Patent ID: 9433355
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A photoacoustic imaging apparatus comprising: a light source configured to emit first light and second light; a light diffusion member; a light amount measurement unit configured to measure a light amount of a part of the first light emitted from the light source; an acoustic wave conversion unit configured to receive an acoustic wave generated by irradiating a subject with the first light and convert the acoustic wave into an electric signal; a processing unit configured to generate image data based on the electric signal; and an imaging unit configured to capture an optical pattern of the second light on the light diffusion member, the optical pattern being generated by irradiating the light diffusion member with the second light, wherein the first light is light emitted by the light source to irradiate the subject, and the second light is light emitted by the light source to irradiate the diffusion member without irradiating the subject, wherein the processing unit is configured to calculate relative light irradiation density distribution of the second light based on the optical pattern of the second light captured by the imaging unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to calculate light irradiation density distribution of the first light based on the relative light irradiation density distribution of the second light calculated by the processing unit and the light amount of the part of the first light measured by the light amount measurement unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to calculate light amount distribution of the first light in the subject based on the light irradiation density distribution of the first light calculated by the processing unit, and wherein the processing unit is configured to generate image data of a light absorption coefficient distribution in the subject based on the light amount distribution of the first light in the subject and the electric signal.