Object information acquiring apparatus

Abstract

An object information acquiring apparatus is used. This apparatus comprises: a light source configured to emit pulsed light of a plurality of wavelengths; a wavelength controller configured to switch the wavelength; a probe configured to receive an acoustic wave generated and propagated in an object subjected to the pulsed light emitted onto the object; a scan controller configured to move the probe within a predetermined scanning range; and an information processor configured to acquire information about the object by using a plurality of electric signals corresponding to the wavelengths of the pulsed light output from the probe at each reception position in the scanning area. The wavelength controller switches the wavelength of the pulsed light before the probe scans the entire scanning area while receiving at each reception position an acoustic wave corresponding to at least one of the wavelengths of the pulsed light.

1 . An object information acquiring apparatus, comprising:
 a pulsed-light source, configured to emit pulsed light of a plurality of wavelengths;   a wavelength controller configured to switch the wavelength of the pulsed light;   a probe configured to receive an acoustic wave generated in an object irradiated with the pulsed light from said pulsed-light source;   a scan controller configured to move said probe within a predetermined scanning range; and   an information processor configured to acquire information about the object by using a plurality of electric signals, corresponding to the wavelengths of the pulsed light output from said the probe at each reception position in the scanning area,   wherein said wavelength controller switches the wavelength of the pulsed light before said probe scans the entire scanning area while receiving at each reception position an acoustic wave corresponding to at least one of the wavelengths of the pulsed light.   
     
     
         2 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said scan controller enables said probe to receive an acoustic wave within the scanning range by moving said probe in a main scan direction and a sub-scan direction intersecting the main scan direction, the main scan direction being a direction said which the probe is moved while receiving an acoustic wave at each reception position. 
     
     
         3 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the scanning range is divided into a plurality of partial areas in the sub-scan direction, and wherein after said probe receives an acoustic wave corresponding to pulsed light of a first wavelength at each reception position in at least one partial area but before said probe receives an acoustic wave in the other partial areas, said wavelength controller switches the wavelength of the pulsed light to a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. 
     
     
         4 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the partial areas correspond to scanning orbits followed when said probe is moved while receiving an acoustic wave at each reception position in the main scan direction within the scanning range, wherein said scan controller moves said probe a plurality of times within the partial area, and wherein said wavelength controller switches the wavelength of the pulsed light so that pulsed light of a different wavelength is emitted each time said probe is so moved. 
     
     
         5 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the partial areas correspond scanning orbits followed when said probe is moved while receiving an acoustic wave at each reception position in the main scan direction within the scanning range, and wherein said wavelength controller switches the wavelength of the pulsed light while said probe moves in the main scan direction in the partial areas. 
     
     
         6 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said wavelength controller switches the wavelength of the pulsed light each time the pulsed light is emitted. 
     
     
         7 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said wavelength controller switches the wavelength of the pulsed light between two different wavelengths. 
     
     
         8 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said wavelength controller switches the wavelength of the pulsed light between three different wavelengths. 
     
     
         9 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said pulsed-light source emits the pulsed light having wavelengths in the range of from 700 nm to 1100 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The object information acquiring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said information processor acquires at least any one of initial acoustic pressure of the acoustic wave, density of light energy absorbed, absorption coefficient, and information reflecting the concentrations of substances.