Non-invasive subject-information imaging method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A non-invasive subject-information imaging apparatus comprising:
- a light generating unit which generates light containing a specific wavelength component;
a plurality of light irradiation units which radiate the light generated by the light generating unit into a subject to be examined;
a waveguide unit including a plurality of optical fibers, and which guides the light generated by the light generating unit to the irradiation unit;
a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed electroacoustic transducer elements;
a transmitter which transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject by driving the electroacoustic transducer elements, and wherein the plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed electroacoustic transducer elements convert into electrical signals both acoustic waves generated by irradiating light onto the subject and acoustic waves generated by transmitting the ultrasonic waves onto the subject;
a receiving unit which generates a reception signal having reception directivity from the electrical signals converted by the electroacoustic transducer elements; and
a filter which discriminates from the reception signal (i) a reception signal corresponding to acoustic waves generated in the subject by light radiated from the light irradiation units and (ii) a reception signal corresponding to echoes generated in the subject upon transmission of the ultrasonic waves;
a signal processor which generates volume data of a living body function by processing the reception signal corresponding to acoustic waves generated in the subject by light radiated from the light irradiation units, and which generates volume data of a tissue morphology by processing the reception signal corresponding to echoes generated in the subject upon transmission of the ultrasonic waves,wherein the light irradiation units are formed by the end portions of the optical fibers, each end portion of the optical fibers is surrounded by four electroacoustic transducer elements, and the light irradiation units and the electroacoustic transducer elements are formed integrally as a single common body interface.
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Abstract
A non-invasive subject-information imaging apparatus according to this invention includes a light generating unit which generates light containing a specific wavelength component, a light irradiation unit which radiates the generated light into a subject, a waveguide unit which guides the light from the light generating unit to the irradiation unit, a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed electroacoustic transducer elements, a transmission/reception unit which transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject by driving the electroacoustic transducer elements, and generates a reception signal from electrical signals converted by electroacoustic transducer elements, and a signal processing unit which generates volume data of a living body function by processing a reception signal corresponding to acoustic waves generated in the subject by light irradiation, and generates volume data of a tissue morphology by processing a reception signal corresponding to echoes generated in the subject upon transmission of the ultrasonic waves.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A non-invasive subject-information imaging apparatus comprising:
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a light generating unit which generates light containing a specific wavelength component; a plurality of light irradiation units which radiate the light generated by the light generating unit into a subject to be examined; a waveguide unit including a plurality of optical fibers, and which guides the light generated by the light generating unit to the irradiation unit; a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed electroacoustic transducer elements; a transmitter which transmits ultrasonic waves to the subject by driving the electroacoustic transducer elements, and wherein the plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed electroacoustic transducer elements convert into electrical signals both acoustic waves generated by irradiating light onto the subject and acoustic waves generated by transmitting the ultrasonic waves onto the subject; a receiving unit which generates a reception signal having reception directivity from the electrical signals converted by the electroacoustic transducer elements; and a filter which discriminates from the reception signal (i) a reception signal corresponding to acoustic waves generated in the subject by light radiated from the light irradiation units and (ii) a reception signal corresponding to echoes generated in the subject upon transmission of the ultrasonic waves; a signal processor which generates volume data of a living body function by processing the reception signal corresponding to acoustic waves generated in the subject by light radiated from the light irradiation units, and which generates volume data of a tissue morphology by processing the reception signal corresponding to echoes generated in the subject upon transmission of the ultrasonic waves, wherein the light irradiation units are formed by the end portions of the optical fibers, each end portion of the optical fibers is surrounded by four electroacoustic transducer elements, and the light irradiation units and the electroacoustic transducer elements are formed integrally as a single common body interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A non-invasive subject-information imaging method comprising:
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generating light containing a specific wavelength component using a light generating unit; radiating the generated light into a subject to be examined using a plurality of light irradiation units, the light irradiation units formed by end portions of a plurality of optical fibers; transmitting ultrasonic waves to the subject by driving a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged electroacoustic transducer elements, each end portion of the optical fibers is surrounded by four electroacoustic transducer elements, and the light irradiation unit and the electroacoustic transducer elements formed integrally as a single common body interface; causing the plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed electroacoustic transducer elements to convert acoustic waves from the subject into electrical signals, the plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed electroacoustic transducer elements converting into electrical signals both acoustic waves generated by irradiating light onto the subject and acoustic waves generated by transmitting the ultrasonic waves onto the subject; generating a reception signal having reception directivity from the electrical signals converted by the electroacoustic transducer elements; discriminating from the reception signal (i) a reception signal corresponding to acoustic waves generated in the subject by light radiated from the light irradiation units and (ii) a reception signal corresponding to echoes generated in the subject upon transmission of the ultrasonic waves; and generating volume data of a living body function by processing the reception signal corresponding to acoustic waves generated in the subject by the radiated light, and generating volume data of a tissue morphology by processing the reception signal corresponding to echoes generated in the subject upon transmission of the ultrasonic waves.
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Specification