Systems, methods, apparatus and computer-accessible-medium for providing polarization-mode dispersion compensation in optical coherence tomography

• US 9,330,092 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vakoc, Benjamin J., Zhang, Ziyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Carol S
• Application Number:
  US13/552,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20130185023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 702/189, 250/581, 250/586, 250/584, 250/585, 359/624, 359/369, 359/479, 359/344, 359/578, 385/12, 385/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2290/45 Multiple detectors for detecting interferometer signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2290/70 Using polarization in the interferometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02002 using two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02004 using frequency scans
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02028 Two or more reference or object arms in one interferometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02058 by particular optical compensation or alignment elements, e.g. dispersion compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02072 by calibration or testing of interferometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 9/02091 Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/48 Laser speckle optics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor

Abstract

Exemplary systems, apparatus, methods and computer-accessible medium for generating information regarding at least one sample can be provided. For example, it is possible to receiving first data which is based on at least one first radiation provided to the sample(s) and at least one second radiation provided from the sample(s) that is/are associated with the first radiation(s) It is also possible to generate second data by reducing the influence of first optical effects induced on the first radiation(s) prior to reaching the sample(s), and second optical effects induced on the second radiation(s) after leaving the sample(s).

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating information regarding at least one sample, comprising:

at least one polarization related data receiver first arrangement which is configured to;

receive first data, second data, third data and fourth data, wherein

i. the first data is associated with a first radiation provided to the at least one sample, a second radiation from the at least one sample, and at least one further radiation provided from the at least one sample or a reference,

ii. the second data is associated with a third radiation provided to the at least one sample, the second radiation, and the at least one further radiation,

iii. the third data is associated with the first radiation, a fourth radiation from the at least one sample, and the at least one further radiation, and

iii. the fourth data is associated with the third radiation, the fourth radiation from the at least one sample, and the at least one further radiation,

iv. wherein each of the first and third radiations and the second and fourth radiations have polarizations states are different from one another; and

a second arrangement including a computer which is configured to generate fifth data by combining at least two of the first, second, third and fourth data, wherein the combination reduces the influence on the fifth data of a polarization mode dispersion acting on any of the first, second, or third radiations.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one optical frequency shifter/delay third arrangement which is configured to generate at least one of (i) an optical frequency shift on the first radiation in relation to the third radiation, (ii) an optical frequency shift on the second radiation in relation to the fourth radiation, (iii) an optical delay of the first radiation in relation to the third radiation, or (iv) an optical delay of the second radiation in relation to the fourth radiation.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first arrangement is further configured to measure characteristics of the at least one sample that influence an optical polarization of a radiation within the at least one sample based on the information.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first arrangement is further configured to receive sixth data which is associated with signals generated by at least one optical device that is provided in an optical path that excludes the at least one sample, and wherein the at least one second arrangement reduces the influences using the sixth data.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one further radiation is provided from the reference.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first arrangement is further configured to resolve the first, second, third and fourth data as a function of an optical wavelengths of at least one of the first, second, third or fourth radiations.

7. A non-transitory computer accessible medium which includes instructions thereon for generating information regarding at least one sample, wherein, when executing the instructions, a computer is configured to perform procedures comprising:

receiving first data, second data, third data and fourth data, wherein

i. the first data is associated with a first radiation provided to the at least one sample, a second radiation from the at least one sample, and at least one further radiation provided from the at least one sample or a reference,

ii. the second data is associated with a third radiation provided to the at least one sample, the second radiation, and the at least one further radiation,

iii. the third data is associated with the first radiation, a fourth radiation from the at least one sample, and the at least one further radiation,

iii. the fourth data is associated with the third radiation, the fourth radiation from the at least one sample, and the at least one further radiation,

iv. wherein each of the first and third radiations and the second and fourth radiations have polarizations states are different from one another; and

generating fifth data by combining at least two of the first, second, third and fourth data, wherein the combination reduces the influence on the fifth data of a polarization mode dispersion acting on any of the first, second, third or fourth radiations.

8. An apparatus for generating information regarding at least one sample, comprising:

at least one polarization related data receiver first arrangement which is configured to receive first data which is based on at least one first radiation provided to the at least one sample and at least one second radiation provided from the at least one sample that is associated with the at least one first radiation; and

at least one second digital arrangement including a computer that is configured to generate second data by reducing the influence on the second data of a polarization mode dispersion acting on any of the first or second radiations,

wherein the at least one first arrangement is further configured to receive third data which is associated with signals generated by at least one optical device that is provided in an optical path that excludes the at least one sample, and wherein the at least one second arrangement is configured to reduce the influences of the polarization mode dispersion using the third data.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information regarding the at least one sample includes optical properties regarding the at least one sample which influence the polarization.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the optical properties include at least one of birenfringenece, diattenuation, or polarization dependent scattering.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one first arrangement is further configured to resolve the first data as a function of an optical wavelengths of at least one of the first or second radiations.

12. A non-transitory computer accessible medium which includes instructions thereon for generating information regarding at least one sample, wherein, when executing the instructions, a computer is configured to perform procedures comprising:

receiving first data which is based on at least one first radiation provided to the at least one sample and at least one second radiation provided from the at least one sample that is associated with the at least one first radiation;

generating second data by reducing the influence on the second data of a polarization mode dispersion acting on the first and second radiations;

receiving third data which is associated with signals generated by at least one optical device that is provided in an optical path that excludes the at least one sample; and

reducing the influences of the polarization mode dispersion using the third data.