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Polarization-insensitive optical coherence tomography using pseudo-depolarized reference light for mitigating birefringence-related image artifacts

Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Significance: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images are prone to image artifacts due to the birefringence of the sample or the optical system when a polarized light source is used for imaging. These artifacts can lead to degraded image quality and diagnostic information. Aim: We aim to mitigate these birefringence-related artifacts in OCT images by adding a depolarizer module in the reference arm of the interferometer. Approach: We investigated different configurations of liquid crystal patterned retarders as pseudo-depolarizers in the reference arm of OCT setups. We identified the most effective depolarization module layout for polarization artifact suppression for a spectral-domain OCT system based on a Michelson and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Results: The performance of our approach was demonstrated in an achromatic quarter-wave plate allowing the selection of a variety of sample polarization states. A substantial improvement of the OCT signal magnitude was observed after placing the optimal depolarizer configuration, reducing the cross-polarization artifact from 5.7 to 1.8 dB and from 8.0 to 1.0 dB below the co-polarized signal for the fiber-based Michelson and Mach-Zehnder setup, respectively. An imaging experiment in the birefringent scleral tissue of a post-mortem alpine marmot eye and a mouse tail specimen further showcased a significant improvement in the detected signal intensity and an enhanced OCT image quality followed by a drastic elimination of the birefringence-related artifacts. Conclusions: Our study presents a simple yet cost-effective technique to mitigate birefringence-related artifacts in OCT imaging. This method can be readily implemented in existing OCT technology and improve the effectiveness of various OCT imaging applications in biomedicine.
DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.29.11.116001
Authors: Maria Varaka, Conrad W. Merkle, Lucas May, Sybren Worm, Marco Augustin, Félix Fanjul-Vélez, Hsiang-Chieh Lee, Adelheid Wöhrer, Martin Glösmann, Bernhard Baumann
Institutions: University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Universidad de Cantabria, National Taiwan University, Innsbruck Medical University, Universität Innsbruck, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,675
OpenAlex ID: W4404019222
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Cites: 43
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Related to: 10