by 4 variables, where P1 and P2 are the attenuation coefficients parallel and orthogonal to an axis defined by angles Γ and Δ. These independent parameters, along with an overall common phase eiψ, can account for the 4 complex elements of a general Jones matrix J. Based on the assumption that the birefringence and diattenuation in biological tissue share a common axis (δ=Δ and γ=Γas described in S. L. Jiao et al., “Two-dimensional depth-resolved Mueller matrix of biological tissue measured with double-beam polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 27, 101 (2002), the number of independent parameters can be reduced by two.
An incident and reflected polarization state can yield, e.g., three relations involving the two orthogonal amplitudes and the relative phase between them as described in J. F. de Boer et al., “Determination of the depth-resolved Stokes parameters of light backscattered from turbid media by use of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 24, 300 (1999). Therefore, it is possible to use the six relationships defined by two unique pairs of incident and reflected states to exactly solve for the above Jones matrix. Thus, by probing a sample with only two unique incident states, it is possible to extract all the polarization parameters of interest.
One exemplary implementation of the method, system and arrangement for determining the polarization parameters of interest can be provided as follows. A single computer or a plurality of computers linked together can be used to alternate the polarization state incident on the sample between two states perpendicular in a Poincaré sphere representation for successive depth scans. Assuming negligible diattenuation, the optical paths from the polarization modulator to the sample surface, described by Jin, and from the sample surface to the detectors, Jout, may be modeled as elliptical retarders. If the electric field after the polarization modulator is defined as {right arrow over (Ein)}, then the electric field of detected light reflected from the surface of a sample is given by {right arrow over (E)}=eiψJoutJin{right arrow over (Ein)}. The round-trip Jones matrix of the sample as Js can be defined, and the detected light reflected from within the sample may be given by {right arrow over (E′)}=eiψ′JoutJsJin{right arrow over (Ein)}=eiΔψJoutJsJout−1{right arrow over (E)}, where Δψ=ψ′−ψ. Since the Jones matrices for elliptical retarders are unitary and thus form a closed group, it is possible to rewrite the combined Jones matrix JT≡JoutJSJout−1=JU[P1ein/20;0P2e−in/2]JU−1, using JU=eiβ[Cθei(φ−φ)−Sθei(φ+φ);Sθe−i(φ+φ)Cθe−i(φ−φ)] to describe a general unitary transformation where Cθ=cos θ and Sθ=sin θ.
It is possible to obtain an alternative formulation for JT by combining information from two unique incident states, [H1′H2′;V1′V2′]=eiΔψ
The formulation in Eq. 1 is advantageous over conventional methods for extracting polarization parameters of interest.
First, all the polarization parameters of interest may be related to one another in a way that allows for simultaneous determination. In contrast, the conventional vector-based approach mentioned above requires that the optic axis be fully determined before two separate calculations of phase retardation for the two incident polarization states described in B. H. Park et al., “In vivo burn depth determination by high-speed fiber-based polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography,” J. Biomed. Opt. 6,474 (2001). The overall phase retardation can then be taken as a weighted average of the two values as described in B. H. Park et al., “Real-time multi-functional optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Exp. 11, 782 (2003).
Second, the formulation in Eq. 1 can be exactly solvable; in other words, the formulation may not lead to under- or over-determination, where there are too few or too many independent equations compared to the number of independent variables. In previous Mueller matrix based analysis methods, there are more available equations when compared to the number of independent polarization parameters.
Third, the formulation and technique according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has no requirements on the transpose symmetry of JT. A previous Jones matrix-based analysis for obtaining the full polarization parameters of a sample with fiber-based PS-OCT imposed the condition that the round trip Jones matrix for light returning from the sample surface be transpose symmetric as described in S. Jiao et al., “Optical-fiber-based Mueller optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 28, 1206 (2003).
This procedure generally addresses the assumption that any fiber optic components may be traversed in a round-trip manner to cancel any inherent circular birefringence, to insure δ=Δ=0, and achieve transpose symmetry. This prior art procedure restricts the placement of optical fiber and requires a bulk beam splitter in the interferometer instead of a fiber optic splitter. In the formulation and techniques according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, transpose symmetry of the overall Jones matrix is not required, thus enabling the use of non-diattenuating fiber optic components, such as splitters and circulators, as well as removing any restrictions on the use of fiber throughout the system. Finally, the formulation of Eq. 1 performs the measurement using only two unique incident polarization states for full determination of the polarization parameters of interest.
