KR20130087986A - Photo-accustic tomography - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A photo-acoustic tomography is provided to decrease noise, by maximizing penetration depth of a light source. CONSTITUTION: A light source outputs a light. An amplification part (102) amplifies and outputs the light. A sensing part (103) senses ultrasonic waves. An image implementing part (104) uses the ultrasonic waves. The image implementing part implements an image about the inside of a biological material. [Reference numerals] (101) Light source; (102) Amplification part; (103) Sensing part; (104) Image implementing part; (200) Biomaterial

Description

Photoacoustic imaging device {PHOTO-ACCUSTIC TOMOGRAPHY}

The present invention relates to an optoacoustic imaging apparatus capable of acquiring a functional image of the inside of a living body through local ultrasonic generation generated by energy flowing from a laser light source. And a photoacoustic imaging device using optical fiber power amplification device, a photoacoustic imaging device capable of acquiring high sensitivity images even at a deep penetration depth through energy modulation, and a high speed and high speed optical imaging capable of acquiring high speed images by arranging an array of laser light sources. The present invention relates to an acoustic imaging apparatus.

Photo-acoustic tomogrphy is a cell lattice fluctuations when light energy is absorbed into the biological material and emits energy by irradiating a high energy light source such as a laser to the biological material for a short pulse period. The ultrasonic wave generated by the radio wave is propagated outside the biological material. By measuring the ultrasonic wave, the functional structure of the biological material can be analyzed.

Since the absorbance of the laser energy is different depending on the type of the material, when the functional structure of the biomaterial is analyzed using the optoacoustic imaging apparatus, the more absorbed material is, the more ultrasonic emission occurs.

In the photoacoustic imaging apparatus used in recent years, the most measurable part is a blood vessel in which hemoglobin is most distributed. In other words, the hemoglobin in which the highest absorption rate of Nd: YAG laser, which is mainly used recently, is distributed in blood vessels. Since the distribution of such vessels is most frequently formed when tumors, including cancer, occur, the greatest advantage of the photoacoustic imaging apparatus is that the functional images of the tumors can be imaged in real time.

In this conventional technique, the laser capable of irradiating light energy best is an Nd: YAG laser. However, these solid-state lasers are not only bulky, but also have low switching speeds of 10 to 15 [kPa], which makes it difficult to scan the interior through high speeds.

In addition, the conventional photoacoustic imaging apparatus has a disadvantage that the depth of the laser light can penetrate the maximum 5 ~ 7 [cm] in the living cells can not obtain the image of the cell located deep. In addition, even when the laser light penetrates to the maximum depth, the amount of generated ultrasonic waves is minute, which makes it difficult to distinguish from noise.

In addition, the conventional photoacoustic imaging apparatus takes a lot of time to obtain an image of a living cell, there is a problem that there is a lot of restrictions on the application.

The present invention is to solve the above conventional problems, the object of the present invention is to increase the scanning speed by increasing the switching speed while miniaturizing the system, to maximize the penetration depth of the light source to minimize the problem caused by noise, image acquisition It is to provide an optoacoustic imaging device with a minimum time required.

The photoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the light source for outputting light; An amplifying unit for amplifying and outputting the light output from the light source to be absorbed by the biological material to be tested; Sensing unit for sensing the ultrasonic wave generated by the light output from the amplification unit absorbed by the biological material; And an image implementer configured to implement an image of the inside of the biological material using the ultrasonic waves sensed by the sensing unit. And a control unit.

In addition, the optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the first light source for outputting the first light to be absorbed by the biological material to be tested; A second light source outputting a second light having a power equal to or lower than a power of the first light and having a frequency lower than that of the first light to be absorbed by the biological material; A modulator for adjusting power and frequency of the second light output from the second light source; A sensing unit configured to sense ultrasonic waves generated by the first light and the second light absorbed by the biological material; And an image implementer configured to implement an image of the inside of the biological material using the ultrasonic waves sensed by the sensing unit. Characterized in that it comprises a.

