Polarization-Sensitive Module for Optical Coherence Tomography Instruments

Abstract

Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) extends OCT by analyzing the polarization states of backscattered light to quantify tissue birefringence. However, conventional implementations require polarization-diverse detection and are therefore incompatible with most commercial OCT systems. As a result, PS-OCT has largely remained restricted to specialized research groups, limiting its broader scientific and clinical use. Here, we present a modular PS-OCT framework that integrates with a standard spectral-domain OCT platform through a detachable rotating achromatic half-wave plate in the sample arm. This waveplate modulates both incident and reflected polarization states. Three or more repeated measurements at distinct waveplate orientations enable reconstruction of the sample's round-trip Jones matrix and the corresponding polarization properties. To mitigate random phase variations between repeated measurements, we introduce a phase optimization strategy. We validate the framework with imaging of birefringent phantoms and the human retina in vivo, demonstrating reliable reconstruction of retardance and optic axis orientation. In this study, we implemented a polarization-sensitive module on the SPECTRALIS platform with minimal hardware modification. The framework could potentially be extended to other OCT systems with appropriate mechanical integration and access to acquisition data. By reducing the hardware complexity typically associated with conventional PS-OCT, this framework may facilitate broader adoption of PS-OCT imaging in both research and clinical settings.