Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100174197 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IMAGING APPARATUS - A living body information imaging apparatus includes a member that is adapted to be introduced into an interior of a living body and has a light irradiation portion for irradiating light with an angle of irradiation equal to or more than 2π steradian to the interior of the living body, and a signal detector that is arranged outside the living body and detects a signal output based on light irradiation in the interior of the living body by the member having the light irradiation portion. | 07-08-2010 |
20100191109 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - A biological information processing apparatus includes: a light source | 07-29-2010 |
20100331662 | PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING METHOD - A photoacoustic wave detector detects a photoacoustic wave generated inside a specimen by light irradiated thereto. A signal processing device: forms first volume data from a first signal, the first signal being the detection signal acquired from the detector or a signal obtained by adjusting an amplitude of the detection signal; forms second volume data from a second signal, the second signal being a signal obtained by changing a phase of the first signal; forms third volume data from the first and second volume data; and generates and outputs image data representing information on an interior of the specimen from the third volume data. | 12-30-2010 |
20110112391 | PHOTOACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - A measurement apparatus capable of measuring a position and a size of an absorber with high accuracy, which includes: a light source unit for emitting a pulse beam; an illumination optical unit for leading the pulse beam emitted by the light source unit to an inside of an inspection object; and an acoustic signal detection unit for detecting a photoacoustic signal generated by the pulse beam in which the illumination optical unit includes a first and second illumination optical units that are arranged so that the inspection object is irradiated with the pulse beam from both sides thereof opposingly; and the acoustic signal detection unit is provided so that a detection surface of the acoustic signal detection unit is positioned on the same side as that of one of irradiation surfaces of the inspection object which the first and second illumination optical units irradiate with the pulse beam. | 05-12-2011 |
20110172513 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IMAGING APPARATUS - The biological information imaging apparatus includes an acoustic wave detector | 07-14-2011 |
20110178385 | PHOTOACOUSTIC MEASURING APPARATUS WITH MOVABLE DETECTOR ARRAY - A measuring apparatus includes an acoustic transducer with a plurality of elements, each element detecting an acoustic wave generated from a sample and converting the wave into an electric signal; a movement control unit which moves the acoustic transducer from a first position to a second position; and a processing unit which generates image data on the basis of the electric signal. The acoustic transducer has a gap in the arrangement of the elements. The acoustic transducer detects an acoustic wave at the first position, is moved by the movement control unit such that the position of the gap at the first position corresponds to the position of the element at the second position, and then detects an acoustic wave at the second position. The processing unit generates image data on the basis of electric signals obtained at the first and second positions. | 07-21-2011 |
20110239766 | PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING METHOD - A photoacoustic imaging apparatus performs imaging of an optical absorber. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus includes a light source, a detector configured to detect an acoustic wave generated from the optical absorber that has absorbed energy of light emitted from the light source, and a signal processing unit configured to form an image of the optical absorber. The signal processing unit stores information indicating whether a rate of change in pressure of the acoustic wave detected by the detector is positive or negative before performing a waveform process on the acoustic wave. | 10-06-2011 |
20110251475 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS AND BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ACQUISITION METHOD - When a subject is pressed by a plate and an acoustic wave is received by a probe via the plate, the acoustic wave is refracted because of the difference between a sound velocity in the subject and a sound velocity in the plate. When the refraction is not considered, a reduction in resolution occurs. Weights for signals or virtual wavefronts corresponding to the signals to be added to one another are determined using a thickness of the plate, the sound velocity in the plate, the sound velocity in the subject, positions of image elements (pixels or voxels) for image information, and arrival times of the acoustic wave from an object that is a sound source. The signals or the virtual wavefronts corresponding to the signals are added to one another, thereby acquiring the image information. | 10-13-2011 |
