Combined imaging apparatus and method for controlling the same
AssigneeSamsung Medison Co., Ltd.
InventorsJung Taek OH, Jong Kyu JUNG
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Abstract
A combined imaging apparatus in which heterogeneous imaging devices are combined and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The combined imaging apparatus includes a photoacoustic imaging unit to irradiate an energy beam to a target part, an ultrasonic imaging unit to generate an ultrasonic wave, irradiate the ultrasonic wave to the target part, and collect an echo ultrasonic wave reflected from the target part to which the ultrasonic wave is irradiated or an ultrasonic wave generated from the target part in response to energy beam irradiation of the photoacoustic imaging unit. The ultrasonic imaging unit starts or stops operation according to an operation state of the photoacoustic imaging unit.
Claims26
A combined imaging apparatus comprising:
- a photoacoustic imaging unit to irradiate an energy beam to a target part;
- an ultrasonic imaging unit to generate an ultrasonic wave, irradiate the ultrasonic wave to the target part, and collect either an echo ultrasonic wave reflected from the target part to which the ultrasonic wave is irradiated or an ultrasonic wave generated from the target part in response to energy beam irradiation of the photoacoustic imaging unit,
- wherein an operation of the ultrasonic imaging unit is determined in response to an operation state of the photoacoustic imaging unit.
The combined control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the sensor unit is a photo sensor for detecting the energy beam irradiated to the target part by the photoacoustic imaging unit.
A method for controlling a combined imaging apparatus which includes a photoacoustic imaging unit for irradiating an energy beam to a target part, an ultrasonic imaging unit for generating an ultrasonic wave, irradiating the ultrasonic wave to the target part, and collecting an echo ultrasonic wave reflected from the target part to which the ultrasonic wave is irradiated or an ultrasonic wave generated from the target part in response to energy beam irradiation of the photoacoustic imaging unit, the method comprising:
- operating the ultrasonic imaging unit;
- outputting, by the photoacoustic imaging unit, a state signal indicating an operation state of the photoacoustic imaging unit;
- and
- deciding an operation of the ultrasonic imaging unit according to the state signal generated from the photoacoustic imaging unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.