Apparatus for obtaining information on the interior of an object

• US 4,957,000 A
• Filed: 01/18/1989
• Issued: 09/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Original Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Inventors: Hiruma, Hideo, Delpy, David T., Suzuki, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Application Number:
  US07/298,138
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 73/622, 73/599, 73/600, 73/611, 73/628, 73/641, 73/626, 356/446, 128/660.01, 128/653 R
• US Class Current: 73/622
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4227 characterised by straps, belts, cuffs or braces

Abstract

An apparatus for obtaining information on the interior of an object, comprising irradiating elements for applying an electromagnetic wave or ultrasonic wave to an object being measured, detecting elements for detecting the electromagnetic wave or ultrasonic wave passed through and scattered inside the object, a holder for supporting the irradiating elements and the detecting elements in such a manner that the irradiating elements and the detecting elements are slidable and position detecting elements for detecting the position data of the irradiating elements and the detecting means with respect to the holder.

Claims

1. An apparatus for obtaining information on the interior of an object, said apparatus comprising:

irradiating means for applying an electromagnetic wave to an object being measured;

detecting means for detecting the electromagnetic wave passed through and scattered inside the object, said detecting means comprising a plurality of detecting elements for receiving the electromagnetic wave from the object;

holding means for supporting said irradiating means and said detecting means in such a manner that said irradiating means and said detecting means are slidable; and

position detecting means for detecting the position of said irradiating means and said detecting means with respect to said holding means.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said irradiating means comprises a wave source for outputting the electromagnetic wave, and irradiating elements for guiding the electromagnetic wave from said source to the object, and wherein said detecting means further comprises a detecting unit for obtaining information on the interior of the object on the basis of the electromagnetic wave from the plurality of detecting elements.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein both said irradiating elements and said plurality of detecting elements comprise fiber fixing cylinders and fibers fixedly inserted into said cylinders.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said holding means comprises holder bodies and springs for holding said cylinders.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said holder bodies have annular members having through-holes respectively at the positions at which said cylinders are supported, and said cylinders are slidably extended respectively through said through-holes toward the object.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said springs are positioned along said annular members, one end of each spring being respectively secured to each of said holder bodies and the other end being respectively secured to the end portion of each of said cylinders opposite to the object so that said cylinders are urged towards the object and pushed against the object under a suitable pressure.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said cylinders has a resistor formed in the outer surface thereof in such a manner that said resistor is extended along the axis of said each cylinder, each of said annular members has a contact terminal in contact with said resistor, and two wires are connected with said resistor and said contact terminal respectively so that the electrical resistance between said wires is changed according to the movement of said each cylinder.