# US 10,455,664 B2 · Analyte-information acquisition apparatus

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- Number: US 10,455,664 B2
- Document ID: US10455664B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/224,379
- Filed: 2016-07-29
- Published: 2016-11-17
- Granted: 2019-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-31
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Toshinobu Tokita; Yasuhiro Someda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455664B2

## CPC

- H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
- A61B 5/0073: {by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections (A61B5/0066 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/0095: {by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements}
- A61B 5/489: {Blood vessels}
- A61B 5/6835: {Supports or holders, e.g., articulated arms}
- G01J 1/44: Electric circuits {(for command of an exposure part G03B7/02)}
- G01N 21/1702: {with opto-acoustic detection, e.g. for gases or analysing solids}
- G01N 29/0672: {by acoustic tomography (medical tomography A61B8/13)}
- G01N 29/14: using acoustic emission techniques {(echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00)}
- A61B 2560/04: Constructional details of apparatus
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

To improve the safety of a photoacoustic apparatus by preventing illumination light from being freely emitted. A photoacoustic apparatus includes a position sensor that measures the orientation and/or position of an illumination-light emission end and a control unit that controls light emission from a light source depending on the output of the position sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An information acquisition apparatus comprising:
a light emitting unit including an emitting portion from which light is emitted;
a probe configured to receive a photoacoustic wave generated in an object in response to an irradiation of the light onto the object and to output an electrical signal;
a detecting unit configured to detect a direction in which the light is to be emitted from the emitting portion; and
a control unit configured to control emission of the light on a basis of at least the detected direction of the light to be emitted from the emitting portion,
wherein the control unit controls the light emitting unit in such a manner that the emitting portion does not emit light in a case where it is determined that the detected direction is not within a predetermined value, on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is any of an encoder, a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, and a camera.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the light emitting unit in such a manner that the emitting portion emits light in a case where it is determined that the detected direction is within a predetermined value, on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the light emitting unit in such a manner that the emitting portion does not emit light in a case where it is determined that the detected direction is directed downwards with respect to a horizontal direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is disposed on a support member supporting the probe.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is disposed on the probe.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emitting portion is an end portion of an optic fiber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit acquires angle information concerning the direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit determines whether the direction is within a predetermined angle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit determines the orientation of the probe with respect to a direction of gravity.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit is integrated with the probe.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object is an analyte.

### Claim 13

A controller of an acoustic wave reception apparatus comprising:
a light emitting unit from which light is emitted; and
a transducer that outputs a reception signal in response to a reception of an acoustic wave,
wherein the controller is configured to control the light emitting unit in such a manner that the light emitting unit does not emit light in a case where a direction in which the light is to be emitted from the light emitting unit is not within a predetermined value.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The controller according to claim 13, wherein the controller allows emission of the light in a case where the direction is within the predetermined value, and wherein the predetermined value is angles below a horizontal direction.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The controller according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined value is angles above a horizontal direction.