Polarizer-Free AOTF-Based SWIR Hyperspectral Imaging for Biomedical Applications

Optical biomedical imaging in short wave infrared (SWIR) range within 0.9–1.7 μm is a rapidly developing technique. For this reason, there is an increasing interest in cost-effective and robust hardware for hyperspectral imaging data acquisition in this range. Tunable-filter-based solutions are of particular interest as they provide image processing flexibility and effectiveness in terms of collected data volume. Acousto-optical tunable filters (AOTFs) provide a unique set of features necessary for high-quality SWIR hyperspectral imaging. In this paper, we discuss a polarizer-free configuration of an imaging AOTF that provides a compact and easy-to-integrate design of the whole imager. We have carried out image quality analysis of this system, assembled it and validated its efficiency through multiple experiments. The developed system can be helpful in many hyperspectral applications including biomedical analyses.