In addition, the optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the first to n-th light source for outputting the first to the n-th light to be absorbed by the biological material to be tested. A light source array comprising; A sensor array including first to mth sensors configured to sense ultrasonic waves generated by the first to nth light absorbed by the biological material; And an image implementer configured to implement an image of the inside of the biological material using the ultrasonic waves sensed by the sensor array. And a control unit.

The photoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration can obtain the following effects.

First, the photoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention can configure a system having high scan speed and high mobility by using a light source having a small sized light source and a high switching speed.

Second, the photoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention may obtain an ultrasonic signal and a low noise signal having high sensitivity through light source modulation.

Third, the photoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention can obtain a fast image by scanning the light source at a high speed through the light source in an array form.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram illustrating an optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the photoacoustic imaging apparatus of FIG. 2.
4 is a block diagram illustrating an optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the photoacoustic imaging apparatus of FIG. 4.

Hereinafter, an optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

The following embodiments are a combination of elements and features of the present invention in a predetermined form. Each component or feature may be considered to be optional unless otherwise stated. Each component or feature may be implemented in a form that is not combined with other components or features. In addition, some of the elements and / or features may be combined to form an embodiment of the present invention. The order of the operations described in the embodiments of the present invention may be changed. Some configurations or features of certain embodiments may be included in other embodiments, or may be replaced with corresponding configurations or features of other embodiments.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented through various means. For example, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

For a hardware implementation, the method according to embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs) , Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, and the like.

In the case of an implementation by firmware or software, the method according to embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a module, a procedure or a function for performing the functions or operations described above. The software code can be stored in a memory unit and driven by the processor. The memory unit may be located inside or outside the processor, and may exchange data with the processor by various well-known means.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[First Embodiment]

Hereinafter, an optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

1 shows a photoacoustic imaging apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a block diagram.

Referring to FIG. 1, the photoacoustic imaging apparatus 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a light source 101 for outputting light; An amplification unit 102 for amplifying and outputting the light output from the light source 101 to be absorbed by the biological material 200 to be examined; Sensing unit 103 for sensing the ultrasonic wave generated by the light output from the amplifier 102 is absorbed by the biological material; And an image implementing unit 104 for implementing an image of the inside of the biological material 200 using ultrasonic waves sensed by the sensing unit 103. .

The light source 101 may be various examples without departing from the gist of the present invention. Hereinafter, the light source 101 will be described in the following description. An example is a semiconductor laser.

Since the semiconductor laser employed as the light source 101 in the photoacoustic imaging apparatus 100 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention has a high switch speed of 1 [kW or more], the Nd: YAG laser, which has been mainly used in the past, Branches can overcome low switch speeds.

Since the intensity of light output from the semiconductor laser does not have a high power to irradiate a biological material (ie, a cell) to generate ultrasonic waves, the photoacoustic imaging apparatus 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention An amplifier 102 is provided as a means for increasing this low power. Even if such an amplifier 102 is provided, since the switch speed is maintained at 1 [㎑] or more, there is no problem due to the switch speed drop.

The amplifier 102 is preferably an optical fiber optical amplifier for amplifying the light output from the light source 101. In the optoacoustic imaging apparatus 100 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the amplifier 102 is an optical fiber optical amplifier, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the amplifier 102 is a subject matter of the present invention. Various examples are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

When the light emitted from the light source 101 and amplified by the amplifier 102 is absorbed by the biological material 200 and emits energy, the cell lattice oscillates and ultrasonic waves are generated. 103 detects.

The ultrasonic information sensed by the sensing unit 103 is provided to the image implementer 104, and the image implementer 104 constructs a 3D image by using the inputted ultrasonic information to functionalize the biological material 200. You can get a video.

[Second Embodiment]

Hereinafter, the optoacoustic imaging apparatus 300 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an optoacoustic imaging apparatus 300 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 illustrates an optoacoustic imaging apparatus 300 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A conceptual diagram is shown.

