MEASUREMENT APPARATUS

• US 20090069674A1
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: NISHIHARA, HIROSHI, MASUMURA, TAKAHIRO, YOSHIDA, HIROFUMI
• Application Number:
  US12/203,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069674A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/425
• 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 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence

Abstract

A measurement apparatus is configured to measure a spectroscopic characteristic of a measurement site in a specimen by applying acousto-optical tomography. The measurement apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to measure a light intensity of each of measurement areas that are set differently from the measurement site on a light propagation path from the measurement site to a detection position of a light detector and a signal processing device configured to sequentially modify the spectroscopic characteristics of the measurement areas and the measurement site on the light propagation path from the detection position of the light detector to the measurement site by using a light intensity that is measured by the measurement unit in the measurement area that is closer to a surface layer of the specimen than the measurement site.

Claims

1. A measurement apparatus configured to measure a spectroscopic characteristic of a measurement site in a specimen by applying acousto-optical tomography, the measurement apparatus comprising:

a measurement unit configured to measure a light intensity of each of measurement areas that are set differently from the measurement site on a light propagation path from the measurement site to a detection position of a light detector; and

a signal processing device configured to sequentially modify the spectroscopic characteristics of the measurement areas and the measurement site on the light propagation path from the detection position of the light detector to the measurement site by using a light intensity that is measured by the measurement unit in the measurement area that is closer to a surface layer of the specimen than the measurement site.

2. A measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a light incident position upon the specimen and the detection position of the light detector are set such that the light detector can measure light that is incident upon the light incident position and reflected on the measurement area or the measurement site, and

wherein the light incident position upon the specimen and the light detector are configured movable.

3. A measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing device assumes that two adjacent measurement areas on the light propagation path have the same spectroscopic characteristic,

wherein the signal processing device obtains a difference between an actual measurement value of a light intensity of one of the two adjacent measurement areas which one is closer to the measurement site, and a predicted value of the light intensity of the one measurement area based on a measurement result of the other of the two adjacent measurement areas which is closer to the light detecting device, and

wherein the signal processing device modifies the spectroscopic characteristics of the one measurement area based on a deviation amount corresponding to the difference.

4. A measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store light intensities of the measurement site and all the measurement areas measured by the measurement unit, before the signal processing device starts processing.

5. A measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurement area is set throughout an entire interior of the specimen.

6. A measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing device forms a three-dimensional tomographic image of the specimen by correlating the spectroscopic characteristic or a concentration and a constituent ratio of an ingredient that contributes to an absorption of the spectroscopic characteristic with a position coordinate of the measurement site or the measurement area,

wherein the measurement apparatus further comprises a display device configured to display the three-dimensional tomographic image.

7. A measurement apparatus configured to measure a spectroscopic characteristic of a measurement site in a specimen by applying photo-acoustic tomography, the measurement apparatus comprising:

a measurement unit configured to measure a photoacoustic signal of each of measurement areas that are set separately from the measurement site on a light propagation path from a light incident position to the measurement site; and

a signal processing device configured to sequentially modify spectroscopic characteristics of the measurement areas and the measurement site on the light propagation path from the light incident position to the measurement site by using a spectroscopic characteristic of a measurement area that is located in an outermost area closest to a surface layer of the specimen measured by the measurement unit.

8. A measurement apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an ultrasound detecting device configured to detect an ultrasound emitted from the measurement site,

wherein the signal processing device calculates a light intensity of the measurement site based on the spectroscopic characteristic of the measurement area, and calculates the spectroscopic characteristic of the measurement site based on a calculated light intensity of the measurement site and an sound pressure of the ultrasound which is detected by the ultrasound detecting device.

9. A measurement apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the signal processing device assumes that two adjacent measurement areas on the light propagation path have the same spectroscopic characteristic,

wherein the signal processing device obtains a difference between an actual measurement value of an sound pressure of one of the two adjacent measurement areas which one is closer to the measurement site, and a predicted value of the sound pressure of the one measurement area based on a measurement result of the other of the two adjacent measurement areas which is closer to the light incident position, and

wherein the signal processing device modifies the spectroscopic characteristics of the one measurement area based on a deviation amount corresponding to the difference.

10. A measurement apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a memory configured to store a sound pressure intensity of the measurement site and all the measurement areas measured by the measurement unit, before the signal processing device starts processing.

11. A measurement apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the measurement area is set throughout an entire interior of the specimen.

12. A measurement apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the signal processing device forms a three-dimensional tomographic image of the specimen by correlating the spectroscopic characteristic or a concentration and a constituent ratio of an ingredient that contributes to an absorption of the spectroscopic characteristic with a position coordinate of the measurement site or the measurement area,

wherein the measurement apparatus further comprises a display device configured to display the three-dimensional tomographic image.