Skin biomedical optical imaging system using dual-wavelength polarimetric control with liquid crystals

Spectropolarimetric skin imaging is becoming an attractive technique for early detection of skin cancer. Using two liquid crystal retarders in combination with a dual-band passive spectral filter and two linear polarizers, we demonstrate the spectral and polarimetric imaging of skin tissue in the near infrared. Based on this concept, a compact prototype module has been built and is being used for clinical evaluation. (C) 2010 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [DOI: 10.1117/1.3394338]