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Guest editors Jessica Ramella-Roman, Amir H. Gandjbakhche, Stephen C. Kanick, Babak Shadgan, and Bruce J. Tromberg introduce and summarize the articles included in the 6-part JBO Special Section on Wearable, Implantable, Mobile, and Remote Biomedical Optics Photonics.

Motivation Imaging Mueller polarimetry has already proved its potential for biomedicine, remote sensing, and metrology. The real-time applications of this modality require both video rate image acquisition and fast data post-processing algorithms. First, one must check the physical realizability of the experimental Mueller matrices in order to filter out non-physical data, i.e. to test the positive semi-definiteness of the 4 × 4 Hermitian coherency matrix calculated from the elements of corresponding Mueller matrix pixel-wise. For this purpose, we compared the execution time for the calculations of (i) eigenvalues, (ii) Cholesky decomposition, (iii) Sylvester's criterion, and (iv) coefficients of the characteristic polynomial (two different approaches) of the Hermitian coherency matrix, all calculated for the experimental Mueller matrix images (600 pixels × 700 pixels) of mouse uterine cervix. The calculations were performed using C++ and Julia programming languages. Results Our results showed the superiority of the algorithm (iv) based on the simplification via Pauli matrices over other algorithms for our dataset. The sequential implementation of latter algorithm on a single core already satisfies the requirements of real-time polarimetric imaging. This can be further amplified by the proposed parallelization (e.g. we achieve a 5-fold speed up on six cores). Availability and implementation The source codes of the algorithms and experimental data are available at https://github.com/pogudingleb/mueller_matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significance: Preterm birth is defined as a birth before 37 weeks of gestation and is one of the leading contributors to infant mortality rates globally. Premature birth can lead to life-long developmental impairment for the child. Unfortunately, there is a significant lack of tools to diagnose preterm birth risk, which limits patient care and the development of new therapies. Aim: To develop a speculum-free, portable preterm imaging system (PPRIM) for cervical imaging; testing of the PPRIM system to resolve polarization properties of birefringent samples; and testing of the PPRIM under an IRB on healthy, nonpregnant volunteers for visualization and polarization analysis of cervical images. Approach: The PPRIM can perform 4 x 3 Mueller-matrix imaging to characterize the remodeling of the uterine cervix during pregnancy. The PPRIM is built with a polarized imaging probe and a flexible insertable sheath made with a compatible flexible rubber-like material to maximize comfort and ease of use. Results: The PPRIM device is developed to meet specific design specifications as a speculum-free, portable, and comfortable imaging system with polarized imaging capabilities. This system comprises a main imaging component and a flexible silicone inserter. The inserter is designed to maximize comfort and usability for the patient. The PPRIM shows high-resolution imaging capabilities at the 20 mm working distance and 25 mm circular field of view. The PPRIM demonstrates the ability to resolve birefringent sample orientation and full field capture of a healthy, nonpregnant cervix. Conclusion: The development of the PPRIM aims to improve access to the standard of care for women's reproductive health using polarized Mueller-matrix imaging of the cervix and reduce infant and maternal mortality rates and better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a guest editorial from the Journal of Biomedical Optics, introducing a special section on polarimetry in biomedical optics. The special section is split into two issues, covering topics such as mathematical and statistical characterization of polarimetric signals, development of novel instrumentation, integration of AI and machine learning in analyzing polarization-sensitive data, and diverse medical applications. The editorial highlights several research papers that demonstrate the potential of polarimetric microscopy enhancements in various biomedical applications. It also mentions upcoming conferences and resources related to polarized light and optical momentum for biomedical applications. The authors acknowledge funding support and provide brief biographies of the guest editors. [Extracted from the article]