Combined imaging apparatus and method for controlling the same
AssigneeSamsung Medison Co., Ltd.
InventorsJung Taek Oh, Jong Kyu Jung
Life of this patent
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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;
- and
- a controller configured to decide an operation state of the photoacoustic imaging unit, to determine an operation of the ultrasonic imaging unit based on the decided operation state of the photoacoustic imaging unit, and to transmit a command to the ultrasonic imaging unit.
A method for controlling a combined imaging apparatus which includes a photoacoustic imaging unit and an ultrasonic imaging unit, the method comprising:
- operating the ultrasonic imaging unit which receives at least one of an echo ultrasonic wave reflected from a target part and an ultrasonic wave generated from the target part by an energy beam irradiated to the target part by the photoacoustic imaging unit;
- outputting, by the photoacoustic imaging unit, a state signal indicating an operation state of the photoacoustic imaging unit;
- deciding an operation of the ultrasonic imaging unit according to the state signal generated from the photoacoustic imaging unit;
- and
- controlling the ultrasonic imaging unit in accordance with the decided operation of the ultrasonic imaging unit to generate and irradiate an ultrasound wave to the target part or to stop operation of the ultrasonic imaging unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.