High-Resolution Pearl Identification Based on Orthogonal-Polarization-Gating Optical Coherence Tomography System

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is extensively employed in clinical diagnostics and research. However, traditional OCT methods offer limited insight, primarily providing intensity data. Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (PS-OCT), a functional extension of OCT, not only captures tissue structure but also detects changes in light polarization within tissues, enhancing contrast in images. Challenges persist in PS-OCT, including inaccuracies in measuring tissue birefringence due to varying light phase and the oversight of circular birefringence properties, affecting tissue characterization. Mueller matrix offers a comprehensive solution but demands extensive data acquisition time, hampering imaging speed. Despite high resolution, OCT suffers from shallow imaging depth and bulky, costly devices. Therefore, non-destructive subcutaneous imaging holds promise in tissue detection. This study optimizes PS-OCT through Orthogonal-Polarization-Gating Optical Coherence Tomography (OPG-OCT), offering cost-effectiveness, automation, rapid sampling, and high-resolution imaging. OPG-OCT addresses imaging quality issues and achieves rapid target detection, acquiring two-dimensional images in 0.0125 seconds. Integration of deep learning algorithms enhances tissue microstructure observation, yielding longitudinal resolution of 8.9 micrometers and lateral resolution of 18.8 micrometers. This system enables high-quality image reconstruction for precise biological feature identification, advancing applications such as pearl identification in biological research.