Abstract: A method of quantifying progression of pregnancy, includes a) illuminating a uterine cervix with polarized light having a wavelength comprised between 600 and 1100 nm; b) acquiring a plurality of images of the illuminated uterine cervix through a polarization state analyser in respective analysing states; steps a) and b) being performed either once or a plurality of time using polarized light having different polarization states; c) from the acquired images, computing a depolarization parameter over a region of interest of the uterine cervix; and d) quantifying the progression of the pregnancy from said depolarization parameter. An apparatus, based on a colposcope fitted with a controllable polarization state generator, a controllable polarization state analyser and a suitably-programmed computer, for carrying out such a method. A computer program for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the invention relates to a device (100) for remote polarimetric characterization of a sample (S). It comprises a source (10) for emitting at least one incident light wave at at least one first wavelength (?E); a monomode optical fiber (30) in which the incident light wave is intended to propagate; a polarization state generator (PSG) arranged on the proximal side of the optical fiber; a reflector (40) intended to be arranged on the distal side of the optical fiber; a polarization state analyzer (PSA) arranged on the proximal side of the optical fiber and allowing, for each probe state of the incident wave generated by the polarization state generator, the polarization of the light wave obtained after propagation of the incident wave in the optical fiber (30), reflection from the distal side of the optical fiber and reverse propagation in the optical fiber (30), to be analyzed.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the invention relates to a device (100) for remote polarimetric characterisation of a sample (S). It comprises a source (10) for emitting at least one incident light wave at at least one first wavelength (?E); a monomode optical fibre (30) in which the incident light wave is intended to propagate; a polarisation state generator (PSG) arranged on the proximal side of the optical fibre; a reflector (40) intended to be arranged on the distal side of the optical fibre; a polarisation state analyser (PSA) arranged on the proximal side of the optical fibre and allowing, for each probe state of the incident wave generated by the polarisation state generator, the polarisation of the light wave obtained after propagation of the incident wave in the optical fibre (30), reflection from the distal side of the optical fibre and reverse propagation in the optical fibre (30), to be analysed.