Scattering of polarized light by biological tissues

Steven L. Jacques; Kenneth Lee M.D.; Jessica C. Ramella-Roman

doi:10.1117/12.381506

6 April 2000 Scattering of polarized light by biological tissues

Steven L. Jacques, Kenneth Lee M.D., Jessica C. Ramella-Roman

Proceedings Volume 4001, Saratov Fall Meeting '99: Optical Technologies in Biophysics and Medicine; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.381506
Event: Saratov Fall Meeting '99, 1999, Saratov, Russian Federation

Abstract

Polarized light can be used to obtain images of superficial tissue layers such as skin and some examples images are presented. This paper present a study of the transition of linearly polarized light into randomly polarized light during light propagation through tissues. The transition of polarization was studied in polystyrene microsphere solutions and in chicken muscle and liver. The transition is discussed in terms of a diffusion process characterized by an angular diffusivity for the change in angular orientation of linearly polarized light per unit optical path traveled by the light. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that birefringent tissues randomize linearly polarized light more rapidly than nonbirefringent tissues. The results suggest that polarized light imagin of skin tissues based only on photons backscattered from the superficial epidermal and initial papillary dermis because the birefringent dermal collagen rapidly randomizes polarized light. This anatomical region of the skin is where cancer commonly arises.

Citation Download Citation

Steven L. Jacques, Kenneth Lee M.D., and Jessica C. Ramella-Roman "Scattering of polarized light by biological tissues", Proc. SPIE 4001, Saratov Fall Meeting '99: Optical Technologies in Biophysics and Medicine, (6 April 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.381506

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