Patent ID: 8054469
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: A61B,G01B,G01N

Abstract:
1. An optical tomographic image production apparatus comprising: a light source unit that emits light; a light division means that divides the light emitted from the light source unit into measurement light and reference light; an optical probe comprising: a light combination means that combines reflection light and the reference light, the reflection light being reflected from the measurement target when the measurement target is irradiated with the measurement light, which has been guided by the optical probe, in such a manner to scan the measurement target; an interference light detection means that detects, as an interference signal, interference light of the reflection light and the reference light that have been combined by the light combination means for each scan line, thereby detecting a plurality of interference signals; and a tomographic image processing means that obtains tomographic information about the measurement target by using the interference signal that has been detected by the interference light detection means for each scan line, and obtains a tomographic image of the measurement target by using the tomographic information, wherein the tomographic image processing means includes an interference signal analysis means, a light-blocking-area detection means, a light-transmitting-area detection means, and a tomographic image production means, and wherein the interference signal analysis means obtains, based on the interference signal detected by the interference light detection means, tomographic information about the measurement target for each scan line, thereby obtaining a plurality of pieces of tomographic information, and wherein the light-blocking-area detection means detects at least one light-blocking interference signal or piece of light-blocking tomographic information that has been obtained in the light-blocking area in the plurality of interference signals or the plurality of pieces of tomographic information, respectively, and wherein the light-transmitting-area detection means detects interference signals or pieces of tomographic information obtained in the light-transmitting area by using the at least one light-blocking interference signal or piece of light-blocking tomographic information that has been detected by the light-blocking-area detection means, respectively, and wherein the tomographic image production means produces a tomographic image of the light-transmitting area by using the interference signals or the pieces of tomographic information obtained in the light-transmitting area, which have been detected by the light-transmitting-area detection means, wherein the light-blocking area reflects the measurement light that has been output from the leading-end optical system toward the leading-end optical system side, and wherein the light-blocking-area detection means detects the light-blocking area by judging whether the signal level of each of the interference signals exceeds a predetermined threshold value.