An imaging system

Abstract

The present application provides an imaging system, including an imaging cavity, which is arranged in a horizontal direction, with an open top, and is configured to immerse small animals; an ultrasonic transducer, which is located at one end of the imaging cavity, and a connecting hole is provided corresponding to the imaging cavity, and is configured to transmit the collected data to a computer; a laser component, which includes a plurality of fiber optic beam emitters, and the plurality of fiber optic beam emitters are evenly arranged around the connecting hole; a fixed component, which includes a translation mechanism, an angular adjustment mechanism, and a lifting mechanism, and is configured to adjust the position of the small animal. According to the technical solution, the small animal is fixed and immersed in the imaging cavity by the fixed component, and the fiber optic beam emitters arranged in a circumferential direction are used to form a ring-shaped uniform illumination around the small animal, which can effectively improve the imaging effect; and the structure can meet the normal body position of the small animal, restore the daily physiological state of the small animal, and the imaging result is more research-oriented and reference-oriented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of biophotonics imaging technology, and in particular to an imaging system. Background Art

[0002] Photoacoustic imaging is a new type of non-invasive and non-ionizing biomedical imaging method developed in recent years. In whole-body photoacoustic tomography of living small animals, the small animals are usually placed vertically, but vertical placement is an abnormal body position and has an adverse effect on the biological accuracy of imaging. At the same time, for small animals of different sizes, the optical fiber bundle needs to be adjusted in angle to ensure that the irradiation position is in the focal plane of the transducer. This process is mostly manually adjusted, and the adjustment method is not smart, accurate, and convenient enough. Therefore, the above problems in the existing small animal photoacoustic imaging devices need to be solved urgently. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of the above-mentioned defects or deficiencies in the prior art, it is desirable to provide an imaging system.

[0004] The present application provides an imaging system, comprising:

[0005] An imaging chamber, which is arranged in a horizontal direction and is configured to immerse small animals, and has an open top, which is a port for taking and placing the small animals;

[0006] An ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer is located at one end of the imaging cavity, a communicating hole is provided through the imaging cavity, and is configured to transmit the collected data to a computer;

[0007] A laser assembly, the laser assembly comprising a plurality of optical fiber bundle emitters, the plurality of optical fiber bundle emitters being evenly arranged around the through hole;

[0008] The fixing assembly includes a translation mechanism, an angular adjustment mechanism and a lifting mechanism, and is configured to adjust the position of the small animal.

[0009] Furthermore, the ultrasonic transducer is connected to the DAQ, and the focusing plane coincides with the illumination position of the optical fiber bundle transmitter.

[0010] Furthermore, it also includes a sealing sleeve; the sealing sleeve is fixedly installed on a side of the ultrasonic transducer away from the imaging cavity, and is configured to extend the through hole and seal it.

[0011] Furthermore, the translation mechanism includes a mounting frame; a relatively slidable translation platform is provided on the mounting frame; the translation platform is driven by a translation motor, and the movement direction is the same as the axial direction of the through hole.

[0012] Furthermore, the angular adjustment mechanism includes a base fixedly mounted on the translation stage and an angular stage slidable relative to the base; the base and the angular stage are connected by an arc-shaped slide rail; the arc-shaped slide rail is arranged along a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the translation stage, and the central axis coincides with the central axis of the through hole and is colinear.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes an angular position motor; the angular position motor is fixedly installed on the base and drives the angular position table through a worm gear structure.

[0014] Furthermore, the lifting mechanism includes a bracket fixedly mounted on the corner platform; the bracket is provided with a lifting platform that can slide relatively.

[0015] Furthermore, the lifting platform is connected to an animal stand; the animal stand is provided with a film for placing the small animal and a fixing device for fixing the limbs of the small animal.

[0016] Furthermore, it also includes a breathing mask; the breathing mask is connected to the oxygen supply anesthesia device through a pipeline.

[0017] Furthermore, it also includes a temperature control device; the temperature control device is located in the imaging cavity and is configured to monitor and adjust the temperature of the water in which the small animal is immersed.