In principle, the parameters θ, φ, and α can be solved for with the condition that the off-diagonal elements of the matrix product on the right hand side of Eq. 1 are equal to zero. In practice, real solutions may not always be found, as measurement noise can induce non-physical transformations between incident and transmitted polarization states. To account for this, it is possible to optimize parameters α, φ, and θ to minimize the sum of the magnitudes of the off-diagonal elements. A relative optic axis can be derived from φ and θ, given in Stokes parameter form by {right arrow over (A)}=[1C2θS2θC2φS2θS2φ]T. The degree of phase retardation can easily be extracted through the phase difference of the resulting diagonal elements, and the diattenuation by their magnitudes. The error on the calculation can be estimated by taking the ratio of the sum of the magnitudes of these off-diagonal elements to the sum of the magnitudes of the diagonal elements. These resulting diattenuation, birefringence, and optic axis orientation values can be differentiated to yield local values for the polarization parameters of interest.
As described above, JT can be determined experimentally by using two unique incident polarization states to probe the same volume of a sample. The relationship between these states is important; two nearly identical incident polarization states will work mathematically, but do not truly take advantage of the information provided by two sets of data over just one. An equally important consideration arises from when an incident state becomes aligned with the optic axis of the sample due to fiber birefringence. In this case, the incident and reflected polarization states are identical, and contain no information regarding birefringence. The same will hold for an orthogonal incident polarization state. It becomes clear that while diattenuation can always be determined using two orthogonal incident polarization states, birefringence cannot. A better choice is to use two incident polarization states perpendicular in a Poincaré sphere representation, as previously presented in C. E. Saxer et al., “High-speed fiber-based polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography of in vivo human skin,” Opt. Lett. 25, 1355 (2000), J. F. de Boer et al. Birefringence imaging in biological tissue using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,415, Mar. 27, 2001, B. H. Park et al., “In vivo burn depth determination by high-speed fiber-based polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography,” J. Biomed. Opt. 6, 474 (2001), M. C. Pierce et al., “Simultaneous intensity, birefringence, and flow measurements with high speed fiber-based optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Lett. 27, 1534 (2002), and B. H. Park et al., “Real-time multi-functional optical coherence tomography,” Opt. Exp. 11, 782 (2003). This can provide the polarization information which may be extracted, and further, maximize the effect of birefringence on a particular incident polarization state if parallel to the optic axis of the sample. It should be noted that this is not necessary for the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, e.g., so long as the two incident polarization states are unique for determination of diattenuation, and non-parallel in a Poincaré sphere representation if birefringence is one of the desired parameters.
For example,
The analysis has been applied to an image of the superior region of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) acquired in vivo with a slit-lamp-adapted PS-OCT system as described in Cense et al. After averaging 10 points in depth, single-pass phase retardations as a function of depth 350 for RNFL as determined by the exemplary embodiment of the method according to the present invention, as well as the vector-based method 340 are displayed in the inset of
Another exemplary implementation of the present invention is as follows. In a biological tissue, it if often the case that birefringence has a much greater effect on the polarization state of light than does diattenuation. As such, it can be desirable to eliminate diattenuation from consideration, as small amounts of either effect can be interpreted as the other. In other words, a small amount of birefringence could easily be attributed to diattenuation and vice versa. In cases when it is known that diattenuation is negligible, the formulation in Eq. 1 can be modified simply by assuming that P1 and P2 are equal (P1=P2). One method of determining the remaining polarization parameters is to start by normalizing the magnitudes of the complex electric fields and optimizing parameters α, φ, and θ to not only minimize the sum of the magnitudes of the off-diagonal elements, but also to minimize the difference between the magnitudes of the diagonal elements to match the condition that P1=P2. The degree of phase retardation can then be extracted through the phase difference of the resulting diagonal elements, and the error estimated by some measure of the sum of the magnitudes of the off-diagonal elements and the difference of the magnitudes of the diagonal elements. In this case, Eq. 1 can be used to not only compare the states reflected from the surface to those reflected from any depth to those from any other depth. For example, if all depths are compared to those a small distance above or below, the resulting polarization parameters may reflect the local properties of the tissue between the two points of comparison.
Another condition that may arise is that the birefringence should be ignored in favor of a use of only diattenuation. In this case, the parameter η can be set to zero, and again, the parameters α, φ, and θ can be optimized to fit an appropriate condition. One such condition can be to minimize the imaginary portions of the diagonal elements simultaneously with the difference in magnitudes between the off-diagonal components. Alternatively, it may be desirable to place conditions on the orientation of the optic axis. In general, the formulation provided allows for selective determination of any and all non-depolarizing polarization parameters with a simple algorithm composed of optimizing the right hand side of Eq. 1 according to conditions appropriate for the situation, followed by extracting the desired polarization parameters from the remaining elements. This optimization can use any general functions of the complex electric fields of the detected light, including but not limited to their magnitudes, phases, and polynomial, logarithmic/exponential, trigonometric combinations thereof. Further, the use of incident polarization states perpendicular in a Poincaré sphere representation insures optimal detection of the sample polarization effects.
