Patent ID: 6628401
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
An optical tomography imaging method, comprising:i) dividing a low coherence light beam into a signal light beam and a reference light beam, ii) irradiating the signal light beam to a measuring site, iii) shifting a frequency of the reference light beam to a frequency having a slight frequency difference from the frequency of the signal light beam, iv) causing a reflected light beam of the signal light beam, which has been reflected from a predetermined deep portion of the measuring site, and the shifted reference light beam to interfere with each other, a heterodyne interference light beam being thereby obtained, v) dividing the heterodyne interference light beam into first and second divided interference light beams, vi) measuring an intensity of the first and second divided interference light beams, and vii) acquiring an optical tomography image of the measuring site in accordance with the measured intensity of the first and second divided interference light beams, wherein the low coherence light beam is an amplified spontaneous emission light beam, which is radiated out from an optical fiber having been doped with a light emitting material, when excitation energy is applied to the optical fiber.