JP2008142296A - Blood vessel information analyzer and lifestyle-related disease factor inspection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low cost compact noninvasive blood vessel information analyzer with highly precise detecting result capable of obtaining one kind or more pieces of factor information being indicators of lifestyle-related disease in a short time by a set of light of several wavelength or a plurality of sets of light of single wavelength and a lifestyle-related disease factor inspection method. <P>SOLUTION: The blood vessel information analyzer and the lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method according to the present invention has a first and a second light sources 2<SB>11</SB>, 2<SB>12</SB>irradiating beams of light of first and second single wave lengths respectively, a light coupling section 3 collecting the beams of light emitted from the light sources 2<SB>11</SB>, 2<SB>12</SB>in series and irradiating the same from an outgoing end to an inspection site in series, an imaging section 4 receiving the reflected light and taking an image of the inspection site, and a control section 5 measuring the strength ratio of image information taken with the first and second beams of light and carrying out blood vessel information analysis, an image filter means 8a detecting the direction and the width of the blood vessel and carrying out anisotropic noise removing processing is arranged in the control section 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is capable of detecting factor information serving as an index of lifestyle-related diseases by irradiating a set of several wavelengths with a single wavelength or a plurality of sets of single-wavelength light sequentially to sites where factors of lifestyle-related diseases can be examined. Factor information that can be used as an indicator of lifestyle-related diseases by irradiating an invasive blood vessel information analyzer and a single-wavelength set of several wavelengths or multiple sets of single-wavelength light onto sites where lifestyle-related factors can be examined The present invention relates to a non-invasive lifestyle factor testing method capable of detecting urine.

  In recent years, the number of lifestyle-related diseases represented by diabetic patients has been increasing year by year, and the population affected with diabetes in Japan was 7.4 million according to the announcement of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2003. It is expected to approach 10 million people. Along with saving diabetics and other lifestyle-related diseases, preventing them and improving QOL (Quality of Life) has become a major issue.

  There are various lifestyle-related diseases. For example, a vascular disorder that develops as a result of hyperglycemia appears prominently in the fundus where there are many capillaries. There are similar parts in other parts. Recently, as an early diagnosis method for fundus abnormality, visualization of oxygen saturation, which is one of characteristic factor information, has been attempted. This utilizes the fact that the spectral characteristics of blood hemoglobin differ depending on the binding state with oxygen when the fundus is illuminated with light sources of different wavelengths. For example, FIG. 11 shows the oxygen saturation dependence of the fundus reflection spectrum. According to this, high and low oxygen saturation levels are the same at 545 nm, 570 nm, and 584 nm, but the reflectance is different near 545 nm, for example, 539 nm, 548 nm, and 577 nm, and in this vicinity, oxyhemoglobin (oxygen blood) and deoxyhemoglobin (deoxygenated oxygen). It can be seen that the difference in the degree of absorption of blood) is large, and the oxygen absorption state of blood can be selectively detected. Furthermore, it can be seen that the state of oxygen saturation can be visualized by this characteristic.

  Lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes include blood glucose level, protein amount, lipid amount and the like in addition to the blood oxygen saturation level which is a measure of the vascular disorder described above. Explaining why these are used as indicators of diabetes, diabetes becomes a chronic hyperglycemic state, and the state in which the blood concentration of glucose (glucose) is abnormally high continues. This condition leads to vascular damage, causing complications and loss of visual acuity and reducing kidney function. At this time, metabolic abnormalities occur in the body, and functional and histological abnormalities are caused by biochemical abnormalities such as changes in protein and fat. For example, blood contains various lipid components such as erythrocyte protein, albumin and plasma protein, and various lipid components such as triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids and free fatty acids. Therefore, when the blood of a diabetic patient is examined, the amount of protein and the amount of lipid are changed as compared with the state before the disease progresses. In addition, the growth of important growth factors (such as VEGF) as a causative factor of retinopathy and rapid accumulation in the blood due to increased production of late glycation reaction products (AGE) are the direct targets of fundus examination. AGE receptors (RAGE) contained in cells also cause aging of cells by acting with AGE.

  Therefore, if there is a change in the above-mentioned factors such as blood oxygen saturation, blood glucose level, protein level, lipid level, and cellular aging, diabetes can be diagnosed early and preventive measures can be taken. become. The same applies to other lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia. These pieces of factor information indicate specific light absorption at each individual wavelength when the blood vessel is irradiated with light. For this reason, it is possible to diagnose the progress of this lifestyle-related disease at an early stage based on this result by irradiating light of individual wavelengths for each lifestyle-related disease of interest and detecting the light absorbance of the irradiated part. become. If this can be used in clinical practice, it is possible not only to simply observe the shape of the fundus blood vessel as in a conventional camera, but also to make a high-quality diagnosis using the obtained factor information. This will greatly contribute to the QOL improvement of the aging society expected in the future.

  As a conventional method for obtaining a visible image of the fundus, a white light source is used as a light source, and reflection and scattered light from the fundus are photographed for each wavelength by a filter to obtain a spectral image. Similarly, it is also studied to obtain a spectrum of each wavelength by irradiating a white light source, mechanically sweeping an optical element, and further performing a fast Fourier transform. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can capture a cross-section in the depth direction of the fundus over 2 mm to 3 mm, but currently it is limited to visualization of only the shape and structure, detecting the factor information of lifestyle-related diseases, A functional image of blood flowing through blood vessels cannot be obtained.

  As an example of a conventional spectroscopic measurement apparatus, a spectroscopic measurement apparatus using a white coherent pulsed electromagnetic wave as a light source has been proposed (Patent Document 1). The spectroscopic measurement device disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a white coherent pulsed electromagnetic wave as a light source for sample transmission (or reflection) light, and also obtains a spectral spectrum by Fourier-transforming a time-series signal, and using this as a basis, a time spectrum is obtained. Spectral imaging is performed by performing decomposition and / or spatial decomposition. It is for automatically measuring a static dielectric constant in real time in a manufacturing process of an electronic device having a dielectric material as a constituent element. However, the inspection target of this spectroscopic measurement apparatus is completely different from the patient's blood vessel targeted by the blood vessel information analysis apparatus, and the apparatus is large and unsuitable for medical treatment.

