KR102426075B1 - Multifocal photoacoustic imaging device and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, a plurality of ultrasonic wave signals generated from the measurement object are generated as the light source unit irradiates light to different positions of the measurement object including a plurality of focal points, and according to the path length from the measurement object to each signal detection unit The present invention relates to a multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus capable of outputting a three-dimensional optoacoustic image in a faster time by finding the focus of each ultrasonic wave signal based on time, and a method for operating the same.
To this end, the present invention provides a light source unit for generating an ultrasonic wave signal by irradiating light with a predetermined wavelength to an object to be measured, a signal detecting unit for detecting the wavelength signal and a signal processing unit for separating a focus of the wavelength signal, and the wavelength signal An image output unit for outputting a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on There is provided a multifocal optoacoustic imaging device, characterized in that it outputs a three-dimensional optoacoustic image based on a wavelength signal generated by a focus.

Description

Multifocal photoacoustic imaging device and operation method thereof

The present invention relates to a multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus and a method for operating the same, and specifically, as a light source unit irradiates light to different positions of a measurement object including a plurality of focal points, a plurality of ultrasonic wave signals generated from the measurement object are generated. A multifocal optoacoustic imaging device capable of outputting a three-dimensional photoacoustic image in a faster time by finding the focus of each ultrasonic wave signal based on the time according to the path length from the measurement object to each signal detection unit, and It is about how to operate it.

In general, photoacoustic imaging technology is a technology that can non-invasively image the microstructure inside a living tissue by measuring the thermal ultrasound signal generated by a light source. to be.

Such photoacoustic imaging technology is widely used in clinical and preclinical research because it can obtain functional information such as structural information and oxygen saturation inside the living body.

Existing ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging systems acquire an acoustic signal generated after applying a laser to the human body to image physiological changes inside the human body. Such a photoacoustic imaging system is configured in a form in which a laser application unit is combined with an existing ultrasound imaging system, and the laser application unit is formed in a type attached to an ultrasound probe using an optical fiber.

However, as an image is acquired by irradiating a single light source with the existing photoacoustic imaging technology, it is difficult to obtain an image of a large area, and there is a problem that it takes a lot of time to acquire the image.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0031834 (Title of the invention: an optoacoustic imaging probe, an imaging system using an optoacoustic imaging probe, and an image acquisition method using an optoacoustic imaging probe, published on March 27, 2019)

The problem to be solved in the present invention is to generate a plurality of ultrasonic wave signals generated from the measurement object as the light source unit irradiates light to different positions of the measurement object including a plurality of focal points, and from the measurement object to each signal detection unit An object of the present invention is to provide a multifocal optoacoustic imaging device capable of outputting a three-dimensional optoacoustic image in a faster time by finding the focus of each ultrasonic wave signal based on time according to the path length of the , and an operating method thereof.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a light source unit for generating an ultrasonic wave signal by irradiating light with a predetermined wavelength to a measurement object, a signal detecting unit for detecting the wavelength signal, and a signal processing unit for separating the focus of the wavelength signal and an image output unit for outputting a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on the wavelength signal, wherein the light source unit includes at least two or more focal points for irradiating light to different positions of the measurement object, and the image output unit includes: It provides a multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus, characterized in that it outputs a three-dimensional optoacoustic image based on the wavelength signal generated by the at least two or more focal points.

Here, the method may further include a path-time calculation unit for calculating a path-time correlation with respect to time according to a path length from the measurement object to the signal detection unit.

Also, when the measurement object is changed, the method may further include a path length re-searching unit for re-searching a path length from the measurement object to the signal detection unit.

In addition, the present invention provides a wavelength signal generating step for generating an ultrasonic wave signal by irradiating light from a light source to a measurement object with a predetermined wavelength, a signal detecting step for detecting the wavelength signal, and a signal for dividing the focus of the wavelength signal a processing step, and an image output step of outputting a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on the wavelength signal, wherein in the wavelength signal generating step, the light source unit irradiates light to different positions of the measurement object at least two or more It provides a method of operating a multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus including a focus, wherein the outputting of the image comprises outputting a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on the wavelength signal generated by the at least two or more focus points.

Here, before the wavelength signal generating step is performed, the method may further include a path-time calculation step of calculating a path-time correlation with respect to a time according to a path length from the measurement object to the signal detection unit.

In addition, when the path-time calculation step is performed and the measurement object is changed before the wavelength signal generating step is performed, a path length rescan step of re-searching the path length from the measurement object to the signal detection unit is further performed. may include

The multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus and operating method thereof according to the present invention have the following effects.

