Significance: A non-destructive technique for accurately characterizing the spatial distribution of optical properties of soft tissue membranes may give improved outcomes in many tissue engineering applications. Aim: This study aimed to develop a non-destructive macroscopic imaging technique that is sensitive to optical anisotropy, typical of fibrous components in soft tissue membranes, and can address some of the difficulties caused by the complex turbid nature of these tissues. Approach: A near-infrared Mueller matrix imaging polarimeter employing logarithm decomposition was developed and used to conduct transmission measurements of all the polarization properties across the full thickness of bovine pericardium tissue. Results: The full Mueller matrix was measured across a 70 mm × 70 mm sample of calf bovine pericardium and revealed significant retardance (linear and circular) and depolarization in this tissue. Regions with a uniform axis of optical anisotropy were identified. Mueller matrix imaging demonstrated that the exhibited circular retardance was sufficient to lead to possible misinterpretation of apparent fiber orientation when using conventional polarization imaging techniques for such tissues. Conclusions: Mueller matrix imaging can identify regional distributions of optical anisotropy in calf bovine pericardium. This new capability is a promising development in non-destructive imaging for tissue selection.

中文翻译：

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使用穆勒矩阵成像量化软组织膜中的光学各向异性

意义：一种用于准确表征软组织膜光学特性空间分布的非破坏性技术可能会在许多组织工程应用中提供更好的结果。目的：本研究旨在开发一种无损宏观成像技术，该技术对光学各向异性（软组织膜中的纤维成分的典型特征）敏感，并且可以解决由这些组织的复杂混浊性质引起的一些困难。方法：开发了一种采用对数分解的近红外穆勒矩阵成像偏振计，用于对牛心包组织全厚度的所有偏振特性进行透射测量。结果：在 70 mm × 70 mm 的小牛心包样品上测量完整的 Mueller 矩阵，并显示该组织中的显着延迟（线性和圆形）和去极化。确定了具有均匀光学各向异性轴的区域。穆勒矩阵成像表明，当对此类组织使用传统的偏振成像技术时，所表现出的圆形延迟足以导致对表观纤维取向的可能误解。结论：Mueller 矩阵成像可以识别小牛心包中光学各向异性的区域分布。这种新功能是用于组织选择的非破坏性成像的一个有前途的发展。穆勒矩阵成像表明，当对此类组织使用传统的偏振成像技术时，所表现出的圆形延迟足以导致对表观纤维取向的可能误解。结论：Mueller 矩阵成像可以识别小牛心包中光学各向异性的区域分布。这种新功能是用于组织选择的非破坏性成像的一个有前途的发展。穆勒矩阵成像表明，当对此类组织使用传统的偏振成像技术时，所表现出的圆形延迟足以导致对表观纤维取向的可能误解。结论：Mueller 矩阵成像可以识别小牛心包中光学各向异性的区域分布。这种新功能是用于组织选择的非破坏性成像的一个有前途的发展。