  On the other hand, a retinal function camera that determines blood oxygenation in the retina by illuminating blood with light of different wavelengths has been proposed (Patent Document 2). The retinal function camera of Patent Document 2 has a first light source in the first wavelength band and a second light source in the second wavelength band, and the absorbance of the first light source band by oxygenated blood is absorption in the second wavelength band. The absorbance of the first light source band due to deoxygenated blood is less than that of the second wavelength band, and the light from the first light source and the second light source is selectively combined on a part of the retina of the eye. Means for focusing, imaging means for producing respective images of a portion of the retina illuminated in respective wavelength bands, and processing means for examining the images obtained by the imaging means.

  The first light source band and the second light source band are selected from 480 nm to 1000 nm, and a band having a large difference in absorbency between oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood is selected. For example, the first light source band is substantially 488 nm, the second light source band is one of 600 nm, 630 nm, 635 nm, and 700 nm, the first light source band is substantially 635 nm, the second light source band is 830 nm, and one of 910 nm, Etc. A functional image can be obtained by comparing blue light of 450 nm to 500 nm with near infrared light of 600 nm to 805 nm.

  However, the retinal function camera of Patent Document 2 needs to scan, and there is no suggestion of green light around 545 nm that effectively detects oxygen absorption, although it is a camera that measures oxygen absorption. Of course, it is not possible to detect factors of lifestyle-related diseases other than oxygen absorption. Furthermore, in the functional camera of Patent Document 2, there is a high possibility that noise is mixed into the inspection result because the eyeball during measurement moves in response to light, the pupil shrinks, or the pulsation affects. It is inherently difficult to improve detection accuracy.

  By the way, regarding noise removal, one of the present inventors has already proposed a line concentration degree image filter that can extract only line information from an image at high speed (see Patent Document 3). This line concentration degree image filter provides a plurality of measurement points on the image with a predetermined area for measurement on both wings of the search line passing through each measurement point, and a plurality of areas included in the vicinity area. Measure the direction of the brightness gradient vector of the image at the neighboring points, and calculate the degree of concentration that evaluates the difference between the direction of the brightness gradient vector and the direction of the search line at each of the neighboring points. The line concentration degree for the measurement point is calculated, and when the line concentration degree becomes maximum, it is determined that there is line information along the search line. Further, the direction of the brightness gradient vector and the direction of the search line are determined. In addition to discretizing each, a basic addition value that can be shared at each measurement point based on the degree of concentration is calculated in advance, and when the direction of the luminance gradient vector is measured, a candidate for the basic addition value is determined for each direction of the search line. Choose one from the neighborhood Calculate the linear concentrations of each measurement point by adding the inner is to estimate that the line information along the direction of the search line when 該線 concentration ratio becomes maximum exists.

  In addition, another one of the inventors of the present invention has proposed an optical fiber laser capable of narrow-band oscillation including green, together with other researchers (for example, see Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2003-279212 A JP 2005-500870 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-284597 Okada et al., IEEE J. Photonics Technol. Lett, 17 (4), P.O. 759-P. 761, 2005 Okada et al., J. Luminescence, 106, p. 187-P. 194, 2004

  As described above, the visualization of oxygen saturation, which is a factor of lifestyle-related diseases, has been proposed in the past, and the visualization takes a considerable amount of time. And since it is based on spectroscopic measurement, the spectral luminance of a light source will become weak and noise will mix in a measurement result. In addition, it is necessary to scan the camera, and the apparatus is large. Furthermore, the effectiveness of using green light near 545 nm to effectively detect oxygen absorption has not been recognized. And it cannot be diverted to factors of lifestyle-related diseases other than oxygen absorption.

  That is, the number of factors that cause each lifestyle-related disease is not limited to one, and there are many factors that should be tested at the same time when diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and other lifestyle-related diseases occur together. Exists. As an angiography of the fundus, imaging using a fluorescence contrast method in which a fluorescent dye is administered by injection into a blood vessel has been widely used. However, depending on the person, a shock state can be induced by administration of the fluorescent dye. This method is invasive to the patient.

  Therefore, it is possible to examine various factor information of lifestyle-related diseases such as blood oxygen saturation, blood sugar level, protein, lipid, aging of blood vessels, etc. Compact, practical, and inexpensive non-invasive blood vessel that can test up to multiple factors, has low noise in the test results, and can accurately detect the state of the above factors (blood vessel information) from blood vessels through which blood flows It is desirable to develop an information analysis device.

  Therefore, the present invention can acquire one or more types of factor information that is an indicator of lifestyle-related diseases in a short time by using a single wavelength of a set of several wavelengths or a plurality of sets of these, and the detection result is compact and has a detection result. An object of the present invention is to provide a highly accurate and inexpensive non-invasive blood vessel information analyzer.

  In addition, the present invention can easily acquire one or more types of factor information that is an index of lifestyle-related diseases in a short time by using a single wavelength of a set of several wavelengths or a plurality of sets of these, and the detection result is An object of the present invention is to provide a highly accurate non-invasive lifestyle factor information inspection method.

  The blood vessel information analyzer of the present invention collects first and second light sources that irradiate light of first and second single wavelengths, respectively, and light that is emitted sequentially from the light sources, and sequentially from the exit end to the examination site. An optical coupling unit that irradiates; an imaging unit that receives the reflected light and images the examination site; and a control unit that analyzes the blood vessel information by measuring an intensity ratio of the image information captured by the first and second lights. And the control unit is provided with image filter means for detecting the direction and width of the blood vessel and performing anisotropic noise removal processing.

  The lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method of the present invention sequentially irradiates light of the first and second single wavelengths from the first and second light sources, respectively, condenses them, and sequentially forms an optical signal sequence from the emission end. A lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method that irradiates an examination site, images the examination site with the reflected light, and performs blood vessel information analysis based on the intensity ratio of image information captured with first and second lights. In obtaining the intensity ratio, the main feature is that the direction and width of the blood vessel are detected and anisotropic noise removal processing is performed.

