Polarimetric terahertz probe for endoscopic assessment of malignancies

We propose a compact endoscopic probe for tissue margin detection through reflection measurements in the terahertz band (0.1 - 3 THz). Compared to scalar reflectivity measurements, a fully polarimetric characterization of tissue and malignancy margins provides order-of-magnitude better differentiation, facilitating medical diagnosis of internal organs, such as the gastrointestinal tract. The compact dimensions of the probe (<; 5 mm diameter) allow the sensor to be used in conjunction with optical endoscope, leading to a compact diagnostic tool. Additionally, this compact sensor could expand its applications in the industry for non-destructive probing inside small structures.