Patent ID: 6522911
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A blood vessel imaging apparatus comprising:light source means for emitting a first measuring light beam and a second measuring light beam differing from said first measuring light beam, said first measuring light beam having a wavelength equal to a wavelength at an isosbestic point between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin in the blood of a living organism; an incident optics system for causing said first measuring light beam and said second measuring light beam to be incident on the same part of said living organism; scanner means for scanning said living organism with said first measuring light beam and said second measuring light beam; a first optical heterodyne detection system equipped with a first optics system for synthesizing said first measuring light beam and a branched first measuring light beam transmitted through said living organism; a first frequency shifter for giving a difference in frequency between said first measuring light beam and said branched first measuring light beam; and first detection means for detecting a first beat component of said synthesized first measuring light beam and outputting a first beat component detection signal; a second optical heterodyne detection system equipped with a second optics system for synthesizing said second measuring light beam and a branched second measuring light beam transmitted through said living organism; a second frequency shifter for giving a difference in frequency between said second measuring light beam and said branched second measuring light beam; and second detection means for detecting a second beat component of said synthesized second measuring light beam and outputting a second beat component detection signal; and image signal generation means for generating an image signal, based on a value of said second beat component detection signal normalized by said first beat component detection signal.