20110257530 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS - When a subject is pressed by a plate and an acoustic wave is received by a probe via the plate, the acoustic wave is refracted because of the difference between a sound velocity in the subject and a sound velocity in the plate. When the refraction is not considered, a reduction in resolution occurs. A correction table or a correction formula for correcting image distortion associated with refraction is provided. After image information is acquired, new image information is acquired in accordance with the correction table or the correction formula, and is displayed. | 10-20-2011 |
20140128718 | PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING METHOD - A photoacoustic imaging apparatus performs imaging of an optical absorber. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus includes a light source, a detector configured to detect an acoustic wave generated from the optical absorber that has absorbed energy of light emitted from the light source, and a signal processing unit configured to form an image of the optical absorber. The signal processing unit stores information indicating whether a rate of change in pressure of the acoustic wave detected by the detector is positive or negative before performing a waveform process on the acoustic wave. | 05-08-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080306371 | INTRAVITAL-INFORMATION IMAGING APPARATUS - An intravital-information imaging apparatus includes light sources for irradiating a living body with light, and acoustic-wave detectors that detect acoustic waves generated from a light absorber having absorbed part of energy of the light from the light sources, the light absorber existing in the living body. Furthermore, the intravital-information imaging apparatus includes signal processors that calculate information representing a distribution of optical characteristic values of the living body using sound pressures of the acoustic waves generated from the light absorber. | 12-11-2008 |
20090002685 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IMAGING APPARATUS, BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ANALYZING METHOD, AND BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IMAGING METHOD - A biological information imaging apparatus includes: a light source; an acoustic, wave detector that detects an acoustic wave generated from a light absorption material in a living body that has absorbed a part of energy of light irradiated from the light source to the living body, and converts it into a first electric signal; a photodetector that detects optical intensity of a portion of the light irradiated from the light source to the living body and propagating in the living body, and converts it into a second electric signal; and a calculation unit that calculates optical property distribution information on the living body by making use of an analytical result of one of the first electric signal and the second electric signal for analysis of the other electric signal. | 01-01-2009 |
20090198128 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION - There are provided a biological information imaging apparatus that can measure ultrasound generated from an optical absorber in a deep part of a subject living bodywith high sensitivity, and a method for analyzing biological information using the biological information imaging apparatus. The biological information imaging apparatus that detects ultrasound and images biological information, includes: a light source that irradiates the subject with light for generating ultrasound from an optical absorber existing in the subject; an ultrasound transmission unit that transmits focus ultrasound to a specific region where the optical absorber exists; and an ultrasound detection unit that detects an ultrasound synthesized signal due to interaction between ultrasound generated from the optical absorber that absorbs the light and the focus ultrasound transmitted to the specific region. | 08-06-2009 |
20100053618 | Photoacoustic Apparatus, and Probe for Receiving Photoacoustic Waves - A photoacoustic apparatus obtains information on a specimen by receiving photoacoustic waves which are generated from the specimen resulting from light irradiated to the specimen. The apparatus includes a light source for irradiating light to the specimen, an acoustic wave receiver for receiving the photoacoustic waves, and a light reflection member for causing the light, which is radiated out of the specimen by optical diffusion thereof after having entered an interior of the specimen from the light source, to reenter the interior of the specimen, wherein the light reflection member allows elastic waves to pass therethrough. As a result, a photoacoustic apparatus and a probe are provided which can confine scattered light from the specimen into the specimen, and which can reliably prevent photoacoustic waves from being generated from a receiving element region of the probe by the scattered light. | 03-04-2010 |
20100087733 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - A biological information processing apparatus has a light source | 04-08-2010 |
20100331707 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IMAGING APPARATUS, BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ANALYZING METHOD, AND BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IMAGING METHOD - A biological information imaging apparatus includes: a light source; an acoustic wave detector that detects an acoustic wave generated from a light absorption material in a living body that has absorbed a part of energy of light irradiated from the light source to the living body, and converts it into a first electric signal; a photodetector that detects optical intensity of a portion of the light irradiated from the light source to the living body and propagating in the living body, and converts it into a second electric signal; and a calculation unit that calculates optical property distribution information on the living body by making use of an analytical result of one of the first electric signal and the second electric signal for analysis of the other electric signal. | 12-30-2010 |
