# US 9,439,267 B2 · Analyte-information acquisition apparatus

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- Number: US 9,439,267 B2
- Document ID: US9439267B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/122,146
- Filed: 2012-05-11
- Published: 2014-05-29
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-31
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toshinobu Tokita; Yasuhiro Someda
- Inventors: Toshinobu Tokita; Yasuhiro Someda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439267B2

## 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 apparatus comprising:
a light emitting unit including an emitting portion that emits light to be applied to an analyte;
a probe configured to receive photoacoustic waves that the analyte generates when receiving the light emitted from the light emitting unit and to output an electrical signal;
a detecting unit configured to detect information concerning speed of movement of the emitting portion; and
a control unit configured to control the light emitting unit on the basis of a detection result of the detecting unit,
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 speed of movement of the emitting portion does not correspond to a predetermined value or less, the predetermined value being not zero, on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information concerning speed of the movement of the emitting portion detected by the detecting unit is at least any one of speed, acceleration, angular velocity and angular acceleration of the emitting portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit further detects information concerning the position of the emitting portion, and
wherein the control unit controls, in a case where it is determined that the speed of movement of the emitting portion corresponds to a predetermined value or less, the predetermined value being not zero, and the position of the emitting portion detected by the detection unit is within a predetermined range or more, on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit, the light emitting unit in such a manner that the emitting portion does not emit light.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit further detects information concerning the orientation of the emitting portion, and
wherein the control unit controls, in a case where it is determined that the speed of movement of the emitting portion corresponds to a predetermined value or less, the predetermined value being not zero, and the orientation of the emitting portion detected by the detection unit is within a predetermined range or more, on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit, the light emitting unit in such a manner that the emitting portion does not emit light.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit further detects the position, and the orientation of the emitting portion, and
wherein the control unit controls, in a case where it is determined that the speed of movement of the emitting portion corresponds to a predetermined value or less, the predetermined value being not zero, and any of the position and the orientation of the emitting portion detected by the detection unit is within a predetermined range or more, on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit, the light emitting unit in such a manner that the emitting portion does not emit light.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a processing unit configured to process the electrical signal output from the probe.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit further detects information concerning the position of the emitting portion, and
wherein the control unit controls, in a case where it is determined that the speed of movement of the emitting portion corresponds to a predetermined value or less, the predetermined value being not zero, and the position of the emitting portion detected by the detection unit is not within a predetermined range or more, on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit, the light emitting unit in such a manner that the emitting portion emits light.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit further detects information concerning the orientation of the emitting portion, and
wherein the control unit controls, in a case where it is determined that the speed of movement of the emitting portion corresponds to a predetermined value or less, the predetermined value being not zero, and the orientation of the emitting portion detected by the detection unit is not within a predetermined range or more, on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit, the light emitting unit in such a manner that the emitting portion emits light.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit further detects the position, and the orientation of the emitting portion, and
wherein the control unit controls, in a case where it is determined that the speed of movement of the emitting portion corresponds to a predetermined value or less, the predetermined value being not zero, and any of the position and the orientation of the emitting portion detected by the detection unit is not within a predetermined range or more, on the basis of the detection result of the detecting unit, the light emitting unit in such a manner that the emitting portion emits light.