Probe
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A probe comprising:
- an acoustic wave detector that detects at least an acoustic wave from the subject;
an optical fiber that guides light emitted from a light source to a probe body; and
a light guide member that guides light from a light entrance end to a light exit end and applies light to an interior of the subject, the light entrance end being optically coupled to the optical fiber and the light exit end being located in the vicinity of the acoustic wave detector,wherein the light guide member is secured in the probe body with a securing material provided at least partially around the light guide member, andthe conditional expression below is satisfied;
sin−
1(n2/n1)×
(180°
/π
)<
90°
−
θ
i, where n1 is a refractive index of the light guide member, n2 is a refractive index of the securing material, and θ
i is a spread angle of light entering the light entrance end from the optical fiber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An acoustic wave detector that detects an acoustic wave from a subject, an optical fiber that guides light emitted from a light source to a probe body, and a light guide member that guides light from a light entrance end, which is optically coupled to the optical fiber, to a light exit end, which is located in the vicinity of the acoustic wave detector, are provided. The light guide member is secured in the probe body with a securing material provided at least partially around the light guide member. The conditional expression below is satisfied:
sin−1(n2/n1)×(180°/π)<90°−θi
where n1 is a refractive index of the light guide member, n2 is a refractive index of the securing material, and θi is a spread angle of incoming light from the optical fiber.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A probe comprising:
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an acoustic wave detector that detects at least an acoustic wave from the subject; an optical fiber that guides light emitted from a light source to a probe body; and a light guide member that guides light from a light entrance end to a light exit end and applies light to an interior of the subject, the light entrance end being optically coupled to the optical fiber and the light exit end being located in the vicinity of the acoustic wave detector, wherein the light guide member is secured in the probe body with a securing material provided at least partially around the light guide member, and the conditional expression below is satisfied;
sin−
1(n2/n1)×
(180°
/π
)<
90°
−
θ
i,where n1 is a refractive index of the light guide member, n2 is a refractive index of the securing material, and θ
i is a spread angle of light entering the light entrance end from the optical fiber.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
where n3 is a refractive index of the second light guide member, θ
1 is a diffusion angle of the light diffusing member, and θ
d is (θ
i2+θ
12)1/2.
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11. The probe as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least the second light guide member of the first and second light guide members is secured with the securing material.
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12. The probe as claimed in claim 8, wherein only the second light guide member of the first and second light guide members is secured with the securing material.
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13. The probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing material is provided to extend over a side surface of the light guide member between the light entrance end and the light exit end.
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14. The probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing material is provided to extend over a side surface of the light guide member between the light exit end and a position away from the light exit end by a predetermined distance.
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15. The probe as claimed in claim 14, wherein the predetermined distance is not more than ⅓
- of a distance between the light entrance end and the light exit end.
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16. The probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing material is provided between the light guide member and a case forming the probe body or a case provided in the probe body.
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17. The probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide member is secured with the securing member between a case forming the probe body or a case provided in the probe body and a holding member that holds the acoustic wave detector.
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18. The probe as claimed in claim 17, wherein the acoustic wave detector is attached to the holding member after the light guide member is secured with the securing member.
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19. A probe comprising:
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an acoustic wave detector that detects at least an acoustic wave from the subject; an optical fiber that guides light emitted from a light source to a probe body; and a light guide member that guides light from a light entrance end to a light exit end and applies light to an interior of the subject, the light entrance end being optically coupled to the optical fiber and the light exit end being located in the vicinity of the acoustic wave detector, wherein the light guide member is secured in the probe body with a securing material provided at least partially around the light guide member between the light entrance end and a position away from the light entrance end by a distance h, wherein h=d/tan(θ
i), where d is a distance from a position where the optical fiber is coupled to the light entrance end to a side surface of the light guide member, and θ
i is a spread angle of light entering the light entrance end from the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeFUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
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Original AssigneeFujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
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InventorsAbe, Takeya, Irisawa, Kaku
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Primary Examiner(s)Cattungal, Sanjay
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Application NumberUS14/449,500Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,033 DaysField of Search600437-480US Class CurrentCPC Class CodesA61B 5/0095 by applying light and detec...