  According to the blood vessel information analysis device and the lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method of the present invention, since light of different single wavelengths is sequentially irradiated in a short time to the examination site, noise such as movement of the examination site can be removed. It is possible to perform precise blood vessel information analysis based on the acquired image information. In addition, the light emission position and the inspection part are arranged at a fixed position, and image information focused on the inspection part is obtained for each light of different single wavelengths. Blood vessels are extracted by image processing without being affected, the direction and width of the blood vessels are detected, and blood vessel-specific noise is removed by anisotropic noise removal processing. Therefore, highly accurate lifestyle-related disease factors included in blood vessel information Information can be obtained.

  And, by irradiating light of different single wavelengths, obtaining image information for each light and analyzing it as it is by image processing, there is no need for spectroscopic measurement of mechanical scanning, inexpensive, compact and extremely simple configuration Thus, a practical non-invasive blood vessel information analyzer can be obtained. At this time, it is also possible to provide an image filter capable of analyzing a long and thin linear structure with high accuracy.

  In addition, it is possible to provide a lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method capable of easily examining information on one or more factors of lifestyle-related diseases.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the first and second light sources that respectively irradiate light of the first and second single wavelengths, and the light irradiated in order from the light source are collected and sequentially directed from the emission end to the examination site. An optical coupling unit that irradiates; an imaging unit that receives the reflected light and images the examination site; and a control unit that analyzes the blood vessel information by measuring an intensity ratio of the image information captured by the first and second lights. The blood vessel information analyzing device is characterized in that the control unit is provided with image filter means for detecting the direction and width of the blood vessel and removing noise inherent to the blood vessel. With this configuration, different single wavelengths of light are sequentially irradiated in a short time to the examination site, so noise such as movement of the examination site can be removed, and precise blood vessel information analysis can be performed based on the acquired image information. It can be carried out. In addition, the light emission position and the inspection part are arranged at a fixed position, and image information focused on the inspection part is obtained for each light of different single wavelengths. Blood vessels are extracted by image processing without being affected, the direction and width of the blood vessels are detected, and blood vessel-specific noise is removed by anisotropic noise removal processing. Therefore, highly accurate lifestyle-related disease factors included in blood vessel information Information can be obtained. And, by irradiating light of different single wavelengths, obtaining image information for each light and analyzing it as it is by image processing, there is no need for spectroscopic measurement of mechanical scanning, inexpensive, compact and extremely simple configuration Thus, a practical non-invasive blood vessel information analyzer can be obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the image filter means detects the direction and width of the blood vessel based on the line concentration degree of the luminance vector of the image information, and anisotropic noise is detected for the detected blood vessel region. A blood vessel information analysis apparatus characterized by performing a removal process. With this configuration, blood vessels are extracted without being affected by the contrast difference due to the degree of line concentration, the direction and width of the blood vessels are detected, and blood vessel-specific noise is reduced in consideration of the uniformity along the direction of the blood vessels. Since it is removed, highly accurate factor information of lifestyle-related diseases included in blood vessel information can be obtained.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the first and second single-wavelength lights are made into one set, and an index of lifestyle-related diseases based on the intensity ratio of one set This is a blood vessel information analysis device characterized by performing blood vessel information analysis of one factor. With this configuration, blood vessel information analysis of a factor of lifestyle-related diseases can be easily performed by irradiating a set of single-wavelength light.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the blood vessel information according to the third aspect, wherein the first and second single-wavelength lights are green light, and the blood vessel information analysis of the blood oxygen saturation is performed. It is an analysis device. With this configuration, blood vessel information analysis of the oxygen saturation of the blood vessel can be easily performed with a single set of green light irradiation.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to fourth aspects, in addition to the first and second light sources, at least one third light that can irradiate light of a third single wavelength. A blood vessel information analysis apparatus including a light source and performing imaging with first, second, and third lights. With this configuration, blood vessel information analysis can be performed with higher accuracy than when measurement is performed with a single wavelength as a reference and a single wavelength for measurement.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the third to fifth aspects, a plurality of sets of single-wavelength light are provided, and the light source irradiates a plurality of sets of single-wavelength light, respectively. This is a blood vessel information analyzing apparatus characterized by performing blood vessel information analysis of a plurality of factors that are indicators of disease. With this configuration, blood vessel information analysis of a plurality of factors of lifestyle-related diseases can be easily performed by simultaneously irradiating a plurality of sets of single-wavelength light.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the control unit drives the light source in synchronization with the output of the imaging unit, and sequentially irradiates light of a single wavelength at a video rate. Is a blood vessel information analyzing apparatus characterized by With this configuration, noise such as the movement of the examination site can be removed, and precise blood vessel information analysis can be performed based on the acquired reflected wave image information.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the first and second light sources that respectively irradiate light of the first and second single wavelengths are irradiated in order from the light source. Instead of the optical coupling unit that collects the collected light and sequentially irradiates the examination site from the output end, the light source that irradiates the light, the wavelength of the light emitted from the light source, The blood vessel information analyzing apparatus includes a light modulation unit that sequentially irradiates light to an examination site. With this configuration, the number of light sources can be reduced and a compact configuration can be achieved.

