JPH05305069A - Light scanning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the measuring time and miniaturize the whole device by arranging a group of optical fibers arranged around a specimen and a group of optical fibers including optical fibers guided to a light source and a detector into a ring shape at one end respectively, optically connecting end faces, and rotating a ring to change the connection relation. CONSTITUTION:A group of optical fibers 10 are fixed to a ring 12 formed to surround the periphery of a specimen 2 at one end, the optical fibers 10 are fixed to a ring 14 at the other end, and the optical fibers 10 are exposed on the end face of the ring 14 and arranged at a uniform interval. A group of optical fibers 16 are fixed to a ring 18 at one end, and the optical fibers 16 are exposed on the end face of the ring 18 and arranged at a uniform interval. When the rings 14, 18 are faced to each other, end faces of the optical fibers 10, 16 are faced to each other one to one, an optical fiber 16a is extended to a light source section, and optical fibers 16b are guided to a light detector. When the ring 18 is rotated, the measurement light flux is moved around the specimen 2 in sequence, and the information in the specimen 2 can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention irradiates a subject such as a living body with visible or near-infrared light and detects transmitted light or reflected light (including scattered light) to nondestructive information in the subject. The present invention relates to an optical scanning device that can be obtained.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to obtain information on the inside of a subject by irradiating a subject with a measurement light beam and transmitting or reflecting the light beam, the measurement light beam is sequentially emitted from around the subject, and information about each irradiation position is obtained. Need to get One of the methods is a method in which a measurement light beam is fan-shaped scanned and irradiated from one direction of the subject, and the position of the measurement light beam is moved around the subject.
Another method is a method in which the measurement light flux is translated in a range including the subject, and the light flux is moved around the subject.

As another optical scanning method, as shown in FIG. 5, one end of a group of optical fibers is arranged in a ring shape around the subject 2 and one optical fiber of the optical fiber group 4 is arranged. 4a is a light-transmitting optical fiber that guides the measurement light beam from the light source, and another optical fiber 4b is a light-receiving optical fiber that guides the light from the subject 2 to the respective detectors. A method is considered in which transmitted light or reflected light of the sample 2 is received by the light receiving optical fiber 4b and the optical fiber group 4 is rotated around the sample 2. A gantry having a rotation mechanism for rotating the optical fiber group 4 is provided.

[0004]

As shown in FIG. 5, the present invention irradiates a measurement light beam from one optical fiber to a subject, receives the light with another optical fiber arranged around the subject, and detects each detector. It is about the method to lead to. The method of rotating the optical fiber group around the subject as shown in FIG. 5 has the drawbacks that the gantry becomes large due to the rotation mechanism, and the time for rotating the optical fiber group becomes long and the measurement time becomes long. Therefore, in the present invention, the optical fiber group disposed around the subject is fixed around the subject, and the light irradiation position can be changed to the periphery of the subject to shorten the measurement time and reduce the entire device. The purpose is to downsize.

[0005]

According to the present invention, one end of each of a plurality of optical fibers is fixedly arranged around a subject, and the other ends of the optical fibers are arranged in a ring shape. An optical fiber group and the same number of optical fibers as the first optical fiber group are provided, and one end of each of the optical fibers is arranged in a ring shape so as to face each other end of the optical fibers of the first optical fiber group. One of the other ends of the second optical fiber guides the light from the light source, and the other end of the remaining optical fibers is guided to the respective detectors by the second optical fiber group and the first optical fiber group arranged in a ring shape and facing each other. And a rotation mechanism for rotating at least one of the ends of the second optical fiber group with respect to the other.

