Biological information imaging apparatus and biological information imaging method

• US 8,864,667 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Asao, Yasufumi, Fukutani, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Unsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTLEY, DANIEL CARROLL
• Application Number:
  US12/544,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/443, 600/476
• US Class Current: 600/437
• 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 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02133 by using induced vibration of the blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7253 characterised by using transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

A biological information imaging method includes a first measurement step to measure an acoustic wave (54) generated by light (53) which is irradiated to a living body (51) from a light source (50) and which is absorbed by tissue (52) in the living body, a storage step to store first information obtained in the first measurement step, a second measurement step to measure an acoustic wave (54) generated by light (53) which is irradiated to the living body (51) from the light source (50) and which is absorbed by the tissue (52) in the living body, and a processing step to generate an image of information of the tissue in the living body by using second information obtained in the second measurement step, and the first information stored in the storage step.

Claims

1. A biological information imaging method comprising the steps of:

irradiating a sample with light at a first timing;

irradiating the sample with the light at a second timing which is different from the first timing;

detecting a first acoustic wave generated in the sample by irradiating the sample with the light at the first timing and converting the first acoustic wave into a first electric signal;

detecting a second acoustic wave generated in the sample by irradiating the sample with the light at the second timing and converting the second acoustic wave into a second electric signal;

obtaining a first image based on the first electric signal;

obtaining a second image based on the second electrical signal; and

obtaining a difference image representing a difference between the first image and the second image,

wherein the sample is irradiated with the light at the second timing when a heart rate is different from that at the first timing.

2. The biological information imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the sample is irradiated with the light at the second timing when a shape of the sample is different from that at the first timing.

3. The biological information imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the sample is a blood vessel.

4. A biological information imaging method comprising the steps of:

irradiating a sample with light at a first timing;

irradiating the sample with the light at a second timing which is different from the first timing;

detecting a first acoustic wave generated in the sample by irradiating the sample with the light at the first timing and converting the first acoustic wave into a first electric signal;

detecting a second acoustic wave generated in the sample by irradiating the sample with the light at the second timing and converting the second acoustic wave into a second electric signal;

obtaining a first image based on the first electric signal;

obtaining a second image based on the second electrical signal; and

obtaining a difference image representing a difference between the first image and the second image,

wherein the sample is irradiated with the light at the second timing when a blood pressure is different from that at the first timing.

5. The biological information imaging method according to claim 4, wherein the sample is irradiated with the light at the second timing when a shape of the sample is different from that at the first timing.

6. The biological information imaging method according to claim 4, wherein the sample is a blood vessel.

9. The biological information imaging method according to claim 4, wherein the sample is a blood vessel.

7. A biological information imaging method comprising the steps of:

irradiating a sample with light at a first timing;

irradiating the sample with the light at a second timing which is different from the first timing;

detecting a first acoustic wave generated in the sample by irradiating the sample with the light at the first timing and converting the first acoustic wave into a first electric signal;

detecting a second acoustic wave generated in the sample by irradiating the sample with the light at the second timing and converting the second acoustic wave into a second electric signal;

obtaining a first image based on the first electric signal;

obtaining a second image based on the second electrical signal; and

obtaining a difference image representing a difference between the first image and the second image,

wherein the sample is irradiated with the light at the first timing when a blood pressure is systolic blood pressure, and is irradiated with the light at the second timing when a blood pressure is diastolic blood pressure.

8. The biological information imaging method according to claim 7, wherein the sample is irradiated with the light at the second timing when a shape of the sample is different from that at the first timing.