Significance: Mueller matrix polarimetry can provide useful information about the function and structure of the extracellular matrix. A portable and low-cost system could facilitate the clinical assessment of cervical anomalies in low-resource settings. Aim: We introduce a low-cost snapshot Mueller matrix polarimeter that does not require external power, has no moving parts, and can acquire a full Mueller matrix in ∼1 s, to conduct a feasibility study for cervical imaging in the low-resource setting. Approach: A snapshot system based on two sets of Savart plates, a ring illuminator with polarizing elements (generating four polarization states), and one camera is introduced. Stokes vectors are formulated to recover the polarization properties of the sample. Then, using Mueller matrix decomposition, the depolarization and retardance information is extracted. Results: We report the results on 16 healthy individuals (out of 22 patients imaged), whose Pap smear showed no malignant findings from mobile clinics in rural region of Mysore, India. The depolarization and retardance information was in agreement with previous reports. Conclusions: We introduce an imaging system and conducted a feasibility study on healthy individuals. This work could futurely translate into diagnostic applications to provide a quantitative platform in the clinical environment (e.g., cervical cancer screening).

中文翻译：

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便携式阴道镜Mueller矩阵旋光仪的设计与实现

意义：Mueller 矩阵极化法可以提供有关细胞外基质功能和结构的有用信息。便携式和低成本系统可以促进资源匮乏环境中宫颈异常的临床评估。目的：我们介绍一种低成本快照式 Mueller 矩阵旋光仪，它不需要外部电源，没有移动部件，可以在 1 s 内获取完整的 Mueller 矩阵，以在资源匮乏的情况下进行宫颈成像的可行性研究. 方法：介绍了一种基于两组 Savart 板、一个带偏振元件（产生四种偏振态）的环形照明器和一个相机的快照系统。制定斯托克斯矢量以恢复样品的偏振特性。然后，使用穆勒矩阵分解，提取去极化和延迟信息。结果：我们报告了 16 名健康个体（在 22 位成像患者中）的结果，其巴氏涂片未显示来自印度迈索尔农村地区流动诊所的恶性发现。去极化和延迟信息与之前的报告一致。结论：我们引入了成像系统并对健康个体进行了可行性研究。这项工作将来可以转化为诊断应用程序，以在临床环境中提供一个定量平台（例如，宫颈癌筛查）。去极化和延迟信息与之前的报告一致。结论：我们引入了成像系统并对健康个体进行了可行性研究。这项工作将来可以转化为诊断应用程序，以在临床环境中提供一个定量平台（例如，宫颈癌筛查）。去极化和延迟信息与之前的报告一致。结论：我们引入了成像系统并对健康个体进行了可行性研究。这项工作将来可以转化为诊断应用程序，以在临床环境中提供一个定量平台（例如，宫颈癌筛查）。