  In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the first and second light sources are sequentially irradiated with light of the first and second single wavelengths, respectively, collected, and sequentially emitted from the emission end to the examination site as an optical signal train. A lifestyle-related disease factor information examination method for performing blood vessel information analysis based on an intensity ratio of image information obtained by irradiating and imaging the examination site with the reflected light and imaging with the first and second lights, Is a lifestyle-related disease factor information examination method characterized by detecting the direction and width of a blood vessel and removing noise inherent to the blood vessel. With this configuration, light of different single wavelengths is sequentially irradiated in a short time to the examination site, so that precise blood vessel information analysis can be performed based on the acquired image information. In addition, the light emission position and the examination part are arranged at a fixed position, and image information focused on the examination part is obtained for each light having a different wavelength, and the image processing is not affected by the contrast difference of the image. Since the blood vessel is extracted, the direction and width of the blood vessel are detected, and noise inherent to the blood vessel is removed by the anisotropic noise removal processing, it is possible to obtain highly accurate lifestyle-related disease factor information included in the blood vessel information. In addition, it is possible to provide a lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method capable of easily examining information on one or more factors of lifestyle-related diseases.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, the direction and width of a blood vessel are detected based on the degree of line concentration of the luminance vector of the image information, and anisotropic noise removal processing is performed on the detected blood vessel region. It is a lifestyle-related disease factor information test method characterized by With this configuration, blood vessels are extracted without being affected by the contrast difference due to the degree of line concentration, the direction and width of the blood vessels are detected, and blood vessel-specific noise is reduced in consideration of the uniformity along the direction of the blood vessels. Since it is removed, highly accurate factor information of lifestyle-related diseases included in blood vessel information can be obtained.
it can.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the ninth or tenth aspect, the first and second single-wavelength lights are made into one set, and an index of lifestyle-related diseases based on the intensity ratio of one set This is a lifestyle-related disease factor information test method characterized by performing vascular information analysis of one factor. With this configuration, blood vessel information analysis of a factor of lifestyle-related diseases can be easily performed by irradiating a set of single-wavelength light.

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the lifestyle according to the eleventh aspect, characterized in that the first and second single-wavelength lights are green light, and blood vessel information analysis of oxygen saturation of blood vessels is performed. This is a disease factor information test method. With this configuration, blood vessel information analysis of the oxygen saturation of the blood vessel can be easily performed with a single set of green light irradiation.

  In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the eleventh or twelfth aspect, a plurality of sets of single-wavelength light are provided, and a plurality of sets of single-wavelength light are respectively emitted from a light source, thereby indicating an indicator of lifestyle-related diseases It is a lifestyle-related disease factor information test method characterized by performing vascular information analysis of multiple factors. With this configuration, blood vessel information analysis of a plurality of factors of lifestyle-related diseases can be easily performed by simultaneously irradiating a plurality of sets of single-wavelength light.

  A fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides lifestyle-related disease factor information characterized in that, in any of the eighth to twelfth aspects, single-wavelength light is sequentially emitted at a video rate in synchronization with the output of the imaging unit. Inspection method. With this configuration, noise such as the movement of the examination site can be removed, and precise blood vessel information analysis can be performed based on the acquired reflected wave image information.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in any of the ninth to fourteenth aspects, in addition to the first and second light sources, at least one third light that irradiates light of a third single wavelength. The lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method according to claim 9, wherein imaging is performed with the first, second, and third lights. With this configuration, blood vessel information analysis can be performed with higher accuracy than when measurement is performed with a single wavelength as a reference and a single wavelength for measurement.

  A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the light source according to any one of the ninth to fourteenth aspects, instead of sequentially irradiating light of the first and second single wavelengths from the first and second light sources, respectively. The lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method is characterized in that the wavelength of the light emitted from the light source is modulated, and the first and second single-wavelength lights are sequentially irradiated from the emission end to the examination site. With this configuration, the number of light sources can be reduced and a compact configuration can be achieved.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the blood vessel information analysis device and lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. The blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to the first embodiment is intended for testing blood information of capillaries of the fundus, but even in the lips and other examination sites, blood is held by irradiating light on blood vessels. Any site capable of measuring factor information of lifestyle-related diseases can be examined.

  FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an oscillation spectrum of single wavelength light to be irradiated, and FIG. 3 is a blood vessel information analysis in which fundus oxygen distribution is measured 4 is a photograph of an image obtained when lips are irradiated with 545 nm green laser light. FIG. 5 is a photograph of an image obtained by extracting image information of only the blood vessel from the image information of the photograph of FIG. FIG. 6A is a conceptual diagram of a narrow fixed region assumed in a region where capillaries exist, and FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining an actual distribution of luminance gradient vectors in the narrow fixed region. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an ideal distribution of a luminance gradient vector in a narrow fixed region, FIG. 8 (a) is a diagram for explaining an isotropic small observation region on the space axis, and FIG. 8 (b). Is an explanatory diagram of an isotropic large observation area in the space axis, FIG. c) is an explanatory diagram of an observation region of anisotropy on the spatial axis, FIG. 9 is a first flowchart of image processing in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a diagram of image processing in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a 2nd flowchart.

  In this blood vessel information analyzing apparatus, one set of a plurality of single wavelengths different from each other on the eyeball or a set of multiple sets of light is used as a video rate, that is, one frame (1/30) of an image that cannot be recognized by a human as one frame. (Second), for example, with a pulse width of several mm seconds to several tens of mm seconds. Measure at several different wavelengths for each factor of lifestyle-related diseases. Repeat multiple sets to test multiple factors. Information common to a plurality of factors can be shared between the factors. The reflected wave reflected from the fundus is imaged by a CCD or the like, and image information is acquired for each wavelength. Based on this image information, a blood function image (blood vessel information image) is generated. Therefore, the conventional method is not to obtain a plurality of pieces of image information by irradiating white light and splitting a reflected wave, but to obtain image information for each light with a single wavelength light. An example of the oscillation spectrum of the irradiated light is shown in FIG. In this specification, single-wavelength light is light having a narrow-band wavelength as shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is an eyeball. 2 _ij is a light source for irradiating light of different single wavelengths, and one set is provided when there is one lifestyle-related disease factor to be examined, and a plurality of sets are provided when there are a plurality of factors to be examined. The subscript “i” indicates a factor (i = 1,..., M) when inspecting a plurality of factors, and “j” indicates the wavelength of light (j = 2,..., N) used for each factor to be inspected. ). Accordingly, m × (n−1) light sources 2 _ij are provided as a whole, and light of m × (n−1) wavelengths is irradiated. Light from the light source 2 _ij is emitted toward the eyeball 1.