20120133941 | Photoacoustic Apparatus, and Probe for Receiving Photoacoustic Waves - A photoacoustic apparatus obtains information on a specimen by receiving photoacoustic waves which are generated from the specimen resulting from light irradiated to the specimen. The apparatus includes a light source for irradiating light to the specimen, an acoustic wave receiver for receiving the photoacoustic waves, and a light reflection member for causing the light, which is radiated out of the specimen by optical diffusion thereof after having entered an interior of the specimen from the light source, to reenter the interior of the specimen, wherein the light reflection member allows elastic waves to pass therethrough. As a result, a photoacoustic apparatus and a probe are provided which can confine scattered light from the specimen into the specimen, and which can reliably prevent photoacoustic waves from being generated from a receiving element region of the probe by the scattered light. | 05-31-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100196036 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image to a sheet, a fixing unit configured to fix the toner image transferred to the sheet on the sheet, a conveyance unit disposed between the transfer unit and the fixing unit to convey the sheet, a moving unit configured to move the conveyance unit, and a control unit configured to controls the moving unit to move the conveyance unit so that a speed of a leading edge of the sheet conveyed from the transfer unit to the fixing unit is reduced, when the leading edge of the sheet reaches the fixing unit. | 08-05-2010 |
20120207522 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An area in which a sheet member and an intermediate transfer belt are in contact with each other is provided between an intersection between a guide surface of the second guide portion configured to guide a recording material toward the intermediate transfer belt and the intermediate transfer belt and a nip portion. | 08-16-2012 |
20120269537 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device; a sealing member for unsealably sealing a space containing an initial developer; a first supplying device communicatable with the space to supply the developer into the developing device; a second supplying device for supplying the developer into first supplying device; an unsealing mechanism for unsealing the sealing member; and a controller capable of executing an operation in an unsealing mode in which the unsealing mechanism is operated, after supplying operation of second supplying device, to unseal the sealing member. | 10-25-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090149579 | POLYROTAXANE-CONTAINING SOLUTION AND USE THEREOF - An object of the present invention is to provide a polyrotaxane-containing solution by finding a good solvent for polyrotaxanes, and more particularly, to provide a polyrotaxane-containing solution by finding a good solvent for polyrotaxanes with a cyclodextrin as the cyclic molecule(s). | 06-11-2009 |
20140169835 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station including a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member, using toner; a toner container for accommodating toner, the toner container including an expansion-and-contraction portion capable of being expanded and contracted in a longitudinal direction thereof; opposing side plates; holding members, provided on the side plates, respectively, for holding the toner container; a drive transmission mechanism for transmitting a drive to the image forming station, wherein the drive transmission mechanism is provided on one of the side plates, and wherein the holding member is mounted to the one of the side plates so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the other side plate. | 06-19-2014 |
20140376968 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a bottle which is detachably mounted on an apparatus body to store toner; a shutter which is disposed on the bottle to open and close a discharge port which discharges the toner; and a shutter slider which is disposed in the apparatus body to open and close the shutter by engaging therewith along with an insertion operation of the bottle. The shutter slider is disposed to be movable from a first position, which allows the shutter to be located at a closed position at which the discharge port is closed by the shutter when the bottle is mounted on the apparatus body, to a second position, in which the discharge port is to be opened and closed by the shutter along with an operation of attaching and detaching the bottle to and from the apparatus body. | 12-25-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120243369 | SUBJECT INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS AND SUBJECT INFORMATION ACQUISITION METHOD - A subject information acquisition apparatus includes: an acoustic wave detector which detects an acoustic wave which is generated from a subject by irradiating light and outputs a detection signal; an amplifier which amplifies the detection signal which is output from the acoustic wave detector; a gain control unit which changes a gain of the amplifier as time elapses, according to a gain control table, in order to correct a drop in intensity of the acoustic wave caused by attenuation of fluence inside the subject; and a signal processing unit which obtains information inside the subject based on the signal amplified by the amplifier. Measurement under a plurality of measurement conditions, where at least fluence distribution inside the subject or a position of the acoustic wave detector differs, is possible, and the gain control unit changes the gain control table according to the measurement conditions. | 09-27-2012 |