[0018] The advantages and positive effects of this application are:

[0019] This technical solution uses a fixing component to fix the small animal and immerse it in the imaging cavity, and cooperates with the optical fiber bundle transmitter arranged along the circumferential direction to form a circular uniform illumination around the small animal, which can effectively improve the imaging effect;

[0020] Furthermore, the translation mechanism can adjust the small animal to move forward and backward, thereby realizing scanning imaging of different positions of the small animal's body;

[0021] Furthermore, the angle adjustment mechanism can adjust the angle of the small animal, so as to obtain richer image data, make the image more detailed and better in quality;

[0022] Finally, the structure can satisfy the normal body position placement of small animals, which is beneficial to the accuracy of biological imaging. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an imaging system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the side view structure of the imaging system provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] The text labels in the figure are as follows: 100 - imaging cavity; 200 - ultrasonic transducer; 210 - sealing sleeve; 300 - fiber bundle transmitter; 400 - mounting bracket; 410 - translation stage; 411 - translation motor; 420 - base; 430 - angular stage; 431 - angular motor; 440 - bracket; 450 - lifting platform; 460 - animal bracket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present application, the present application is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The description in this section is only exemplary and explanatory and should not have any limiting effect on the scope of protection of the present application.

[0027] Please refer to Figure 1-2 The present embodiment provides an imaging system, including an imaging cavity 100, the cross section of the imaging cavity 100 is U-shaped, the top is open, and one end is connected to the ultrasonic transducer 200; the ultrasonic transducer 200 is provided with a through hole connected to the imaging cavity 100, and the end of the through hole away from the imaging cavity 100 is sealed by a sealing sleeve 210, and the ultrasonic transducer 200, the imaging cavity 100 and the sealing tube 210 form a water storage cylinder structure, and the bottom of the sealing tube 210 is provided with a water inlet and outlet for water injection and drainage.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 200 is composed of two upper and lower semi-circular array transducers. The center frequencies of the two semi-circular array transducers are different, which can realize the acquisition of wider frequency signals, richer image details and higher image quality.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, 10 fiber optic bundle emitters 300 are also installed on the ultrasonic transducer 200; the 10 fiber optic bundle emitters 300 are located on the side of the ultrasonic transducer 200 away from the imaging cavity 100, are evenly arranged around the through hole, and are evenly distributed in a ring shape. The laser head points to the center of the circle, and the illumination position coincides with the focal plane position of the ultrasonic transducer 200.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the fiber optic bundle transmitter head 300 is connected to the motor through a screw rod, and the distance from the center of the circle can be adjusted by controlling the motor; for small animals of different sizes, it is only necessary to control 10 control motors separately to adjust the distance between the fiber optic transmitter head 300 and the center of the circle, thereby realizing adaptive adjustment of the laser irradiation position.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 200 is connected to a DAQ and is configured to transmit the acquired data to a computer.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the small animal is fixed by a fixing assembly and immersed in the imaging chamber 100, and the fixing assembly includes a translation mechanism, an angular adjustment mechanism, and a lifting mechanism.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the lifting mechanism includes a support 440; a lifting platform 450 that can slide relatively is provided on the support 440; an animal support 460 is connected to the lifting platform 450; a film for placing the small animal and a fixing device for fixing the limbs of the small animal are provided on the animal support 460. After the small animal is anesthetized, it is placed flat on the film, and the limbs are fixed by the fixing device, and then the lifting platform 450 is controlled to descend, and the small animal is immersed in the imaging chamber 100.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, it also includes a breathing mask, which is connected to the oxygen supply anesthesia device through a pipeline. The small animal needs to wear the breathing mask when soaking to ensure that it can breathe and anesthetize normally underwater.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the angle adjustment mechanism includes a base 420 and an angle platform 430 for installing a bracket 440; the angle platform 430 and the base 420 can slide relative to each other, and are connected to the base 420 by a slide rail; the slide rail is arranged along an axial direction perpendicular to the through hole and is concave upward in an arc shape; the angle platform 430 can allow the small animal to rotate around the central axis of the imaging system in the imaging cavity 100 to a specific angle, thereby obtaining richer image data, making the image details richer and the image quality better.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the angle table 430 is driven by an angle motor 431. The angle motor 431 is fixedly mounted on the base 420 and drives the angle table 430 through a worm gear structure.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the translation mechanism includes a mounting frame 400 and a translation platform 410 for mounting a base 420; the translation platform 410 is slidably mounted on the mounting frame 400 and driven by a translation motor 411, and the movement direction is the same as the axial direction of the through hole.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, a temperature control device is also included; the temperature control device is located in the imaging chamber 100 and is configured to monitor and adjust the temperature of the water in which the small animal is immersed.