First, as the light source unit irradiates light to different positions of the measurement object including a plurality of focal points, a plurality of ultrasonic wave signals generated from the measurement object are generated, and the time according to the path length from the measurement object to each signal detection unit There is an advantage in that it is possible to find the focus of each ultrasonic wave signal based on , and output an image in a faster time.

Second, there is an advantage of detecting a wavelength signal by irradiating light to a measurement object, and outputting a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on this.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention.
2 is a diagram illustrating an example of arranging the focus by dividing the first to third wavelength signals generated by the first to third focus of the multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention.
3 is a view showing another example of the light source unit of the multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention.
4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating a signal detection unit of the multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of a method for operating a multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention in which the above-described problem to be solved can be specifically realized will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present embodiments, the same names and the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and an additional description thereof will be omitted below.

A multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 .

The multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a light source unit 100 , a path-time calculation unit 400 , a signal detection unit 600 , a signal processing unit 200 , and an image output unit 300 .

The light source unit 100 irradiates light to the measurement object S at a predetermined wavelength to generate an ultrasonic wave signal. That is, when light of a specific wavelength is irradiated from the light source unit 100 to the measurement object S, thermo-elastic expansion occurs in the measurement object S (eg, biological tissue, etc.) that has absorbed the irradiated light. This is generated and instantaneously applies ambient air with a specific wavelength to emit an acoustic wave, that is, a wavelength signal. The wavelength signal thus generated may be an ultrasonic wave having a specific wavelength band.

The light source unit 100 may include a first focus point 110 to a third focus point 130 for irradiating light to different positions of the measurement object S, and the first focus point 110 to The third focal point 130 causes the wavelength signal to be emitted from different positions on the measurement object S.

The light source unit 100 may include at least two or more focal points irradiating light to different positions of the measurement object S, and in the present specification, the light source unit 100 includes the first focal points 110 to the second focal points. 3 will be described based on the focus 130 .

Since the light source unit 100 includes the first focus point 110 to the third focus point 130 , it is possible to output a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on three wavelength signals, that is, to output a three-dimensional image. For this purpose, the light source unit 100 preferably includes at least three or more focal points.

In this case, the path lengths from the measurement object S to the first signal measurement unit 610 to the third signal measurement unit 630 are different from each other, and a description thereof will be provided later.

Of course, the first to third focal points may be composed of independent objects irradiating individual light sources, as shown in FIG. can be classified.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3 , the light source unit 100 includes a light source 150 and a lenslet array 160 that divides the light source 150 into multiple paths to form a plurality of split lights 100 ′. By including, it is possible to generate a plurality of focal points by each of the divided lights, and to irradiate the light to different positions of the measurement object (S).

The signal detector 600 detects the wavelength signal, and the signal detector 600 may be configured as an ultrasonic sensor. In this case, the signal detection unit 600 is preferably configured in plurality so as to detect the wavelength signal for each focus, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 4A , when the signal detector 600 is configured as a single piece, four wavelength signals S1 according to four different depths of focus with respect to one focus. to S4) are detected by the signal detection unit 600 .

In this case, as the wavelength movement distances from the respective focal depths to the signal detection unit 600 are different for the plurality of wavelength signals, the time to reach the signal detection unit 600 varies for each wavelength signal.

That is, as the wavelength shift distance increases in the order of the first wavelength signal S1 to the fourth wavelength signal S4, the first wavelength signal S1 to the fourth wavelength signal S4 increases in the order of the first wavelength signal (S1) to the fourth wavelength signal (S4) to reach the signal detection unit 600 becomes longer.

Accordingly, it is possible to distinguish four wavelength signals S1 to S4 according to four different depths of focus with respect to one focus.

On the other hand, as shown in (b) of FIG. 4 , the signal detection unit 600 is configured as a single piece, and according to four different depths of focus for two focus points (focus1 and focus2), 8 Five wavelength signals S1 to S8 are detected by the signal detection unit 600 .

That is, first to fourth wavelength signals S1 to S4 are generated at the first focus point (focus 1), and fifth to eighth wavelength signals S5 to S8 are generated at the second focus point (focus 2).

