All single-mode fiber-based polarization-sensitive spectral domain optical coherence tomography system

We reported an all single-mode fiber (SMF)-based polarization sensitive spectral domain optical coherence tomography (PS-SDOCT) system with single input polarization state (IPS). In our design, polarization state was modulated only by four polarization controllers (PC) and a polarization beam splitter. To extract the phase retardance and optical axis orientation of sample, the Mueller matrix of the fiber system and sample is transferred to a new retardar by employing PCs with the advantage that the effects of fiber birefringence of SMFs and SMF components are corrected. The contribution of the multi-backscattering in tissues to the orthogonal polarization interference signals is readily suppressed by subtracting the unpolarized component of the scattered light. To demonstrate the capabilities of our system, the crossing-sectional images were presented of phase retardance and optical axis orientation of several tissues. The experiment results showed that the imaging depth, the image contrast of tissues and signal-to-noise ratio have been further increased. (paper)