Bundle Fiber Outputting Unit for Uniform Photoacoustic Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for achieving uniform light irradiation using bundle fibers in photoacoustic tomography face challenges, such as dark portions between illuminated regions and uneven light distribution, particularly in hand-held systems where a minimal number of parts are desired to reduce weight and size.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves configuring the bundle fiber outputting unit with sub-bundles having varying densities of optical fibers, where the peripheral sub-bundles have a higher density than central sub-bundles, and optimizing the arrangement to ensure overlapping light distribution is uniform across the irradiated surface, compensating for lower central irradiation density with diagonally incident light from the periphery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a bundle fiber is used to transmit light for photoacoustic tomography, then light transmission capability is improved, but uniform light distribution deteriorates due to spreading light causing peripheral parts to have smaller light amount than central part
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the density of optical fibers in different regions of the bundle fiber. Specifically, the peripheral region contains a higher density of optical fibers compared to the central region, creating non-uniform local fiber distribution that compensates for the natural light spreading effect and achieves uniform overall light distribution on the irradiated surface.
2Illumination intensity
If a lens or optical system is added between bundle fiber and living organism to produce uniform beams, then light distribution uniformity is improved, but apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing the bundle fiber structure itself to generate uniform light distribution through its internal fiber arrangement. The varying fiber density within the bundle creates the necessary light distribution pattern without requiring external optical components like lenses, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating additional parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical arrangement parameter of optical fibers within the bundle - specifically changing the fiber density from uniform to non-uniform distribution, with higher density in peripheral regions and lower density in central regions. This parameter modification directly achieves uniform light distribution without adding optical components.
3Ease of operation
If a hand-held illuminating unit is used for photoacoustic tomography, then ease of operation is improved, but the number of parts must be minimized to reduce weight
Solution Approach 1:
The bundle fiber structure serves multiple functions simultaneously - it transmits light from the light source and inherently corrects the light distribution uniformity issue through its varying fiber density design. This self-service capability eliminates the need for separate optical correction components, reducing the number of parts and overall weight while maintaining ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the uniformity of light irradiation, improving the quality of photoacoustic signals by ensuring consistent light distribution without the need for additional optical systems, thus reducing apparatus size and weight while maintaining efficient light transmission.
Implementation Method 1
light emitted from a light source is transmitted by an optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
Since a property of a bundle fiber is that light spreads after being outputted
Implementation Method 3
the number of optical fibers per unit area of the first sub-bundle is smaller than the number of optical fibers per unit area of the second sub-bundle
Implementation Method 4
When an absorber included in the living organism absorbs propagated light, an acoustic wave such as an ultrasonic wave is generated due to a photoacoustic effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2E
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
An object information acquiring apparatus is used that includes: a light source; a bundle fiber including a plurality of optical fibers; and a processor using an acoustic wave that is generated when light is irradiated on an irradiated surface of an object from an outputting unit of the bundle fiber, and acquiring information from the object, wherein outputting edges of a plurality of sub-bundles, each sub-bundle including a plurality of optical fibers, are arranged in the outputting unit of the bundle fiber, the plurality of sub-bundles include a first sub-bundle arranged in a central part of the outputting unit and a second sub-bundle arranged in a peripheral part of the outputting unit, and the number of optical fibers per unit area of the first sub-bundle is smaller than the number of optical fibers per unit area of the second sub-bundle.