Flexible polarimetric probe for 3 × 3 Mueller matrix measurements of biological tissue

Abstract

Polarimetry is a noninvasive method that uses polarised light to assess biophysical characteristics of tissues. A series of incident polarisation states illuminates a biological sample, and analysis of sample-altered polarisation states enables polarimetric tissue assessment. The resultant information can, for example, help quantitatively differentiate healthy from pathologic tissue. However, most bio-polarimetric assessments are performed using free-space optics with bulky optical components. Extension to flexible fibre-based systems is clinically desirable, but is challenging due to polarisation-altering properties of optical fibres. Here, we propose a flexible fibre-based polarimetric solution, and describe its design, fabrication, calibration, and initial feasibility demonstration in ex vivo tissue. The design is based on a flexible fibre bundle of six multimode optical fibres, each terminated with a distal polariser that ensures pre-determined output polarisation states. The resultant probe enables linear 3 × 3 Mueller matrix characterization of distal tissue. Potential in vivo Mueller matrix polarimetric tissue examinations in various directly-inaccessible body cavities are envisioned.

Assessment of tissue polarimetric properties using Stokes polarimetric imaging with circularly polarized illumination

“…The primary polarization properties of a sample are the depolarization, retardance—including linear‐ and circular‐retardance—and diattenuation . These properties—especially depolarization and linear‐retardance—have been used to investigate biological tissue microstructure and composition, and could benefit tissue diagnosis and image‐guided therapy . It has been reported that tissue linear‐retardance contributes to partial bladder obstruction assessment , nonstaining microscopy for liver fibrosis and cervical cancer diagnosis , characterization of radiofrequency ablation extent in myocardium and so on.…”

In-situ monitoring of an organic sample with electric field determination during cold plasma jet exposure

“…This paper will introduce Mueller polarimetry as a novel optical diagnostic technique that allows monitoring of the surface evolution of the targeted material while characterizing the interaction by capturing images of the induced electric field due to deposited surface charges. This technique has been used in the past for the examination of various tissues [4][5][6] , however it has never been used for tissues in-situ during direct plasma exposure as we show in this work. A diagnostic with that capability would be very useful since different types of samples and various plasma devices/exposures can be investigated and compared through the induced electric field.…”

Evolution of raw meat polarization‐based properties by means of Mueller matrix imaging

“…[26][27][28][29] Therefore, MMIP is becoming increasingly attractive for distinguishing the structural features of biological tissue in food quality control and medical diagnostics. 18,24,28,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] Optical characterization of biological tissue within the framework of the Stokes-Mueller formalism is based on measuring the bulk tissue's polarimetric transfer function, known as its Mueller matrix. This information-rich tissue signature includes the full polarization information reflecting its biophysical properties.…”