At this time, as shown in (b) of FIG. 4 , a region in which the wavelength movement distances for each of the plurality of wavelength signals overlap may be generated, and thus it is difficult to distinguish the plurality of wavelength signals S1 to S8. Therefore, it is difficult to find a focus for each wavelength signal.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the signal detection unit 600 includes a first signal detection unit 610 to a third signal detection unit 630, and each signal detection unit 610 to 630 has three focal points ( The wavelength signals generated from focus1, focus2, and focus3) are discriminated and detected.

That is, the first signal detector 610 includes a 1-1 wavelength signal S11 generated from a first focus 1 , a 2-1 wavelength signal S11 generated from a second focus 2 , and a second wavelength signal S11 , A 3-1 th wavelength signal S31 generated from a 3 focus1 is detected, and the second signal detector 620 is a 1-2 th wavelength signal S12 generated from a first focus1, A 2-2 wavelength signal S12 generated from a second focus (focus2) and a 3-2 wavelength signal S32 generated from a third focus (focus1) are detected, and the third signal detector 630 is configured to The 1-3th wavelength signal S13 generated from the first focus (focus1), the 2-3rd wavelength signal S13 generated from the second focus (focus2), and the 3-3rd wavelength signal generated from the third focus (focus1) By detecting the wavelength signal S33, it is possible to distinguish and detect the wavelength signals generated from the three focal points focus1, focus2, and focus3.

Thereafter, the image output unit 300, which will be described later, confirms the physical properties for each different depth of focus of the measurement object S through the difference in amplitude for each wavelength signal to obtain a three-dimensional photoacoustic image. print out

At this time, FIGS. 4(a), (b) and 5 show that the amplitudes for each wavelength signal are all the same, which has the same physical properties for each different depth of focus of the measurement object S. It corresponds to an example showing that.

The signal processing unit 200 distinguishes the focus of the wavelength signal detected by the signal detection unit 600. Before describing the signal processing unit 200, the path-time calculation unit 400 will be described as follows. .

The path-time calculation unit 400 calculates the path length from the light source unit 100, that is, the measurement object S to the measurement position from the first signal detection unit 610 to the third signal detection unit 630. Calculates the path-time correlation with respect to the time along the time, and specifically, the path-time calculation unit 400 includes a path value calculation unit, a time calculation unit, and a learning unit, which will be described with reference to FIG. 2 as follows. .

The path value calculator calculates first path values b1 to third path values b3 that are path lengths from each of the measurement objects S to the signal detection unit 600 .

The time calculation unit is generated by each of the first focal points 110 to the third focal points 130 according to the first path values b1 to the third path values b3 calculated by the path value calculation unit. The time required for the wavelength signal to reach the signal detection unit 600 is calculated.

Thereafter, the learning unit changes according to the path difference generated by the light irradiation position difference of the first focus 110 to the third focus 130 calculated by the path value calculation unit, the first focus 110 to the second focus. 3 Deep learning learns the correlation of the time difference at which the wavelength signal generated by the focus 130 reaches the signal detection unit 600 .

Again, the signal processing unit 200 will be described as follows.

Specifically, the signal processing unit 200 includes a signal receiving unit and a focusing unit.

The signal receiver receives the wavelength signal detected by the signal detector 600 , that is, the first to third wavelength signals generated by the first focus 110 to the third focus 130 , respectively.

The focusing unit divides the first to third wavelength signals based on the time according to the path length from the measurement object S to the first signal detecting unit 610 to the third signal detecting unit 630 . By doing so, the focus

That is, the first focus 110 to the third focus 130 that change according to the first path value b1 to the third path value b3 calculated and learned by the path-time calculator 400 . The focus is arranged by classifying the first wavelength signal to the third wavelength signal based on the correlation of the time at which the wavelength signal generated by the signal reaches the signal detector 600 .

The image output unit 300 outputs a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on the first to third wavelength signals.

As described above, as the light source unit 100 irradiates light to different positions of the measurement object S, including the first focal point 110 to the third focal point 130, the light generated from the measurement object S A plurality of wavelength signals are generated, and the focus of each wavelength signal is based on a time according to a path length from the measurement object S to each of the first signal detection unit 610 to the third signal detection unit 630 . It is possible to find and output a 3D photoacoustic image in a faster time.

The multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention may further include a path length re-search unit 500 .

The path length re-search unit 500 is configured to detect each of the first signals from the measurement object S when the measurement object S measured by the multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention is changed. The path length to the third signal detection unit 630 is re-searched and set.

A method of operating the multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 .

The method of operating the multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a path-time calculation step (S100), a wavelength signal generation step (S200), a signal detection step (S300), a signal processing step (S400), and an image output step (S500). ) is included.

