Simultaneous birefringence imaging and depth phase resolved measurement using a Fourier domain OCT system

• Published in: Optics and lasers in engineering Vol. 68; pp. 104 - 110
• Main Authors: Briones-R., Manuel de J., De La Torre-Ibarra, Manuel H., Mendoza-Santoyo, Fernando, Pedroza-G., Jesús
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2015
• Subjects: Birefringence; Optical coherence tomography; Phase measurement; Optical coherence tomography; Birefringence; Phase measurement
• ISSN: 0143-8166; 1873-0302
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlaseng.2014.12.005

A low cost optical coherence tomography (OCT) system to measure simultaneously the birefringence and the internal deformation of a porcine cornea is proposed. The optical system uses polarized light to recover simultaneously the s and p polarization states while a couple of cameras record a fringe pattern that serves to reconstruct the internal structure of the cornea. The p and s interference signals are registered separately in each 2D CMOS array which generates in a single shot an entire B-scan, a feature that allows the tracking of non-repeatable deformations. A birefringence map is generated within the tissue when the p and s polarization states are combined. The experiments were conducted on a cornea that is deformed using a hydro static pressure rig which introduces mechanical micro deformations on it, and the results show concomitantly the micro structure of the cornea, its birefringence and the mechanical micro deformation.
•OCT simultaneous acquisition of porcine cornea׳s deformation, birefringence and structure.•High resolution tomographic images obtained with a low cost system.•Two simultaneous one shot B scans for fast biological measurements.