Three dimensional polarization sensitive OCT of human skin in vivo

We present three dimensional images of backscattered intensity, and to the best of our knowledge, the first 3D-images of retardation and fast axis orientation of human skin in vivo. The images were recorded with a phase resolved, polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) system which is based on a fast transversal scanning of the sample. The three dimensional data sets were obtained by recording several en face images at different depths within the sample. Intensity and retardation images are combined to a 4 dimensional animation to enhance the visualization of the three dimensional data set. The three dimensional information enables a more accurate interpretation of the structural and birefringence information as compared to 2 dimensional B-scans. Birefringence properties of different skin regions are presented and discussed. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.