Bioimaging apparatus

• US 7,873,408 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheng; Jacqueline
• Application Number:
  US11/722,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.52, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 600/476, 902/3, 382115-124, 356/71, 356/448, 356/300, 356/432, 356/433
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1171 based on the shapes or appearances of their bodies or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1324 by using geometrical optics, e.g. using prisms G06V40/1312 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/63 by static guides
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

To improve image quality as well as considering miniaturization. In the top surface 2A of a housing 2, a placing part 7 is provided near other end of shorter side ED2. A reflective board 6 is provided between an imaging opening part 3 facing to the above placing part 7 and one end of shorter side ED1. And in the housing 2 at a lower part of the above imaging opening part 3, a CCD image pickup device 4 for transmitting near infrared lights that passed through a finger FG placed on the placing part and was refracted by the reflective board 6 as a blood vessel image signal S1 is provided.

Claims

1. A bioimaging apparatus for imaging a formation in a bioregion as an object to be imaged, comprising:

a placing part, to place said bioregion, positioned on the front surface side of a housing containing an electronic circuit;

an emitting part for emitting imaging lights to said placing part;

a reflective board, for reflecting said imaging lights which are transmitted through said bioregion placed on said placing part to the inside of said housing, positioned on the front surface side of said housing facing said placing part; and

an image pickup device for transmitting said imaging lights reflected by said reflective board as an image signal, provided in said housing;

wherein said bioregion is a finger or a hand; and

said placing part is formed by a guide part to guide said finger or said hand so that the belly of the finger or the palm is almost orthogonal to a placing surface.

2. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said object to be imaged is a formation existing in said bioregion; and

said emitting part is provided as being in an emitting direction having an obtuse angle to a placing surface of said placing part.

3. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said object to be imaged is a formation existing in said bioregion; and

said emitting part is provided as being in an emitting direction having any one of angles from 100 degrees to 140 degrees to the placing surface of said placing part.

4. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said object to be imaged is a formation existing in said bioregion; and

said emitting part emits said imaging lights having an wavelength unique to said object to be imaged.

5. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said emitting part emits said imaging lights comprising a wavelength uniquely absorbed by oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin.

6. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said emitting part emits said imaging lights comprising a wavelength of about 900 nm to about 1,000 nm.

7. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 1, including:

a sheet-form light absorbing part for absorbing said imaging lights, provided between said placing part and said reflective board.

8. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 1, including;

a cover part for covering a reflecting surface except the incidental path and the reflecting path of said imaging lights to the reflecting surface of said reflective board.

9. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said placing part is further formed by

inclination detection means for detecting the inclination of said finger or said hand guided by said guide part; and

drive means for driving said emitting part and said image pickup device according to the detection result by said inclination detection means is included.

10. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said placing part is further formed by

inclination detection means for detecting the inclination of said finger or said hand guided by said guide part; and

notification means for notifying the state of said inclination according to the detection result by said inclination detection means is included.

11. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a holding part for holding said reflective board freely movably from a first position facing to said image pickup device to a second position separated from the above first position;

position detection means for detecting said holding part;

image processing means for performing image processing on an image signal transmitted from said image pickup device; and

control means for controlling said image processing means so as to perform image processing suitable to an object to be imaged existing inward of said bioregion, or image processing according to an object other than the above object to be imaged, suitable to the position of said holding part detected by said position detection means.

12. The bioimaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a holding part for holding said reflective board freely movably from a first position facing to said image pickup device to a second position separated from the above first position;

position detection means for detecting the position of said holding part;

touch detection means for detecting a touch of said bioregion to said placing part; and

drive means for driving said emitting part and said image pickup device, when said first position and a touch of said bioregion were detected.