  Here, the reason why the light sources having two or more wavelengths are provided for one factor is that the oxygen saturation is the same at 545 nm, 570 nm, and 584 nm as shown in FIG. For example, at 539 nm, 548 nm, and 777 nm, the difference in light absorption between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin is large, and the reflectance is different at these locations, so that oxygen saturation can be measured by comparison. That is, at least two points of the other measurement points depending on the oxygen saturation having different reflectances are required, with one point where the high and low oxygen saturations not depending on the oxygen saturation coincided as a reference point for comparison, This is because it is preferable to provide more measurement points in order to further increase the detection accuracy. In this case, the oxygen saturation is calculated by weighting between the measurement points. The same applies to proteins, lipids, and the like, but when the test substance, for example, plasma protein or neutral fat, is specified, the wavelength of light to be irradiated is determined.

Any wavelength range of the light source 2 _ij may be used as long as it can irradiate light capable of measuring a factor of lifestyle-related diseases. However, it is better to avoid the ultraviolet region as much as possible. Lasers such as semiconductor lasers, solid state lasers, optical fiber lasers, and light sources such as LEDs are suitable for easy control. As described above, the wavelength for inspecting the oxygen saturation is green, but it is sufficient to irradiate green light having two wavelengths, three wavelengths, or more. When irradiating with laser light, it is necessary to keep a level of at least ² mW / mm ² or less in light of US standards ANZI, Japanese Industrial Standards JIS, and other standards. Should.

Reference numeral 3 shown in FIG. 1 denotes an optical coupling unit that sequentially emits pulses emitted from a plurality of light sources 2 _ij as a pulse train (an optical signal train of the present invention). The pulses emitted from the respective light sources 2 _ij are collected here and emitted as a pulse train from the emission end coupled to the optical coupling unit 3. It is important from the viewpoint of eliminating the image shift of the blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to the first embodiment that the emission position of each pulse light and the examination site such as the fundus are fixed and fixedly arranged.

As the optical coupling unit 3, for example, an optical coupler that collects a plurality of optical fibers into one optical fiber may be used. In addition, if the optical fiber is thin and the emission position of each pulsed light can be regarded as a fixed position when bundled in the shape of a cable, the light from each light source is simply guided by an individual optical fiber, and the ends are bundled together with the emission end. You may do it. Further, the optical coupling unit 3 may be an optical switch that actively switches light emitted from each light source 2 _ij at a predetermined timing and outputs it as a pulse train. In this case, it is controlled by the control unit 5 described later.

  Instead of providing multiple light sources that emit light of different single wavelengths, the light emitted from the light sources is modulated by a light modulator such as an electrical light modulator. You may irradiate from a radiation | emission end as several single wavelength light. Further, a part of the single wavelength light can be emitted from each light source, and the remaining single wavelength light can be emitted from one light source by being modulated by a modulator. With this configuration, the number of light sources can be reduced and a compact configuration can be achieved.

  In FIG. 1, 4 is an imaging unit such as a CCD or CMOS that receives reflected light from the fundus etc., 4a is an imaging control unit, and 4b is an image signal that outputs charges accumulated in the imaging unit 4 by receiving reflected light. A processing unit, 5 is a control unit, and 6 is a storage unit.

When each pixel of the imaging unit 4 receives reflected light by irradiation of the light source 2 _ij , the charge accumulated from the imaging unit 4 is output to the image signal processing unit 4b as an image signal, where imaging noise is removed, After being amplified and A / D converted, it is transferred to the control unit 5 as image information.

  The control unit 5 is one or a plurality of processors that control the system of the entire blood vessel information analysis device in terms of hardware, and executes a function that reads a program stored in the storage unit 6 and executes a predetermined control function Configured as a means.

  The storage unit 6 includes a ROM and a RAM in terms of hardware, and a non-volatile memory that stores image information. The image information obtained by the imaging unit 4 is temporarily stored in the inspection information memory unit 6a of the storage unit 6. For each factor of each living environment disease, reference image information detected by light emission of a predetermined wavelength and measurement image information detected at a measurement wavelength are stored as one set.

  Next, the following function realizing means is mounted on the control unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 is a data calculation means for calculating blood state information of blood vessels based on image information stored in the examination information memory section 6a, and 8 is a blood vessel function image (blood vessel information image) obtained by extracting a blood vessel portion from the image information. This is an image processing means for coloring and performing other image processing. Reference numeral 8a denotes image filter means for removing noise from image information. In the present invention, image information is acquired at a video rate, and since imaging is completed in a short time, which is tens of times that the pupil contracts upon receiving light irradiation, noise caused by eye movement is generated. The possibility of mixing is low.

  Now, the data calculation means 7 calculates blood state information of blood vessels for each wavelength, that is, factor information of lifestyle-related diseases. In terms of oxidative saturation, there are at least two pieces of image information, that is, 545 nm reference blood vessel image information that does not depend on oxygen saturation, and blood vessel measurement image information detected at 539 nm in the vicinity depending on oxygen saturation. By obtaining the intensity (luminance) and calculating the intensity ratio between the two, the oxygen saturation of blood can be obtained. FIG. 3 is an example of a blood vessel information analysis image obtained by measuring the fundus oxygen distribution. The blood vessel information analysis image of FIG. 3 is not for humans but for monkeys.

  The image processing unit 8 extracts blood vessels and removes noise from the blood vessel image information by the image filter unit 8a before the data calculation unit 7 performs the calculation. Details of this will be described later. Only the blood vessel portion is extracted from the image information acquired at each wavelength, and the noise of the image of the blood vessel portion is corrected so that the background information does not affect it. FIG. 4 is an image obtained when the lips are irradiated with 545 nm green laser light, and FIG. 5 is an image obtained by extracting and correcting image information of only the blood vessel portion from this image. The image as shown in FIG. 5 is created with reference image information and measurement image information, the intensity ratio of the image is obtained at the corresponding position of the blood vessel part, the two-dimensional distribution of the intensity ratio is obtained, and this is color-coded by stage A blood vessel information analysis image as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained.

  In the center of the image shown in FIG. 5, a round and bright gray area is a place where many capillaries of the fundus are present, and white areas in this area are places where oxygen distribution is relatively large. The place where the concentration of oxygen is the highest is shown in black in the white part in the center. On the other hand, the dark part outside the gray round area is a part where the light intensity from each light source 2ij is insufficient and the illuminance is low. However, in the blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to the first embodiment, a sufficient amount of information can be obtained with this central information.

