Apparatus for acquiring tomographic image formed by ultrasound-modulated fluorescence

• US 20060184049A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsujita, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/478
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

In a fluorescence tomography apparatus for obtaining fluorescence tomographic images of a region of an object to be observed: an application unit concurrently applies an ultrasonic wave and excitation light to the region so that ultrasound-modulated fluorescence is emitted from the region under the influence of the ultrasonic wave; and a first image acquisition unit acquires a fluorescence tomographic image of the region on the basis of the ultrasound-modulated fluorescence.

Claims

1. A fluorescence tomography apparatus for obtaining fluorescence tomographic images of a region of an object to be observed, comprising:

a first application unit which concurrently applies a first ultrasonic wave and excitation light to said region so that ultrasound-modulated fluorescence is emitted from the region under the influence of the first ultrasonic wave; and

a first image acquisition unit which acquires a fluorescence tomographic image of said region on the basis of said ultrasound-modulated fluorescence.

2. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said region is doped in advance with a fluorescent agent having an affinity for a tumor.

3. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first image acquisition unit comprises a three-dimensional-image generation unit which generates a three-dimensional fluorescence tomographic image from a plurality of fluorescence tomographic images, which are acquired by said first image acquisition unit.

4. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first image acquisition unit comprises a three-dimensional-image generation unit which generates a three-dimensional fluorescence tomographic image from a plurality of fluorescence tomographic images, which are acquired by said first image acquisition unit.

5. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising,

a second application unit which concurrently applies a second ultrasonic wave and first light to said region so that said first light is reflected from the region under the influence of the first ultrasonic wave, and ultrasound-modulated reflected light is generated, and

a second image acquisition unit which acquires an ultrasound-modulated-light tomographic image of said region on the basis of said ultrasound-modulated reflected light.

6. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising,

a second application unit which concurrently applies a second ultrasonic wave and first light to said region so that said first light is reflected from the region under the influence of the first ultrasonic wave, and ultrasound-modulated reflected light is generated, and

a second image acquisition unit which acquires an ultrasound-modulated-light tomographic image of said region on the basis of said ultrasound-modulated reflected light.

7. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising,

a second application unit which concurrently applies a second ultrasonic wave and first light to said region so that said first light is reflected from the region under the influence of the first ultrasonic wave, and ultrasound-modulated reflected light is generated, and

a second image acquisition unit which acquires an ultrasound-modulated-light tomographic image of said region on the basis of said ultrasound-modulated reflected light.

8. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising,

a second application unit which concurrently applies a second ultrasonic wave and first light to said region so that said first light is reflected from the region under the influence of the first ultrasonic wave, and ultrasound-modulated reflected light is generated, and

a second image acquisition unit which acquires an ultrasound-modulated-light tomographic image of said region on the basis of said ultrasound-modulated reflected light.

9. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising,

a third application unit which applies second light to said region so that said second light is reflected from the region, and

a third image acquisition unit which acquires an optical tomographic image of said region on the basis of said second light reflected from the region.

10. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising,

a third application unit which applies second light to said region so that said second light is reflected from the region, and

a third image acquisition unit which acquires an optical tomographic image of said region on the basis of said second light reflected from the region.

11. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising,

a third application unit which applies second light to said region so that said second light is reflected from the region, and

a third image acquisition unit which acquires an optical tomographic image of said region on the basis of said second light reflected from the region.

12. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising,

a third application unit which applies second light to said region so that said second light is reflected from the region, and

a third image acquisition unit which acquires an optical tomographic image of said region on the basis of said second light reflected from the region.

13. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising,

a fourth application unit which applies a third ultrasonic wave to said region so that said third ultrasonic wave is reflected from the region, and

a fourth image acquisition unit which acquires an ultrasonic tomographic image of said region on the basis of said third ultrasonic wave reflected from the region.

14. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising,

a fourth application unit which applies a third ultrasonic wave to said region so that said third ultrasonic wave is reflected from the region, and

a fourth image acquisition unit which acquires an ultrasonic tomographic image of said region on the basis of said third ultrasonic wave reflected from the region.

15. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising,

a fourth application unit which applies a third ultrasonic wave to said region so that said third ultrasonic wave is reflected from the region, and

a fourth image acquisition unit which acquires an ultrasonic tomographic image of said region on the basis of said third ultrasonic wave reflected from the region.

16. A fluorescence tomography apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising,

a fourth application unit which applies a third ultrasonic wave to said region so that said third ultrasonic wave is reflected from the region, and

a fourth image acquisition unit which acquires an ultrasonic tomographic image of said region on the basis of said third ultrasonic wave reflected from the region.