Reflective Member Reuses Backscattered Light for Bioinformation Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bioinformation imaging apparatus using the photoacoustic effect faces challenges in efficiently utilizing optical energy due to attenuation of light before it reaches deep portions of the body, requiring high-power and expensive pulsed light sources, and struggles to effectively reuse backscattered light for enhanced signal strength.
Innovation Solution
A bioinformation acquisition apparatus that includes a reflective member to reflect and re-project backscattered light emitted from the body back onto the body, improving the use efficiency of radiated light by re-irradiating the area with the reflected light, which is placed closer to and covers at least part of the irradiation area to enhance signal strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-power pulsed light source is used to observe deep portions, then observation capability in deep portions is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers backscattered light that would otherwise be discarded and reuses it for additional illumination. The reflective member captures light scattered at angles and redirects it back into the sample, effectively recovering lost optical energy and reducing the need for high-power light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of light attenuation and scattering into a beneficial effect by using the backscattered light as additional illumination. Instead of viewing scattering as a loss mechanism, the system exploits it to create multiple illumination passes through the sample, improving deep tissue observation without requiring higher power.
2Measurement precision
If high-power pulsed light source is used to observe deep portions, then observation capability in deep portions is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers backscattered light that would otherwise be discarded and reuses it for additional illumination. The reflective member captures light scattered at angles and redirects it back into the sample, effectively recovering lost optical energy and reducing the need for high-power light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive high-power pulsed light sources with a simple reflective member (such as a mirror or reflective surface) that is inexpensive and durable. This substitution dramatically reduces device cost while achieving the same or better observation capability through multiple passes of lower-power light.
3Strength
If optical energy is applied to enhance signal strength, then acoustical wave signal strength is improved, but optical energy use efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a continuous illumination process by reflecting backscattered light back into the sample. Instead of a single pass of light, the system maintains continuous optical energy delivery through multiple reflections and re-entries into the tissue, enhancing signal strength while improving energy utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers backscattered light that would otherwise be discarded and reuses it for additional illumination. The reflective member captures light scattered at angles and redirects it back into the sample, effectively recovering lost optical energy and reducing the need for high-power light sources.
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
The apparatus effectively enhances the strength of the acoustical wave signal by reusing backscattered light, improving the observation capability in deep body tissues with increased optical energy use efficiency and signal intensity.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective member for reflecting a flux of light emitted outside from the living body
Implementation Method 2
an in vivo tissue inside the living body absorbs optical energy of the pulsed light which propagates and is diffused therein, and the tissue produces an acoustical wave to be measured
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a bioinformation acquisition apparatus in which when light is radiated to a test object, a flux of light emitted outside from the test object through diffusion effect in the object is reused, improving use efficiency of the radiated light. The apparatus having a light source for radiating a flux of light to the test object and a detector for detecting a signal output based on radiation of the flux of light, includes a reflective member adapted to reflect a flux of light emitted out of the test object when the flux of light is radiated thereto, the reflective member is placed closer to an irradiation area on a surface of the test object than the light source to cover at least a part of the irradiation area from above, and configured to be equal to or larger than the irradiation area.