  Next, the data calculation means 7 calculates the intensity ratio of the blood vessel part from the image intensity based on the image information thus obtained, and generates information on the intensity ratio distribution. Based on this, the image processing means 8 generates a blood vessel information analysis image. The blood vessel information analysis image, the original image, and the like can be displayed on the display device 10 described later by the control unit 5. The blood vessel information analysis image data and image information acquired at this time are stored in the examination information memory unit 6a for each factor.

  In addition to measuring the reference image information and the measurement image information one by one, when there is measurement image information taken at a second wavelength, for example, 548 nm, the measurement taken at the second wavelength 548 nm It is preferable to calculate the second intensity ratio obtained from the image information and the reference image information. Further, if there are third and fourth wavelengths, the third and fourth intensity ratios are calculated, and an intensity ratio obtained by weighting them with the first intensity ratio is calculated to obtain an intensity ratio distribution. Based on this, the image processing means 8 generates a blood vessel information analysis image. Accordingly, if the intensity ratio is calculated as a whole by measuring at the second and third wavelengths, the blood vessel information analysis image is more accurate than when measured only at the first wavelength.

  Next, returning to FIG. 1, the display function of the blood vessel information analysis device will be described. Reference numeral 9 is a display control means, and 10 is a display device for displaying numerical data such as a blood vessel information analysis image, an original picture, or oxygen saturation obtained by calculation, as output from the display control means 9. The control unit 5 causes the display device 10 to output RGB signals such as a blood vessel information analysis image and image information in the examination information memory unit 6 a to the display device 10. The display device 10 displays a blood vessel information analysis image, an original image, and the like according to the RGB signals.

The light source control function of the blood vessel information analyzer is performed by the control unit 5. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a timing unit such as a timer provided in the control unit 5. At least mm seconds can be counted. The control unit 5 sequentially operates the driving unit (not shown) of the next light source 2 _ij in synchronization with the output of the image signal from the imaging unit 4 to the image signal processing unit 4b. It is also possible to operate the next light source 2 _ij at a timing delayed by a predetermined time. Thereby, the pulse of each light source 2 _ij is made into a pulse train by the optical coupling unit 3, and the reflected light from the fundus is received by the imaging unit 4.

  As described above, the blood vessel information analysis device according to the first embodiment sequentially irradiates one or more sets of light having different wavelengths to the eyeball at the video rate, and uses this light as an extremely short-time pulse to move the eyeball. The blood state information of the blood vessel is measured based on the image information of the reflected wave. Therefore, it does not irradiate white light and divide the reflected wave to acquire and analyze a plurality of pieces of image information as in the past, but obtain image information as it is for each light of different single wavelengths, and perform image processing. It measures blood status information. For this reason, it is possible to provide a practical non-invasive blood vessel information analyzing apparatus with an inexpensive, compact and extremely simple configuration. In addition, the blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to the first embodiment uses the fact that the examination target is a blood vessel, and uses this characteristic to obtain highly accurate information by image processing.

  Therefore, the image filter means 8a of the blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to Embodiment 1 will be described in detail. In the blood vessel information analysis device according to the first embodiment, a spotlight-like image such as the fundus is obtained by irradiating light instantaneously, thereby extracting blood vessel information. At this time, since the image is a spotlight image, it is inevitable that a large contrast difference occurs in the image. In normal image processing, pre-processing is necessary to remove the influence of contrast, the calculation is complicated and time consuming, the processing results are noisy, and it is difficult to extract blood vessel information.

For this reason, in the first embodiment, the obtained image is regarded as a line-convergence vector field, and blood vessel information is obtained without being affected by contrast, line width, etc. using a model of a linear region. To detect. At this time, the intensity of the first derivative vector of luminance (hereinafter referred to as luminance gradient vector) is ignored, and only the direction distribution of the vector is focused. Focusing only on the direction of the vector, when the blood vessel is an ideal linear convex region, the ridge line has the maximum value of luminance. In this state, the luminance gradient vector has a direction orthogonal to the ridge line, is distributed opposite to both sides of the ridge line, and is line-concentrated together toward the ridge line. By utilizing such properties, blood vessel information (direction and width) is extracted, and unnecessary noise is removed. A ridge line on which such luminance gradient vectors are concentrated is called a vector concentration line. FIG. 6A is a conceptual diagram of a narrow fixed region assumed in a region where a capillary is present, and FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining an actual distribution of luminance gradient vectors in the narrow fixed region. is there. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an ideal distribution of the luminance gradient vector in the vicinity of the narrow fixed width. 6B and FIG. 7, V is a vector concentration line, r ₁ and r ₂ are regions near a fixed rectangle, φ is the direction of the vector concentration line V (ridge line), and W is a line described later. This is the width determined as a line segment (blood vessel) in the calculation of the degree of concentration. These are as disclosed in detail in Patent Document 3 by the present inventor.

In this method, when extracting blood vessel information from an image, a vector concentration line V (ridge line) of a linear convex region (blood vessel) that appears in the image is detected. Specifically, the hypothetical attention point P is successively moved with respect to the blood vessel image to be processed, and the line concentration degree C is assumed by assuming the narrow-fixed neighboring regions r ₁ and r ₂ at each attention point P. _A search line (assumed vector concentration line) that maximizes _N is obtained. The line concentration degree _CN is an evaluation value that is evaluated using a function such as a cosine function that simply decreases within a predetermined range in which the vector concentration can be evaluated. In the case of the cosine function, the line concentration C _N has a value of −1 to +1. Search line the line concentration degree C _N is maximum is a vector concentration line is ridge line. If the ridge line can be extracted, the line segment (blood vessel) can be extracted from the image. Line concentration degree C _N noise immunity value, for example 0.5 or more parts is determined that this portion is a blood vessel portion be defined as a line segment, can determine the width of the line segment to the width of the vessel.