In the present invention, one end of each of the plurality of optical fibers is fixedly arranged around the subject, and the other end of each of the optical fibers is arranged in one line. A group of photodetectors arranged facing the end of each optical fiber, and between the photodetectors corresponding to the other ends of the optical fibers, respectively, along the arrangement of the other ends of the optical fibers. In the optical path of the measurement light beam between the optical system for irradiating the measurement light beam and each of the other ends of the optical fiber and the corresponding photodetector, the light beam is reflected and guided to the corresponding optical fiber. And a group of reflecting mirrors that are provided so as to be inserted into the optical path of the measurement light beam.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment. Each end of the group of optical fibers 10 is fixed by a ring 12 formed in a shape surrounding the subject 2 so that the end surface of each optical fiber 10 faces the subject 2. Ring 1
2 is fixed to the main body of the optical scanning device, and the subject 2 is also measured in a stationary state. The other end of each optical fiber 10 is fixed to the ring 14, and the end surface of the other end of each optical fiber 10 is exposed at the end surface of the ring 14 and arranged at equal intervals along the end surface of the ring 14.

One end of each optical fiber of the group of optical fibers 16 having the same number of optical fibers as the group of optical fibers 10 is fixed to a ring 18 having the same size as the ring 14, and an end face of one end of each optical fiber 16 is fixed. It is exposed at the end surface of the ring 18 and is arranged at equal intervals along the end surface of the ring 18. Each optical fiber 1 when the rings 14 and 18 are opposed to each other
The end face of 0 and the end face of each optical fiber 16 face each other corresponding to one body 1. One optical fiber 16a of the group of optical fibers 16 is a light-transmitting optical fiber that extends to the light source unit and guides light from the light source, and the remaining optical fibers 16b each have a photomultiplier tube at the other end. Is a light-receiving optical fiber guided to each photodetector.

The ring 14 is fixed. Ring 18
As shown in FIG. 2, the ring 1 is rotated by the rotary shaft 20.
It is supported so as to rotate while facing the No. 4. The rotating shaft 20 is rotated by the pulse motor 26 via the gears 22 and 24 while maintaining the relationship that the end faces of the optical fibers face each other by the rings 14 and 18.

In this embodiment, the end faces of the optical fibers at the rings 14 and 18 are opposed to each other, so that the measurement light beam is irradiated to the object 2 from one end of one optical fiber 10 opposed to the optical fiber 16a for transmitting light, and the ring 12 is irradiated. The transmitted light and reflected light of the measurement light beam are received by the remaining optical fiber end faces arranged in
The light is again guided to each photodetector through the coupling between the end faces of the optical fibers in the rings 14 and 18, and is detected. By rotating the ring 18 so that the end face of the optical fiber 16a for transmitting light is sequentially coupled to the end face of the optical fiber 10 arranged in the ring 14, the transmitted light and the reflected light are received, whereby the periphery of the subject 2 is examined. It is possible to obtain information on the inside of the subject while sequentially moving the measurement light flux. The rotation of the ring 18 has a smaller mechanism than that of rotating the optical fiber group around the subject, and can rotate in a short time, so that the measurement time is shortened.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, rings 14 and 18
The end faces of the fiber are not limited to those facing each other at the end faces of the rings 14 and 18, but one ring is made different in size so as to be fitted to the outside of the other ring, and is larger than the outer face of the smaller ring. The end faces of the respective optical fiber groups may be exposed on the inner side face of the other ring to optically couple the end faces of the optical fibers. Also, the ring 14
And 18 may be rotatable, or both rings 14 and 18 may be rotatable so that the rotation range of each ring 14 and 18 may be 180 degrees.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment. One end of each optical fiber 30 of the group of optical fibers is arranged around the subject 2, and the arrangement of the one end is fixed to the subject 2. The other end of each optical fiber 30 is arranged in a line. Photomultiplier tubes 32 are arranged opposite to the other end of each optical fiber 30, and the light from each optical fiber 30 is guided to each photomultiplier tube 32 and detected. Between each optical fiber 30 and the photomultiplier tube 32, a group of reflecting mirrors 36 for guiding the measurement light beam 34 incident on the other end of the optical fiber 30 in the arrangement direction by the optical system to the optical fiber is arranged. There is. Each reflecting mirror 36 is supported by a solenoid 38 as shown in FIG. 4, and can be inserted into the optical path of the measurement light beam 34. Only one reflecting mirror 36 is the measuring light flux 3
No. 4, which is inserted in the optical path of No.
Is positioned out of the optical path of.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the measuring light beam 34 is guided to the optical fiber 30 corresponding to the reflecting mirror 36 by the reflecting mirror 36 inserted in the optical path of the measuring light beam 34, and the optical fiber 30 transmits the light for transmitting light. The measurement light flux 34 is applied to the subject 22 from one end of the fiber. The remaining optical fiber 30 becomes a light-receiving optical fiber, and the light from the other end of the light-receiving optical fiber is guided to each photomultiplier tube 32 and detected. By sequentially switching the position where the reflecting mirror 36 is inserted in the optical path of the measurement light beam 34, the measurement light beam 34
Is measured while sequentially moving around the subject 22. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a plurality of types of optical fiber groups arranged around the subject 2 are prepared according to the size and resolution of the subject, and the reflecting mirror 36 and the photomultiplier tube 32 are the optical fiber groups. The optical fiber group 30 can be exchanged according to the subject 2 in advance by preparing the optical fiber group having the largest number of optical fibers.