In the path-time calculation step S100 , a path-time correlation with respect to time according to a path length from the measurement object S to the signal detection unit 600 is calculated, and specifically, the path-time calculation step (S100) includes a path value calculation step (S110), a time calculation step (S120) and a learning step.

In the path value calculation step (S110), the path-time calculation unit 400, the first path value (b1) to the third path value (b1) to the third path value ( b3) is calculated.

In the time calculation step (S120), according to the first path value (b1) to the third path value (b3) calculated in the path value calculation step (S110), each of the first focus points ( 110) to the time that the wavelength signal generated by the third focal point 130 reaches the signal detection unit 600 is calculated.

In the learning step, the first path value (b1) to the third path value (b1) to the third path value ( Deep learning learns the correlation between the time that the wavelength signal generated by the first focus 110 to the third focus 130 that changes according to b3) reaches the signal detector 600 .

In the wavelength signal generating step ( S200 ), light from the light source unit 100 is irradiated to the measurement object S at a predetermined wavelength to generate an ultrasonic wave signal.

In the signal detecting step ( S300 ), the signal detecting unit 600 detects the wavelength signal, and the signal detecting unit 600 may be configured as an ultrasonic sensor.

In the signal processing step (S400), the focus of the wavelength signal detected by the signal detection unit (600) is set from the measurement object (S) calculated in the path-time calculation step (S100) to the signal detection unit (600). It is classified based on the path-time correlation with respect to time according to the path length.

Specifically, the signal processing step (S400) includes a signal receiving step (S410) and a focusing step (S420).

In the signal receiving step ( S410 ), the signal receiving unit receives the first to third wavelength signals generated by the first to third focal points ( 110 ) to ( 130 ), respectively.

In the focusing step (S420), the focusing unit arranges the focus by dividing the first wavelength signal to the third wavelength signal.

In the image output step S500 , the image output unit 300 outputs a 3D photoacoustic image based on the wavelength signal generated by the first focus 110 to the third focus 130 .

In addition, the operating method of the multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention may further include a path length rescan step before the wavelength signal generation step (S200) is performed and the path-time calculation step (S100) is performed. have.

That is, in the path length rescan step, if the measurement object S is changed, the path-time calculation step S100 is performed, and before the wavelength signal generation step S200 is performed, the path length rescan unit ( 500), the path length from the measurement object S to the first signal detection unit 610 to the third signal detection unit 630 is re-searched.

In addition, the details of the method of operating the multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention correspond to the above-described multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to the present invention, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. are possible and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

100: light source unit
100': split light
110: first focus
120: second focus
130: third focus
150: light source
160: lenslet array
200: signal processing unit
300: image output unit
400: path-time calculator
500: path length re-search unit
600: signal detection unit
610: first signal detection unit
620: second signal detection unit
630: third signal detection unit

Claims (6)

a light source unit for generating an ultrasonic wave signal by irradiating light with a predetermined wavelength to the measurement object;
a signal detector for detecting the wavelength signal;
a signal processing unit for dividing the focus of the wavelength signal; and
An image output unit for outputting a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on the wavelength signal,
The light source unit includes at least two or more focal points for irradiating light to different positions of the measurement object,
The image output unit outputs a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on the wavelength signal generated by the at least two or more focal points,
a path-time calculation unit for calculating a path-time correlation with respect to time according to a path length from the measurement object to the signal detection unit; and
The multifocal optoacoustic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a path length re-searching unit for re-searching a path length from the measurement object to the signal detection unit when the measurement object is changed. delete delete a wavelength signal generating step of generating an ultrasonic wave signal by irradiating light from a light source to a measurement object at a predetermined wavelength;
a signal detecting step of detecting the wavelength signal by a signal detecting unit;
a signal processing step of dividing the focus of the wavelength signal; and
An image output step of outputting a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on the wavelength signal,
In the wavelength signal generating step, the light source unit includes at least two or more focal points for irradiating light to different positions of the measurement object,
The image output step outputs a three-dimensional photoacoustic image based on the wavelength signal generated by the at least two or more focal points,
a path-time calculation step of calculating a path-time correlation with respect to time according to a path length from the measurement object to the signal detection unit before the wavelength signal generating step is performed; and
When the path-time calculation step is performed and the measurement target is changed before the wavelength signal generating step is performed, the method further includes a path length rescan step of re-searching the path length from the measurement target to the signal detection unit. A method of operating a multifocal optoacoustic imaging device, characterized in that. delete delete

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