Only a value with a line concentration degree larger than the noise tolerance value is determined as line information, and if it is lower than that, it is removed without considering it as a line, so that it is possible to leave a line segment and make the image clear. Because hardly affected by the contrast because it calculates linear concentrations of C _N in the direction facing the vector, a line concentration degree C _N by the region near r _1, r ₂ of the narrow fixed is only very narrow small area, noise It is possible to extract only the ridge line sharply without being affected by. As in the first embodiment, the line concentration degree C _N such that extremely short time irradiation with light of a single wavelength, even when having a contrast difference of 10 times or more, detects individually a line crossing in different directions It is possible to detect the direction and spread of a stable line even in a complicated structure where a real image is complicated.

Now, the image filter means 8a of the blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to the first embodiment further detects the direction and width of the blood vessel based on the line concentration C _N based on such narrow fixed regions r ₁ and r _2. Removes noise specific to blood vessels in the blood vessels. By the way, when measuring a fine structure at high speed, the temporal and spatial occurrence probability of noise (disturbance) mixed from the device generally follows a normal distribution. Therefore, this removal is possible by the smoothing process in the time axis and the space axis.

  However, when the time changes in a very short time, it is not possible to secure a sufficient measurement time necessary for estimating and removing noise on the time axis. In addition, when the measurement target has a very elongated shape such as a capillary, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, isotropic observation with a general spatial axis An appropriate observation area cannot be secured. That is, in the measurement in such a case, if the observation area A as shown in FIG. 8A is used, the area is too small and the noise removal capability is lowered, as shown in FIG. 8B. Even if a large observation area is used, the observation area A is too large, and the deterioration of the image becomes large due to the influence of the background image.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8C, anisotropic noise removal processing for determining the target area according to the shape of the target area is effective. However, in an actual image, there are a variety of contrasts, and the structure becomes complicated due to the influence of crossing of lines and the like, and it is difficult to accurately detect the shape of the target region with a conventional image filter.

However, as described above, the image filter unit 8a according to the first embodiment has information on the direction and width of the line segment (blood vessel) based on the line concentration C _N based on the narrow-width fixed neighboring areas r ₁ and r _2. ing. Therefore, based on the blood vessel direction and width information obtained by calculating the line concentration, an observation area A having a sufficiently large size necessary for the anisotropic noise removal processing is set to avoid deterioration due to the influence of the background. An anisotropic filter with sufficient noise removal capability can be constructed. In addition, since the blood flow along the blood vessel is kept uniform, this anisotropic filter can be an image filter that most reflects the characteristics of the blood vessel. The observation region A is preferably a rectangular region that is long along the blood vessel as shown in FIG. 6 (d) that falls within the width W of the line segment (blood vessel) or an elliptical region as shown in FIG. 8 (e). In the observation area, it is better to remove noise as a Gaurasian filter or a median filter. Note that it is sufficient that the width w of the observation region has a relationship of about W = (4-6) × w with the width W of the blood vessel. By using this anisotropic filter, blood vessel noise can be sufficiently removed.

The noise processing procedure (anisotropic noise removal method) in the first embodiment described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Note that the noise processing by the anisotropic noise removal filter of FIGS. 9 and 10 is only different in the mounting method, and both are not substantially changed. First, referring to FIG. 9, a point of interest P is assumed in the input image (step 1), and the search points are assumed assuming the fixed regions N ₁ and r ₂ having a narrow width at the point of interest P. linear concentrations of _{C N} is the maximum search line Request (vector intensive line) (step2). The point of interest P is moved one after another, and it is determined whether or not all vector concentrated lines V have been acquired (step 3). If all vector concentrated lines V have not been acquired, the process returns to step 1, and all vector concentrated lines V are obtained. Is acquired, the direction and width of all the line segments (blood vessels) on the image are acquired (step 4).

  Next, an attention point P is assumed in the blood vessel whose direction and width are known, and an observation region A for noise removal with respect to the attention point P is assumed (step 5). Noise removal processing is performed using values in the observation area A (step 6), and data is stored at the position of the target point P in the output image. Thereafter, the noise removal process is repeated assuming that the observation region A is successively applied to all the pixels (attention point P), and it is checked whether or not the noise removal is completed. If not, the process returns to step 5 and repeated. If completed, the noise removal process ends. It should be noted that general noise processing is preferably performed on regions other than blood vessels. In addition, it is difficult to set the observation region A on both sides of the blood vessel width, and there is a possibility that a narrow region where noise cannot be removed may remain, but this is a future issue for further noise removal, such as reducing the width w of the observation region. is there. As for the noise removal process in step 6, there is also a recursive process that performs a search that minimizes the noise evaluation value, such as a median filter or a morphological filter.

  Next, noise processing by the second mounting method according to the raster scan shown in FIG. 10 will be described. In FIG. 10, first, the position of the attention point P is initialized (step 11). Next, the degree of line concentration on the attention point P of the input image is measured, and information on the vector concentration line and the concentration vector field is acquired (step 12).

  Next, the existence, direction, and width of the line segment (blood vessel) are acquired (step 13), and the observation area A that is the vicinity area of the point of interest P is determined (step 14). And the noise of the attention point P is removed using the information of the observation area A of the input image, and stored in the position of the attention point P of the output image (step 15). Further, the attention point P is moved to the next pixel (step 16). Here, it is determined whether or not calculation has been performed for all pixels (step 17). If calculation has not been completed for all pixels, the process returns to step 12, and if completed, the process is terminated.

  As described above, if the image filter of the first embodiment is an elongated linear structure, the direction and width of the line are detected based on the line concentration degree of the luminance vector of the image information, even if the structure is complicated. Then, anisotropic noise removal processing can be performed on the detected linear region. Therefore, not only the blood vessel information analysis apparatus but also an elongated linear structure can generally be analyzed with high accuracy. When blood vessels are analyzed, noise inherent to blood vessels can be removed very effectively.

  As described above, according to the blood vessel information analysis device and the lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method in the first embodiment, the eyeball is sequentially irradiated with one set or a plurality of sets of light having different single wavelengths at the video rate. The blood information can be acquired based on the image information of the reflected wave. Since light of different single wavelengths is irradiated, image information is obtained for each light, and image processing is performed as it is for analysis, there is no need for mechanical scanning or spectroscopic measurement, and it is inexpensive, compact, and extremely simple. A practical non-invasive blood vessel information analyzing apparatus can be obtained. Moreover, according to this lifestyle-related disease factor information test | inspection method, the 1 or more factor information of lifestyle-related disease can be test | inspected easily and simultaneously.