The methodology can be generalized as follows. Assume the Jones matrix of the sample, JS, to be such that JT≡JoutJSJout−1=JUJS′JU−1, where JS′ represents that portion of JS that cannot be multiplied into Jout to form JU. The polarization parameters of interest should then be isolated to within JS′. In this case, Eq.1 generalizes to the form
With knowledge of the form of JS′, it is possible to derive some appropriate function to determine the parameters, α, Δψ, and those used for JU, to best equate the two sides of the above equation. This function can include, but is not limited to, linear, polynomial, logarithmic, exponential, and trigonometric functions of magnitude and phase of the complex electric fields. Once this is accomplished, the polarization parameters of interest can be extracted from JS′.
The resulting single-pass diattenuation plots for the PS-OCT and control measurements for tendon (labeled as 410 and 400, respectively) and muscle (labeled as 430 and 420, respectively) are shown in
The diattenuation in the same RNFL data previously utilized is determined and displayed as a function of depth in the inset (labeled as 440) in
In
An example of where such generalization can be useful is in the characterization of a rotating fiber probe. In this case, instead of comparing the reflected polarization states from the surface and from some depth within a sample, it is possible to compare the reflected polarization states from the end of the probe for two different rotation angles.
In particular, the polarization state reflected from all points (e.g., determined by phase-sensitive measurement on two orthogonal detection channels) can be measured for at least two unique incident polarization states (step 500). These phase-sensitive (e.g., complex) polarization state measurements can be defined for any point, p, within the data set as H1(p), V1(p), H2(p), and V2(P). In step 510, a region of interest can be defined within the overall data set to be all depth points, and the polarization states thereof can be compared with those at a particular reference point in step 520. In step 530, the polarization states at the reference point can be determined and defined by, e.g., the quantities, H1, V1, H2, and V2, where the subscripts 1 and 2 generally refer to the two unique incident polarization states. For example, a single set of reference polarization states can be applicable for an entire image. The reference polarization states may be those reflected at, or near, the surface of the sample being imaged. In such case, a single region of interest exists, and the reference polarization states can be determined by averaging the polarization states from the surface of the entire image (to reduce noise effects).
When a rotating endoscopic probe is used, as the endoscope rotates, a fiber birefringence may be constantly changing, and thus will likely result in, e.g., a constantly changing set of polarization states reflected from the surface for various pairs of depth profiles. In this case, the entire image is used as a single region of interest which can lead to error. A region of interest may be defined by a small number of depth profile pairs, where the polarization states reflected from near the sample can be averaged. The result of this stage can be to define the region of interest within the entire image, and determine a set of reference polarization states, H1, V1, H2, and V2, that may apply to the region of interest.
Further, the polarization states are compared for all depth points within the region of interest to the reference polarization states. For example, the polarization states at the particular depth point may be determined in step 540, and may be defined by H1′, V1′, H2′, V2′. The parameters, e.g., α, θ, φ, that are used for minimizing the off-diagonal elements of Eq. 1 using these values (depth point and reference polarization states) can then be determined in step 550. In step 560, the resulting approximately diagonal matrix provides the amounts of birefringence and diattenuation. This exemplary method can be repeated for all points within this region of interest by determining whether the analysis of the region of interest has been completed in step 570. If not, the process returns to step 540. Otherwise, the process continues to step 580. In particular, the determination is continued until all regions of interest within the entire image are analyzed by determining whether thee analysis of all images has been completed in step 580. If not, the process returns to step 510. Otherwise, the analyzed data is displayed in step 590.
The present invention can be used, e.g., when the polarization state reflected from a sample are detected or determined for at least two unique incident polarization states. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be used for data obtained from arrangements with reflective or transmissive reference delay lines for exemplary time-domain OCT, spectral-domain OCT, and OFDI techniques. The information from the two unique incident polarization states does not have necessarily have to be collected in the manner described above either; the only preference would be for light to be detected from a particular volume probed with both incident states. The present invention is valid and can be applied to determine the non-depolarizing polarization parameters for a region between two points within a sample, e.g., when the complex electric fields H and V can be determined, up to an overall phase, for both points and for two unique incident polarization states.
The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. For example, the invention described herein is usable with the exemplary methods, systems and apparatus described in U.S. Provisional Patent Appn. No. 60/514,769 filed Oct. 27, 2003, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/599,809 filed on Aug. 6, 2004 and International Patent Application No. PCT/US03/02349 filed on Jan. 24, 2003, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, all publications, patents and patent applications referenced above are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/623,773, filed Oct. 29, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
This invention was made, at least in part, with Government support under grant numbers R01EY014975, and R01RR19768 from the National Institute of Health, and grant numbers F49620-01-10014 and FA-9550-04-1-0079 from the Department of Defense. The Government may have certain rights to the invention described and claimed herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60623773 | Oct 2004 | US |