[0039] This article uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core ideas of this application. The above is only the preferred implementation method of this application. It should be pointed out that due to the limitations of textual expression, there are objectively infinite specific structures. For ordinary technicians in this technical field, without departing from the principles of the present invention, they can also make several improvements, modifications or changes, and can also combine the above technical features in an appropriate manner; these improvements, modifications, changes or combinations, or the direct application of the inventive concept and technical solution to other occasions without improvement, should be regarded as the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An imaging system, characterized in that: include: An imaging chamber (100), the imaging chamber (100) being arranged in a horizontal direction and configured to be used for immersing small animals, with an open top serving as a port for taking the small animals in and out; An ultrasonic transducer (200), the ultrasonic transducer (200) being located at one end of the imaging cavity (100), and having a communicating hole penetrating therethrough corresponding to the imaging cavity (100), and configured to transmit collected data to a computer; A laser assembly, the laser assembly comprising a plurality of optical fiber bundle emitting heads (300), the plurality of optical fiber bundle emitting heads (300) being evenly arranged around the through hole; the optical fiber bundle emitting heads (300) being connected to a motor via a lead screw, and adaptive adjustment of the laser irradiation position is achieved by controlling the motor to adjust the distance from the center of the circle; A fixing assembly, the fixing assembly comprising a translation mechanism, an angular adjustment mechanism and a lifting mechanism, configured to adjust the position of the small animal; The translation mechanism comprises: a mounting frame (400); a translation platform (410) which can slide relatively is provided on the mounting frame (400); the translation platform (410) is driven by a translation motor (411), and the movement direction is the same as the axis direction of the through hole; scanning imaging of different positions of the body of the small animal is achieved; and at the same time, the normal body position of the small animal is placed, which is beneficial to the accuracy of biological imaging; The angle adjustment mechanism comprises a base (420) fixedly mounted on the translation stage (410) and an angle stage (430) slidable relative to the base (420); the base (420) and the angle stage (430) are connected via an arc-shaped slide rail; the arc-shaped slide rail is arranged along a direction of movement perpendicular to the translation stage (410), and the central axis coincides with the central axis of the through hole and is colinear; the angle stage (430) is used to rotate the small animal around the central axis of the imaging system within the imaging cavity (100) to a specific angle, thereby obtaining richer image data, making the image details richer and the image quality better.

2. The imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that The ultrasonic transducer (200) is connected to the DAQ, and the focusing plane coincides with the illumination position of the optical fiber bundle emitting head (300).

3. The imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes a sealing sleeve (210); the sealing sleeve (210) is fixedly mounted on a side of the ultrasonic transducer (200) away from the imaging cavity (100), and is configured to extend the through hole and seal it.

4. The imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes an angular position motor (431); the angular position motor (431) is fixedly mounted on the base (420) and drives the angular position platform (430) via a worm gear structure.

5. The imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that The lifting mechanism comprises a bracket (440) fixedly mounted on the corner platform (430); a lifting platform (450) which can slide relatively is provided on the bracket (440).

6. The imaging system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The lifting platform (450) is connected to an animal support (460); the animal support (460) is provided with a film for placing the small animal and a fixing device for fixing the limbs of the small animal.

7. The imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a breathing mask; the breathing mask is connected to the oxygen supply anesthesia device through a pipeline.

8. The imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a temperature control device; the temperature control device is located in the imaging cavity (100) and is configured to monitor and adjust the temperature of the water in which the small animal is immersed.

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