  Furthermore, the blood vessel information analysis device and lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method in Embodiment 1 can extract blood vessels without being affected by the contrast difference of the image by image processing using the line concentration degree of the luminance gradient vector. By utilizing the fact that the test object is a blood vessel, it is possible to obtain highly accurate lifestyle-related disease factor information included in the blood vessel information by an image filter utilizing this characteristic.

  The present invention can be applied to a blood vessel information analysis apparatus such as a fundus.

Block configuration diagram of the blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows an example of the oscillation spectrum of the single wavelength light to irradiate Photograph of blood vessel information analysis image measuring fundus oxygen distribution Photo of image obtained when lips are irradiated with 545nm green laser light Photograph of image obtained by extracting image information of only blood vessel part from image information of photograph of FIG. (A) is a conceptual diagram of a narrow fixed region assumed in a region where capillaries exist, and (b) a diagram for explaining the actual distribution of luminance gradient vectors in the narrow fixed region. The figure explaining the ideal distribution in the near fixed area of the brightness gradient vector (A) An explanatory diagram of an isotropic small observation region on the spatial axis, (b) An explanatory diagram of an isotropic large observation region on the spatial axis, (c) An anisotropy observation region on the spatial axis Illustration First flowchart of image processing in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Second flowchart of image processing in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Explanatory drawing showing oxygen saturation dependence of fundus reflection spectrum

Explanation of symbols

1 eyeball 2 _ij (i = 1,..., M; j = 2,..., N) light source 3 optical coupling unit 4 imaging unit 4a imaging control unit 4b image signal processing unit 5 control unit 6 storage unit 6a inspection information memory Unit 7 Data operation means 8 Image processing means 8a Image filter means 9 Display control means 10 Display device 11 Timekeeping means

Claims (16)

A first and a second light source that respectively irradiate light of a first and a second single wavelength; a light coupling unit that condenses the light irradiated in order from the light source and sequentially irradiates the examination site from the emission end; and An imaging unit that receives reflected light and images the examination site; and a control unit that measures an intensity ratio of image information captured by the first and second lights to perform blood vessel information analysis, and Includes an image filter means for detecting the direction and width of a blood vessel and performing anisotropic noise removal processing. 2. The image filter means detects a direction and a width of a blood vessel based on a line concentration degree of a luminance vector of the image information, and performs anisotropic noise removal processing on the detected blood vessel region. Blood vessel information analyzer. The vascular information analysis of one factor that serves as an index of lifestyle-related diseases is performed based on the intensity ratio of the one set, wherein the light of the first and second single wavelengths is made into one set. 3. The blood vessel information analysis device according to 1 or 2. 4. The blood vessel information analysis apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the light of the first and second single wavelengths is green light, and performs blood vessel information analysis of oxygen saturation of the blood vessel. In addition to the first and second light sources, at least one third light source capable of emitting light of a third single wavelength is provided, and imaging is performed with the first, second, and third lights. The blood vessel information analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein A plurality of sets of single-wavelength light are provided, and the light source irradiates the plurality of sets of single-wavelength light, respectively, and performs blood vessel information analysis of a plurality of factors serving as an index of lifestyle-related diseases. The blood vessel information analyzer according to any one of claims 3 to 5. The blood vessel information according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit drives the light source in synchronization with an output of the imaging unit and sequentially irradiates the light of the single wavelength at a video rate. Analysis equipment. The blood vessel information analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first and second light sources that respectively irradiate light of the first and second single wavelengths and the light irradiated in order from the light source are collected. Instead of the optical coupling unit that sequentially irradiates the examination site from the emission end, a light source that irradiates light, and the wavelength of the light emitted from the light source is modulated, and single wavelength light is sequentially applied from the emission end to the examination site. An apparatus for analyzing blood vessel information, characterized in that a light modulation unit for irradiation is provided. The first and second light sources sequentially irradiate light of the first and second single wavelengths, respectively, collect the light, and sequentially irradiate the inspection site as an optical signal sequence from the emission end. A lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method for imaging blood vessel information based on an intensity ratio of image information captured with the first and second lights by imaging a site, and acquiring the intensity ratio A lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method characterized by detecting the direction and width of a blood vessel and performing anisotropic noise removal processing. 10. The lifestyle-related disease factor information according to claim 9, wherein a direction and width of a blood vessel are detected based on a line concentration degree of a luminance vector of the image information, and anisotropic noise removal processing is performed on the detected blood vessel region. Inspection method. The vascular information analysis of one factor that serves as an index of lifestyle-related diseases is performed based on the intensity ratio of the one set, wherein the light of the first and second single wavelengths is made into one set. The lifestyle-related disease factor information test method according to 9 or 10. 12. The lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method according to claim 11, wherein the light of the first and second single wavelengths is green light, and blood vessel information analysis of blood oxygen saturation is performed. A plurality of sets of single-wavelength light are provided, and a plurality of sets of single-wavelength light are respectively emitted from the light source, and blood vessel information analysis of a plurality of factors serving as an index of lifestyle-related diseases is performed. The lifestyle-related disease factor information test method according to claim 11 or 12. The lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method according to claim 9, wherein the single-wavelength light is sequentially irradiated at a video rate in synchronization with an output of an imaging unit. In addition to the first and second light sources, at least one third light source that emits light of a third single wavelength is provided, and imaging is performed with the first, second, and third lights. The lifestyle-related disease factor information test method according to any one of claims 9 to 14. 16. The lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method according to claim 9, wherein the first and second light sources are irradiated from the light source instead of sequentially irradiating light of the first and second single wavelengths, respectively. A lifestyle-related disease factor information inspection method characterized by modulating the wavelength of the emitted light and irradiating the examination region with light of the first and second single wavelengths sequentially from the emission end.