Object information acquiring apparatus

Abstract

An object information acquiring apparatus is used, including: an optical transmission system for transmitting light from a light source; a photoacoustic probe including an irradiating end for irradiating an object with light and a receiver for receiving acoustic waves generated from the object that has been irradiated with light; a processor for acquiring information on the object based on the acoustic waves; a light quantity meter for measuring the quantity of light emitted from the irradiating end; a memory for storing a measurement value; and a presentation unit. The processor compares the measurement value with a reference value of light quantity or a history of measurement value stored in the memory, and provides a result regarding whether or not the measurement value is within a reference range to the presentation unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An object information acquiring apparatus comprising:
 an optical transmission system for transmitting light from a light source;   a photoacoustic probe including an irradiating end for irradiating an object with the light and a receiver for receiving acoustic waves generated by the object that has been irradiated with the light;   a processor for acquiring information on the object based on the acoustic waves;   a light quantity meter for measuring a quantity of light emitted from the irradiating end;   a memory for storing a measurement value measured by the light quantity meter; and   a presentation unit, wherein   the processor compares the measurement value with a reference value of light quantity or a history of measurement value stored in the memory to determine whether or not the measurement value is within a reference range, and has the presentation unit present a result of the determination thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an irradiation switch enabling an operator to direct light emission; and   a controller for setting irradiation conditions such that light is emitted from the irradiating end when the irradiation switch is pressed.   
     
     
         3 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when a difference between the measurement value and the reference value of light quantity or the history of measurement value stored in the memory is larger than a predetermined value, the processor has the presentation unit present thereon an indication to the effect that the measurement value is anomalous.   
     
     
         4 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the processor provides an indication urging to perform maintenance of the object information acquiring apparatus to the presentation unit when providing the indication that the measurement value is anomalous.   
     
     
         5 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the maintenance is cleaning of the irradiating end.   
     
     
         6 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the light quantity meter is a power meter.   
     
     
         7 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim  1 , further comprising:
 a diffuser plate for diffusing light emitted from the irradiating end, wherein   the light quantity meter is an infrared camera for capturing light diffused by the diffuser plate;   the processor computes at least one of a total quantity of light emitted from the irradiating end and a light quantity distribution within a plane shone by the light, on the basis of brightness values of pixels obtained from the infrared camera imaging.   
     
     
         8 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the processor performs calibration to convert the brightness values of the pixels of the infrared camera into a total quantity of light emitted from the irradiating end.   
     
     
         9 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stage on which the light quantity meter and the irradiating end are scanned relative to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor lowers an energy density of light emitted from the irradiating end when the energy density of light emitted from the irradiating end exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
         11 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim  1 , further comprising a holder for holding the photoacoustic probe. 
     
     
         12 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the holder has an elastic body for shielding light while holding the photoacoustic probe. 
     
     
         13 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a cover for disabling operation of the irradiation switch operated by an operator directing light emission in a state where the holder is not holding the photoacoustic probe and for enabling the operation of the irradiation switch in a state where the holder is holding the photoacoustic probe. 
     
     
         14 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the photoacoustic probe has a contact sensor for sensing whether or not the photoacoustic probe is in contact with the object,
 the object information acquiring apparatus further comprising:   a controller for having the contact sensor determine a contact status when the irradiation switch is pressed.   
     
     
         15 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising a movable part disposed inside the holder at a position opposing the contact sensor when the photoacoustic probe is held in the holder, wherein
 when the irradiation switch is pressed, the controller moves the movable part to a position at which the contact sensor can detect a contact status.   
     
     
         16 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the holder has a hold sensor for sensing whether or not the photoacoustic probe is held in the holder, wherein   the controller sets light irradiating conditions to emit light from the irradiating end when the hold sensor has sensed that the photoacoustic probe is held in the holder.   
     
     
         17 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display unit for displaying information on the object. 
     
     
         18 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the presentation unit is the display unit. 
     
     
         19 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the presentation unit uses an LED for presentation.