The photoacoustic imaging apparatus 300 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first light source 301 which outputs first light (A in FIG. 3) to be absorbed by the biological material 400 to be examined; A second light source that outputs a second light (B of FIG. 3) having a power equal to or lower than the power of the first light and having a frequency lower than that of the first light to be absorbed by the biological material 400. 302; A modulator (303) for adjusting the power and frequency of the second light output from the second light source (302); A sensing unit 304 for sensing ultrasonic waves generated by the first and second light absorbed by the biological material 400; And an image implementer 305 for implementing an image of the inside of the biological material 400 using ultrasonic waves sensed by the sensing unit 304. .

Although the first light source 301 and the second light source 302 can be various examples within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, in the following description of the present invention, the first light source 301 and the second light source ( 302 is an example of a semiconductor laser having a waveform in the form of a pulse.

In the photoacoustic imaging apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when only the first light source 301 which is a semiconductor laser is provided, the light output from the first light source 301 has a limited penetration depth, and thus the biomaterial ( Since the energy is reduced when penetrated into the 400, it is necessary to add an irradiation method which has a high energy. For this purpose, a second light source 302 and a modulator 303 are further provided.

The second light source 302 preferably has the same power as the power of the light output from the first light source 301 or the same power as the light output from the first light source 301. As a result, the second light source 302 does not generate ultrasonic waves in the course of progress, and generates ultrasonic waves only when energy is overlapped by meeting light output from the first light source 301.

In addition, the second light source 302 preferably has a frequency lower than that of the light output from the first light source 301. As a result, the light output from the second light source 302 is prevented from overlapping with the ultrasonic waves generated by the absorption of the light output from the first light source 301 into the living cell. That is, the generation of the ultrasonic wave by the light output from the first light source 301 is determined by the frequency of the light output from the first light source 301 and the generation of the ultrasonic wave is the frequency of the light output from the first light source 301. Although it can be reduced to filter only the corresponding ultrasonic waves, when the ultrasonic waves generated by the light output from the first light source 301 overlaps the light output from the second light source 302 is output from the first light source 301 Since the ultrasonic wave generated by the light and the ultrasonic wave generated by the light output from the second light source 302 cannot be distinguished, the frequency of the light output from the second light source 302 is the frequency of the light output from the first light source 301. By being set lower, it can be distinguished from each other.

Ultrasonic waves generated by the light output from the first light source 301 and ultrasonic waves generated by the light output from the second light source 302 are detected by the sensing unit 304, and are sensed by the sensing unit 304. The ultrasound information is provided to the image implementing unit 305. The image implementation unit 305 may obtain a functional image of the biological material 400 by constructing a 3D image using the input ultrasound information.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, the optoacoustic imaging apparatus 300 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention further includes an amplifier (not shown) for amplifying and outputting the first light output from the first light source 301. It may be provided as.

[Third Embodiment]

Hereinafter, the optoacoustic imaging apparatus 500 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

4 shows a photoacoustic imaging apparatus 500 according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a block diagram, and FIG. 5 illustrates an optoacoustic imaging apparatus 500 according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A conceptual diagram is shown.

The photoacoustic imaging apparatus 500 according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention outputs the first to nth light and absorbs the first to nth light sources 501a, 501b, ... 501n); A sensor array including first to m th sensors 502a, 502b,..., 502m to sense ultrasonic waves generated by the first to nth light absorbed by the biological material; And an image implementer 503 for implementing an image of the inside of the biological material 600 using ultrasonic waves sensed by the sensor array. . Herein, n and m are preferably two or more constants.

The first to nth light sources 501a, 501b,..., 501n may be various examples without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the following, the first to nth light sources ( 501a, 501b, ..., 501n) are examples of semiconductor lasers.

In the optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first to nth light sources 501a, 501b,..., 501n form an array and are formed around the biological material 600 to be examined. It is arranged to form part or all of the shape of the sphere (sphere).

The first to nth light sources 501a, 501b,..., 501n are configured in an array and a matrix so that the coordinates are (1,1), (1,2), ..., (i, j), respectively. Can be arranged according to.

Each of the first to nth light sources 501a, 501b,..., 501n sequentially outputs light in a predetermined order or in an arbitrary order, thereby producing an effect such as irradiating several light sources at once. .