20130160557 | ACOUSTIC WAVE ACQUIRING APPARATUS - Provided is a technique capable of changing resolution or an imaging area during imaging, in an acoustic wave acquiring apparatus using a Fabry-Perot probe. An acoustic wave acquiring apparatus includes a measurement light source emitting measurement light, a probe having a Fabry-Perot interferometer including a first mirror, upon the side of which the measurement light is incident, and a second mirror, upon the side of which an elastic wave from an object is incident, an optical system changing a beam diameter of the measurement light, a controller controlling change in the beam diameter performed by the optical system, a photosensor measuring a light intensity of the measurement light reflected on the Fabry-Perot interferometer, and a processor acquiring intensity of the elastic wave on the basis of change in the light intensity measured by the photosensor due to incidence of the elastic wave. | 06-27-2013 |
20130267823 | MEASURING APPARATUS - A measuring apparatus has a holding unit for holding an object, and a probe including a receiving element for receiving through the holding unit an acoustic wave generated by the object irradiated with light. The light is applied to an object surface held by the holding unit. The probe is arranged such that a direction of a normal to the object surface held by the holding unit is nonparallel to a direction in which the receiving element exhibits its highest reception sensitivity. | 10-10-2013 |
20140066743 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS - An object information acquiring apparatus is used which includes a first light source outputting irradiation light delivered to an object, an output unit to which the irradiation light is guided and which includes an opening smaller than a wavelength of the irradiation light, a probe detecting an acoustic wave generated when the object absorbs near-field light output by the output unit, and a signal processing unit acquiring information on an interior of the object from the acoustic wave detected by the probe. | 03-06-2014 |
20140076055 | ACOUSTIC WAVE RECEIVING APPARATUS - Use of an acoustic wave receiving apparatus which includes: a resonator including a first mirror on which measurement light is incident, a second mirror which is arranged to face the first mirror and on which acoustic waves from an object are incident, an acoustic wave reception layer interposed between the first mirror and the second mirror, and a compensation layer; and a detector for detecting a variation in an optical path length between the first mirror and the second mirror that occurs in response to deformation of the acoustic wave reception layer caused by incidence of the acoustic waves, wherein the variation in the optical path length due to a film thickness distribution of the acoustic wave reception layer is compensated by refraction in the compensation layer. | 03-20-2014 |
20140118749 | ACOUSTIC SIGNAL RECEIVING APPARATUS AND IMAGING APPARATUS - There is used an acoustic signal receiving apparatus including a wavelength-tunable light source for irradiating measurement light, a controller for controlling a wavelength of the measurement light, a Fabry-Perot probe having a first mirror on a side where the measurement light enters, a second mirror on a side where an elastic wave from an object enters, and a spacer film positioned between the first and second mirrors and deforms in response to the elastic wave, an array photosensor for detecting a reflected light amount of the measurement light by the Fabry-Perot probe, and a signal processor for acquiring an intensity of the incident elastic wave based on a change in the reflected light amount. The controller sweeps the wavelength of the measurement light, and the signal processor determines the wavelength based on the reflected light amount at each wavelength subjected to the sweep. | 05-01-2014 |
20140253927 | ACOUSTIC SIGNAL RECEIVING APPARATUS AND PHOTO-ACOUSTIC TOMOGRAPHY - An acoustic signal receiving apparatus including: a Fabry-Perot sensor including a Fabry-Perot interferometer configured to convert an acoustic wave into a light intensity signal; a control unit configured to set a first wavelength and a second wavelength; a detecting unit configured to convert light intensities obtained by irradiation of the Fabry-Perot sensor with light from the first light source and the second light source into electric signals; and a signal processing unit configured to acquire a difference between an electric signal corresponding to the first wavelength and an electric signal corresponding to the second wavelength, wherein the control unit is configured to set the first wavelength and the second wavelength so that differential values of reflectivity spectrum of the Fabry-Perot sensor are different at the first wavelength and the second wavelength. | 09-11-2014 |