Photoacoustic probe and photoacoustic diagnostic apparatus including same

• US 10,226,182 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Samsung Medison Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Samsung Medison Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Jung-Ho, Koh, Dal-kwon, Jung, Jong-kyu, Oh, Jung-taek, Lee, Jae-kwang
• Primary Examiner(s): Pehlke, Carolyn
• Application Number:
  US14/449,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20150126849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1706 in solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1708 with piezotransducers probes for investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves G01N29/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/1702 with opto-acoustic detection, e.g. for gases or analysing solids

Abstract

Provided is a photoacoustic probe. The photoacoustic probe is configured to control light emitted from an optical unit by using a shutter that is switched between a state in which the shutter is opened to allow light to pass therethrough and a state in which the shutter blocks the light according to whether an inspection starts.

Claims

1. A photoacoustic probe comprising:

an optical unit comprising an optical module and an optical window, the optical module irradiates an object with light through the optical window;

an acoustic receiving unit that receives an acoustic wave generated from the object irradiated with the light;

a shutter that is disposed between the optical module and the optical window and blocks light;

a shutter driver that switches the shutter between an open state in which the shutter is opened to allow light to pass therethrough and a light-blocking state in which the shutter blocks the light;

a first guide defining a movement path of one end of the shutter, the first guide extending in a first direction and having a slot shape into which the one end of the shutter is inserted;

a second guide defining a movement path of another end of the shutter, the second guide extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and having a slot shape in to which the another end of the shutter is inserted;

a rotatable first roller disposed at the one end of the shutter and inserted into the first guide; and

a rotatable second roller disposed at the another end of the shutter and inserted into the second guide,

wherein the acoustic receiving unit comprises an acoustic receiving window that is disposed in a front surface thereof to contact the object and through which the acoustic wave is incident, the acoustic receiving window being spaced apart from the optical window, and

wherein the shutter driver switches the shutter from the light-block state to the open state according to whether the acoustic receiving window is in contact with the object.

2. The photoacoustic probe of claim 1, further comprising:

a button part configured to move between a projected position at which the button part is located so as to protrude from the front surface and a retreated position at which the button part is pushed from the object and retreated toward the front surface when the acoustic receiving window contacts the object; and

an elastic member that applies an elastic force to the button part in a direction that causes the button part to return to the projected position,

wherein the shutter driver is connected to the button part so as to switch the shutter to the open state and the light-blocking state as the button part moves to the retreated position and the projected position, respectively.

3. The photoacoustic probe of claim 2, wherein the shutter comprises a shielding plate that is disposed to extend across an optical path between the optical module and the optical window,

wherein the shutter driver comprises:

a first rack gear connected to the button part;

a second rack gear connected to one end of the shielding plate; and

at least one pinion gear for connecting the first rack gear with the second rack gear, wherein the shielding plate deviates from the optical path as the button part moves to the retreated position.

4. The photoacoustic probe of claim 3, wherein the at least one pinion gear comprises at least one two-step gear for amplifying a movement displacement of the first rack gear.