Patent ID: 9002439
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A blood vessel wall analyzing method of analyzing a composition of a measured portion in a blood vessel by using a blood vessel wall analyzing apparatus comprising: illuminating means for illuminating at least a light component in a measurement wavelength range of 780 nm to 2750 nm onto a measured portion within a blood vessel, the illuminating means including: a light illuminating unit installed at a first location at a first predetermined distance away from the blood vessel; and a light source that outputs the light component to be illuminated onto the measured portion through the light illuminating unit; detecting means for detecting the light component from the measured portion, the detecting means including: a light entering unit installed at a second location, at a second predetermined distance away from the blood vessel, where the light component from the measured portion reaches; and a light receiving unit that detects the light component introduced through the light entering unit; analyzing means for analyzing composition of the measured portion based on intensity information on the light component detected by the detecting means; and a spectroscope arranged in one of a light path between the light source and the light illuminating unit and a light path between the light entering unit and the light receiving unit, the spectroscope selecting, from light outputted from the light source, the light component within a detection wavelength range that is included in the measurement wavelength range and is narrower than the measurement wavelength range, the method comprising: arranging: (1) one of the light illuminating unit and the light entering unit on epidermis of a neck, while the other is arranged in an esophagus; (2) both the light illuminating unit and the light entering unit on the epidermis of the neck while being separated from each other; or (3) both the light illuminating unit and the light entering unit in the esophagus while being separated from each other; illuminating the light outputted from the light source onto the measured portion through the light illuminating unit; selecting the light component with the detection wavelength range from the light outputted from the light source, by using the spectroscope; detecting the light component that has selected by using the spectroscope and entered through the light entering unit from the measured portion; and generating analysis data for identifying the composition of the measured portion from intensity information on the detected light component.