Blood vessel imaging system

Patent 6374128 Issued on April 16, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 22, 2019. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.

Application

No. 444378 filed on 11/22/1999

US Classes:

600/310, Infrared, visible light, or ultraviolet radiation directed on or through body or constituent released therefrom356/319, Utilizing a spectrophotometer (i.e., plural beam)356/450, BY LIGHT INTERFERENCE (E.G., INTERFEROMETER)356/484, Having light beams of different frequencies (e.g., heterodyning)356/485, For dimensional measurement (e.g., thickness gap, alignment, profile)600/476, Visible light radiation600/500, Detecting blood vessel pulsation600/502, Pulse indicator600/504, Measuring blood flow in body portion other than heart600/505Sensing means inserted in blood vessel

Examiners

Primary: Lateef, Marvin M.
Assistant: Lin, Jeoyuh

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Sughrue Mion, PLLC

Foreign Patent References

2 132 483 GB 07/25/1984

International Class

A61B 005/00

Foreign Application Priority Data

1998-11-20 JP

Abstract

A blood vessel imaging system includes a measuring light source which emits a measuring light beam. An optical heterodyne detection system consists of an optical system which splits the measuring light beam into a first light beam traveling to impinge upon an organism and a second light beam traveling not to impinge upon the organism and combines the second light beam with the first beam emanating from the organism into a combined light beam, a frequency shifter which causes the first and second light beams to have frequencies different from each other, and a beat component detector which detects beat components of the combined light beam. A band-pass filter detects, out of the beat component detection signal output from the beat component detector, off-centered components in a frequency band deviated from the center frequency of the beat component detection signal by a predetermined width. An image signal is generated according to whether the off-centered beat signal detected by the band-pass filter is higher or lower than a predetermined threshold level.