Systems, methods, and media for multiple beam optical coherence tomography

A system for multiple beam optical coherence tomography, comprising:

• a sample arm optically configured to be coupled to a light source, the sample arm comprising:
• a first optical fiber comprising a proximal end optically coupled to the light source and a distal end,
• a first splitter optically coupled to the distal end of the first optical fiber and optically coupled to a proximal end of each of a first plurality of optical fibers, wherein the first plurality of optical fibers comprises n optical fibers, and
• a first plurality of optical components configured to:
• receive from the plurality of optical fibers a respective plurality of beams,
• cause the plurality of beams to be emitted toward a sample,
• receive a plurality of backscattered light samples from the sample,
• wherein the plurality of backscattered light samples are spatially separated, and
• wherein each of the plurality of backscattered light samples corresponds to one of the plurality of beams, and
• direct the plurality of backscattered light samples toward a detector;
• a reference arm optically coupled to the light source, the reference arm comprising:
• a second optical fiber comprising a proximal end optically coupled to the light source and a distal end, and
• a second splitter optically coupled to the distal end of the second optical fiber and optically coupled to a proximal end of each of a second plurality of optical fibers, wherein the second plurality of optical fibers comprises n optical fibers;
• a second plurality of optical components configured to:
• combine each of the plurality of backscattered light samples with a beam emitted by a corresponding optical fiber of the second plurality of optical fibers yielding a plurality of fringes, and
• direct each of the plurality of fringes to a corresponding channel of the detector,
• the second plurality of optical components comprising a beam splitter comprising a first port, a second port, and a third port,
• the first port being configured to receive light emitted by the second plurality of optical components,
• the second port being configured to receive the plurality of backscattered light samples, and
• the third port being configured to output the plurality of fringes;
• and
• the detector comprising a plurality of detection channels, the detector configured to output optical coherence tomography data indicative of a structure of the sample at a plurality of locations that generated the plurality of backscattered light samples,
• the detector comprising a plurality of balanced detectors comprising a first port and a second port, each of the plurality of balanced detectors corresponding to a respective channel of the detector,
• the beam splitter further comprising a fourth port configured to output a second plurality of fringes, and
• each of the plurality of balanced detectors receiving a fringe of the plurality of fringes and a corresponding fringe of the second plurality of fringes and outputting a signal based on both fringes.