• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.310-317
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• 2006

Extensive research with polarimetry and Mueller matrix has been done for chemical measurements and possible cancer detection. However, the effect of thermally denatured biological tissue on polarization changes is not well known. The purpose of this study is to characterize polarization changes in collagen due to thermal denaturation. The variations in polarized state caused by thermal damage were investigated by obtaining the Mueller matrix elements of collagen sample at multiple thermal damage levels. The changes in birefringence of denatured collagen were also investigated. This information could be used to determine the extent of thermal damage level of clinically heat treated tissues.