| AVS 62nd International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Focus Topic | Thursday Sessions |
| Session EL+EM+EN-ThM |
| Session: | Spectroscopic Ellipsometry: Novel Applications and Theoretical Approaches |
| Presenter: | Bernard Drevillon, LPICM-CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, France |
| Authors: | B. Drevillon, LPICM-CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, France A. Pierangelo, LPICM-CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, France |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
In the last years Polarimetric Imaging has received considerable attention in the literature thanks to its tremendous potential for the assessment of biological tissues in biomedical diagnostics. Light Polarization allows obtaining morphological information on tissues microscopic structure, potentially improving the diagnosis and treatment of several pathologies. Moreover, polarimetric imaging can be implemented using conventional light sources, like LED or halogen lamps, making it a cheap alternative to current standards. For several years the PICM Laboratory has designed and built innovative polarimetric imagers for biomedical applications. In particular, the development of the eigenvalue calibration method [1], led to the design of several polarimeters for macroscopic and microscopic analysis (in real and Fourier space) of ex vivo samples and for in vivo diagnoses. The development of such new instruments ranged from the simple measurement of polarization degree to the complete Mueller polarimetry. Several studies were devoted to the early detection and staging of uterine cervix cancer and to show that polarimetric imaging is effective for the visualisation and first grading of cervical dysplastic regions for patients with anomalous Pap smear [2]. Mueller matrix imaging polarimetry also provides enhanced contrast to differentiate types of cancer of colon and their stage of progress and penetration, which is currently detectable only by histological examination [3]. Moreover, this technique may also be useful to quickly verify the presence of residual cancer in the rectum after treatment with radiochemotherapy [4]. Finally, as a complementary development to experimental techniques, the set-up of Monte-Carlo detailed modelling of polarized light scattering in tissues has been carried out in the last few years and provides fundamental insight on the origin of observed polarimetric contrasts [5]. In conclusion the synergy of new experimental techniques based on polarimetry with the biomedical analysis and theoretical computer models, led to significant advances in the field of biological tissues characterization and diagnosis of related pathologies.
[1] E. Compain et al., Appl. Opt. 38, 3490‐3502 (1999).
[2] A. Pierangelo et al., Opt. Express, 21, 14120 -14130 (2013).
[3] A. Pierangelo et al., Opt. Express 19, 1582 (2011).
[4] A. Pierangelo et al., J. Biomed. Opt., 18 (04), 046014 (2013).
[5] M.R. Antonelli et al., Opt. Express 18, 10201 (2010).