Patent ID: 8208996
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of generating an image of tissue using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, said OCT system including a light source generating a beam of light having an arbitrary polarization state, a sample arm and a reference arm and a detector for measuring light received from the sample and reference arms, said method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the beam over the tissue to generate a first set of Z-axis intensity profiles at a plurality of X and/or Y positions of the beam; (b) varying the polarization state of the beam in one of the sample and reference arms using a polarization controller; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) at least two more times to generate a a plurality of sets of Z-axis intensity profiles at a plurality of X and/or Y positions of the beam; (d) comparing the average intensity of the sets of Z-axis intensity profiles to identify two sets that have the highest and lowest average intensity difference; (e) combining intensity information at individual image sites from the two identified sets to provide information about the amount the tissue depolarizes the light without resolving the actual polarization state of the light and without passing the beam through a polarizer; and (f) displaying an image of the tissue which includes said depolarization information.