The first to nth light sources 501a, 501b,..., 501n preferably have different powers, thereby enabling an image having a high resolution even to a biological material having a deep penetration depth.

The light source array including the first to nth light sources 501a, 501b,..., 501n can scan light to a biological material to be inspected at a high speed. When the light is absorbed by the biological material, ultrasonic waves are generated. The generated ultrasonic waves are detected by the first to m th sensors.

The first to m th sensors 502a, 502b,..., 502m are disposed in a space between the first to n th light sources 501a, 501b,..., 501n, or the first to m th sensors. It can be configured integrally with the n-th light source, and this configuration has the advantage of not only an advantage of the simplicity of the configuration but also a high-sensitivity ultrasonic image due to the proximity of the sensor to the light source.

Ultrasonic information detected by the first to m th sensors 502a, 502b, ..., 502m is provided to the image implementing unit 503, and the image implementing unit 503 uses the input ultrasonic information. By constructing a 3D image, a functional image of the biological material 600 is obtained.

Although not shown in FIG. 4, the photoacoustic imaging apparatus 500 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention amplifies and outputs light output from the first to nth light sources 501a, 501b,..., 501n. An amplifier (not shown) may be further provided.

Embodiments according to the present invention as described above can be created by a computer program. The code and code segments that make up this computer program can be easily deduced by a computer programmer in the field. In addition, the computer program is stored in a computer readable medium (Computer Readable Media), and the embodiment is implemented by being read and executed by a computer. The information storage medium includes a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, and a carrier wave medium.

So far I looked at the center of the preferred embodiment for the present invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in various other forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown not in the above description but in the claims, and all differences within the scope should be construed as being included in the present invention.

100, 300, 500: photoacoustic imaging device 101: light source
102: amplification unit 103, 304: sensing unit
104, 305, 503: image implementing unit 200, 400, 600: biological material
301: first light source 302: second light source
303: modulator 304: sensing unit
401: light absorption region
501a, 501b, ..., 501n: light source array
502a, 502b, ..., 502m: sensor array

Claims (14)

A light source for outputting light;
An amplifying unit for amplifying and outputting the light output from the light source to be absorbed by the biological material to be tested;
Sensing unit for sensing the ultrasonic wave generated by the light output from the amplification unit absorbed by the biological material; And
An image implementer configured to implement an image of the inside of the biological material using the ultrasonic waves sensed by the sensing unit;
Optoacoustic imaging device comprising a. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is a semiconductor laser. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the amplifier comprises an optical fiber optical amplifier. A first light source for outputting the first light to be absorbed by the biological material to be inspected;
A second light source outputting a second light having a power equal to or lower than a power of the first light and having a frequency lower than that of the first light to be absorbed by the biological material;
A modulator for adjusting power and frequency of the second light output from the second light source;
A sensing unit configured to sense ultrasonic waves generated by the first light and the second light absorbed by the biological material; And
An image implementer configured to implement an image of the inside of the biological material using the ultrasonic waves sensed by the sensing unit;
Optoacoustic imaging device comprising a. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first and second light sources are semiconductor lasers. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first light and the second light have a pulse shape. A light source array including first to nth light sources to output first to nth light to be absorbed by the biological material to be inspected;
A sensor array including first to mth sensors configured to sense ultrasonic waves generated by the first to nth light absorbed by the biological material; And
An image implementer configured to implement an image of the inside of the biomaterial using ultrasonic waves sensed by the sensor array;
Optoacoustic imaging device comprising a. Wherein n and m are integers of 2 or more. 8. The photoacoustic imaging device of claim 7, wherein the first to nth light sources are semiconductor lasers. 8. The light source according to claim 7, wherein the first to nth light sources are disposed around the biological material according to the coordinates (1,1), (1,2), ..., (i, j). Acoustic imaging device, where i and j are integers greater than or equal to 2. 10. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first to nth light sources form a part of a sphere around a biological material. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first to nth light sources sequentially output light in a predetermined order or in an arbitrary order. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first to nth light sources have different powers. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first to m th sensors are disposed in a space between the first to n th light sources. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first to m th sensors are integrated with the first to n th light sources.

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