Imaging system using polarization effects to enhance image quality
US6577394B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B21/0068
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The quality of images produced by confocal microscopy, and especially scanning laser confocal microscopy, is enhanced especially for images obtained in turbid mediums such as many biological tissue specimens, by reducing speckle from scatterers that exist outside (above and below) the section which is being imaged by utilizing sheared beams, both of which are focused to laterally or vertically offset spots and polarizing the beams to have opposite senses of circular polarization (right and left handed circular polarization). The return light from the section of certain polarization is detected after passing through the confocal aperture of the confocal microscope. Images can be formed using optical coherence detection of the return light. Light from scatterers outside the section of interest, which are illuminated by both of the sheared beams, interfere thereby reducing speckle due to such scatterers, and particularly scatters which are adjacent to the section being imaged. Sheared beams having orthogonal linear polarization, as may be obtained from a Wollaston or Nomarski prism are converted into circularly polarized beams of opposite polarization sense by a quarter wave plate and…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.