Patent ID: 8994803
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
1. An imaging apparatus comprising: an optical probe unit positionable in a body cavity and comprising a transmitting and receiving unit configured to transmit light and to receive reflected light which has reflected from within the body cavity as the transmitting and receiving unit rotates and moves longitudinally in the body cavity, with a cross-sectional image of the body cavity being generated based on an interference signal generated using the received reflected light, the transmitting and receiving unit being positioned in a catheter sheath which possesses a sheath inner surface and a sheath outer surface, the transmitting and receiving unit including a lens from which the light is transmitted, the lens possessing a lens surface; an obtaining unit which obtains intensity distribution signals indicating an intensity distribution of the interference signal from a transmitting and receiving position of the light to a depth position inside the body cavity, the intensity distribution signals obtained by the obtaining unit including a first signal constituting light reflected from the lens surface, a second signal constituting light reflected from the sheath inner surface, and a third signal constituting light reflected from the sheath outer surface; and determining means for determining that the optical probe unit is abnormal: i) when there exist respective changes in intensity, which are greater than respective predetermined changes in intensity, of at least respective portions of the first, second and third signals acquired by the obtaining unit; ii) when there exist respective changes of position in a depth direction, which are greater than respective predetermined changes of position in the depth direction, in which the respective portions of the first, second and third signals appear; or iii) based on respective change quantities per unit time with respect to position, which are greater than respective predetermined change quantities per unit time with respect to position, in which the respective portions of the first, second and third signals appear, and for determining the cause of abnormality of the optical probe unit.