Biological information imaging apparatus and method for analyzing biological information

摘要

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 body with 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 focused 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 focused ultrasound transmitted to the specific region.

主权项

1. An apparatus that detects ultrasound comprising:
a light source configured to irradiate a subject with light; an ultrasound transmission unit configured to transmit a first focused ultrasound to a specific region in the subject while the subject is not irradiated with the light from said light source and a second focused ultrasound to the specific region while the subject is irradiated with the light from said light source; an ultrasound detection unit configured to detect a reflection ultrasound or a transmission ultrasound of the first focused ultrasound and to output a signal in response to said detection, wherein said ultrasound detection unit is further configured to detect an overlapped ultrasound in which a photoacoustic wave generated by irradiating the subject with the light and a reflection ultrasound or a transmission ultrasound of the second focused ultrasound are overlapped and to further output an overlapped ultrasound signal in response to said detection of said overlapped ultrasound; and a signal processing unit configured to obtain a difference signal corresponding to an intensity difference between intensity of the overlapped ultrasound signal and intensity of the signal.