Title:
PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING DEVICE, PROBE UNIT USED THEREIN, AND PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING DEVICE OPERATION METHOD
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2012/114709
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
[Problem] To facilitate alignment of multiple branched beams and multiple optical fibers in photoacoustic imaging in which multiple optical fibers are used to guide a laser. [Solution] A photoacoustic imaging device (10) provided with: an optical branching unit (12) having both a homogenizer (41) which equalizes the intensity distribution of a laser (Lo), and a microlens array (40) which branches the laser (Lo) having the equalized intensity distribution into multiple branched beams (Ld) in accordance with a prescribed branching pattern; and a fiber bundle (14) which encompasses multiple optical fibers (13) and in which the surfaces (13e) at one end of the optical fibers (13) at the surface (14e) at one end of the fiber bundle (14) are arranged corresponding to the branching pattern. The fiber bundle (14) is arranged such that each of the plurality of branched beams (Ld) is incident to the core (13a) of a corresponding optical fiber (13).
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Inventors:
IRISAWA KAKU (JP)
Application Number:
PCT/JP2012/001100
Publication Date:
August 30, 2012
Filing Date:
February 20, 2012
Export Citation:
Assignee:
FUJIFILM CORP (JP)
IRISAWA KAKU (JP)
IRISAWA KAKU (JP)
International Classes:
G01N29/00; A61B8/00; G02B6/06; G02B6/42
Foreign References:
| JP2006084932A | 2006-03-30 | |||
| JP2005021380A | 2005-01-27 | |||
| JP2007047757A | 2007-02-22 | |||
| JP2004257737A | 2004-09-16 | |||
| JP2011003509A | 2011-01-06 | |||
| US5708747A | 1998-01-13 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
YANAGIDA, Masashi et al. (JP)
Seiji Yanagida (JP)
Seiji Yanagida (JP)
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Claims: