Systems and Methods for Extending Imaging Depth Range of Optical Coherence Tomography Through Optical Sub-Sampling

A method for generating data associated with at least one sample, comprising:

• forwarding at least one first radiation to the at least one sample so as to cause at least one second radiation to be provided from the at least one sample that is based on the at least one first radiation;
• receiving the at least one second radiation from the at least one sample,
• generating a plurality of distinct measurements regarding at least one portion of the at least one sample based the at least one second radiation;
• and
• characterizing the at least one portion over a plurality of continuous resolvable depth points thereof which are associated with the distinct measurements,
• wherein the characterization of the at least one portion is resolved and distinctly characterized at a number of the depth points which is greater than a number of the distinct measurements.

A system for generating data associated with at least one sample, comprising:

• at least one first arrangement configured to forward at least one first radiation to the at least one sample so as to cause at least one second radiation to be provided from the at least one sample that is based on the at least one first radiation;
• and
• at least one second arrangement configured to:
• a. receive the at least one second radiation from the at least one sample,
• b. generate a plurality of distinct measurements regarding at least one portion of the at least one sample based the at least one second radiation as a function of wavelengths of the at least one first radiation, and
• c. characterize the at least one portion over a plurality of continuous resolvable depth points thereof which are associated with the distinct measurements to generate,
• wherein the characterization of the at least one portion is resolved and distinctly characterized at a number of the depth points which is greater than a number of the distinct measurements.

A system for generating data associated with at least one sample, comprising:

• at least one first arrangement configured to forward at least one first radiation to the at least one sample which has a wavelength that varies over time so as to cause at least one second radiation to be provided from the at least one sample that is based on the at least one first radiation;
• and
• at least one second arrangement configured to:
• a. receive the at least one second radiation from the at least one sample,
• b. generate a plurality of distinct measurements regarding at least one portion of the at least one sample based the at least one second radiation as a function of wavelengths of the at least one first radiation, and
• c. characterize the at least one portion over a plurality of continuous resolvable depth points thereof which are associated with the distinct measurements,
• wherein the characterization of the at least one portion is resolved and distinctly characterized at a number of the depth points which is greater than a number of the distinct measurements.