Measuring a sample
AssigneeThe University of Nottingham
InventorsMatthew Clark, Stephen Sharples
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sample 10 is measured by generating ultrasound at 12, for example by using a laser 22 and spatial light modulator 26. The ultrasound is detected at 16, for example by optical beam deflection techniques. A characteristic of the generation at 12 is swept across a range of values to vary the efficiency of generation of ultrasound. The value of the characteristic, which corresponds with the peak amplitude detected at 16, is identified to provide a measure of the acoustic velocity at the region 12. The method is executed at a plurality of sites 12, 20 to provide a set of spatially resolved measurements of the sample 10. This allows an image of the sample to be created.
Claims34
A method of measuring a sample, in which:
- an acoustic wave is generated in the sample;
- the generated wave is detected;
- generation is effected at a plurality of values of a frequency of generation, to vary the efficiency of generation,
- the detected wave is measured to identify the efficiency of generation at each value of the frequency of generation, thereby to provide a measurement of the acoustic velocity at the generation site,
- and the aforesaid steps are executed at a plurality of generation sites on the sample, to provide a set of spatially resolved measurements of the sample.
A method of generating an image of a sample, in which:
- an acoustic wave is generated in the sample;
- the generated wave is detected;
- generation is effected at a plurality of values of a frequency of generation, to vary the efficiency of generation,
- the detected wave is measured to identify the efficiency of generation at each value of the frequency of generation, thereby to provide a measurement of the acoustic velocity at the generation site,
- and the method is executed at a plurality of generation sites on the sample, to provide a set of spatially resolved measurements of the sample, which are processed to provide an image of the sample.
Apparatus for measuring a sample, comprising:
- an acoustic wave generator for generating an acoustic wave in the sample, and
- a detector for detecting the generated wave,
- the generator being operable to effect generation at a plurality of values of a frequency of generation to vary the efficiency of generation,
- and the detector being operable to measure the detected wave to identify the efficiency of generation at each value of the frequency of generation, thereby to provide a measurement of the acoustic velocity at the generation site,
- and the apparatus is operable to obtain measurements at a plurality of generation sites on the sample, to provide a set of spatially resolved measurements of the sample.
Apparatus for generating an image of a sample, comprising:
- an acoustic wave generator for generating an acoustic wave in the sample, and
- a detector for detecting the generated wave,
- the generator being operable to effect generation at a plurality of values of a frequency of generation to vary the efficiency of generation,
- and the detector being operable to measure the detected wave to identify the efficiency of generation at each value of the frequency of generation, thereby to provide a measurement of the acoustic velocity at the generation site,
- and the apparatus is operable to obtain measurements at a plurality of generation sites on the sample, to provide a set of spatially resolved measurements of the sample, and to process the measurements to provide an image of the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.