[0014]

According to the present invention, one end of a group of optical fibers whose one end is arranged around a subject and one end of a group of optical fibers including an optical fiber extending to a light source and an optical fiber guided to a detector are provided. , Arranged in a ring shape so that the end faces face each other and are optically coupled, and at least one of the rings is rotated to change the coupling relationship of both optical fiber groups, or the reflecting mirror is selectively placed in the optical path. By selectively using one of the group of optical fibers, one end of which is arranged around the subject by insertion, as an optical fiber for light transmission, there is no need to rotate the group of optical fibers around the subject, Since it is not necessary to rotate the subject, the size of the optical scanning device can be reduced. Moreover, in order to move the measurement light beam around the subject, it is only necessary to rotate the coupling part between the optical fiber groups or change the reflecting mirror inserted in the optical path. Compared with rotating around, the movement of the measuring light flux is shorter and the measuring time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a coupling portion of an optical fiber group in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a second embodiment.

4 is a side view showing a moving mechanism of a reflecting mirror in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing the optical scanning device under consideration.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 2 object 10, 16, 30 optical fiber 12 ring around the object 14, 18 ring for coupling optical fiber groups 16a optical fiber for light transmission 16b optical fiber for light reception 20 rotating shaft 26 stepping motor 32 Photomultiplier tube 34 Measurement luminous flux 36 Reflector 38 Solenoid

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first optical fiber group in which one end of each of a plurality of optical fibers is fixedly arranged around a subject and one end of each of the optical fibers is arranged in a ring shape, and a first optical fiber group. It has the same number of optical fibers as the optical fiber group, one end of each of the optical fibers is arranged in a ring shape so as to face each other end of the optical fibers of the first optical fiber group, and one of the other ends of the optical fibers is a light source. Of the first and second optical fiber groups that are arranged in a ring shape and face each other, and a second optical fiber group that guides the light from the other optical fiber and the other end of the remaining optical fiber is guided to each detector. An optical scanning device comprising: a rotating mechanism that rotates at least one of the end portions with respect to the other. 2. An optical fiber group in which one end of each of the plurality of optical fibers is fixedly arranged around the subject and one end of each of the optical fibers is arranged in one line, and an optical fiber is provided for each of the other ends. A group of photodetectors arranged facing the end of the fiber, and a measuring light flux along the other end array of the optical fibers between the photodetectors corresponding to the other ends of the optical fibers, respectively. In the optical path of the measurement light beam between the irradiation optical system and each of the other ends of the optical fiber and the photodetector corresponding thereto, there is a direction in which the light beam is reflected and guided to the corresponding optical fiber. An optical scanning device comprising: a group of reflecting mirrors that can be inserted into the optical path of the measurement light beam, and one reflecting mirror is sequentially inserted into the optical path of the measurement light beam.