Abstract: A photoacoustic image evaluation apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire a first photoacoustic image generated at a first point in time and a second photoacoustic image generated at a second point in time before the first point in time, the first and second photoacoustic images being photoacoustic images generated by detecting photoacoustic waves generated inside a subject, who has been subjected to blood vessel regeneration treatment, by emission of light into the subject; acquire a blood vessel regeneration index, which indicates a state of a blood vessel by the regeneration treatment, based on a difference between a blood vessel included in the first photoacoustic image and a blood vessel included in the second photoacoustic image; and display the blood vessel regeneration index on a display.

Abstract: A photoacoustic image generation apparatus includes: a puncture needle that generates photoacoustic waves; an ultrasound probe that detects the photoacoustic waves and reflected ultrasonic waves reflected by the transmission of ultrasonic waves; a processor that generates a color Doppler signal of a region of interest as a color Doppler measurement target, generates a photoacoustic image on the basis of the photoacoustic waves, and detects the position of a tip portion of the puncture needle on the basis of the photoacoustic image; and a controller that sets the region of interest such that the position of the tip portion of the puncture needle and a center position of the region of interest are separated from each other by a predetermined distance and sets the region of interest, following the movement of the tip portion of the puncture needle, in a state in which the distance is maintained.

Abstract: A photoacoustic measurement apparatus includes: a main light source; a sub-light source; a light guide member that guides the light which has been emitted from the main light source and the sub-light source and has been incident on a base end to a leading end; an insert of which at least a leading end portion is inserted into a subject and which includes at least the leading end of the light guide member and a light absorption member that absorbs the pulsed laser light, and generates photoacoustic waves; and a photoacoustic wave detection unit that detects the photoacoustic waves. The photoacoustic measurement apparatus has, as an operation mode, a failure detection mode that drives the sub-light source and detects a failure of a photoacoustic wave generation unit including the light guide member and the light absorption member.

Abstract: Provided is a photoacoustic measurement device including: an ultrasound image generation unit that generates an ultrasound image on the basis of a detection signal of reflected ultrasonic waves generated by the transmission of ultrasonic waves; a puncture needle detection unit that detects a length direction of a puncture needle on the basis of the ultrasound image; and a controller that controls a steering direction of a sample gate which is a Doppler measurement target on the basis of the length direction of the puncture needle such that an angle ? formed between a straight line extending in the length direction of the puncture needle and a straight line extending in the steering direction of the sample gate satisfies 0°??<90°.

Abstract: A first acoustic wave image and a second acoustic wave image are displayed on top of each other in different display colors, and a first operation icon for selecting the first acoustic wave image and a second operation icon for selecting the second acoustic wave image are displayed on operation icon display unit. The first operation icon and the second operation icon are displayed on top of each other in a display order identical to a display order of the first acoustic wave image and the second acoustic wave image that are displayed on top of each other on image display unit.

Abstract: Provided is a photoacoustic measurement device including: an ultrasound image generation unit that generates an ultrasound image on the basis of a detection signal of reflected ultrasonic waves generated by the transmission of ultrasonic waves; a puncture needle detection unit that detects a length direction of a puncture needle on the basis of the ultrasound image; and a controller that controls a steering direction of a region of interest which is a color Doppler measurement target on the basis of the length direction of the puncture needle such that an angle ? formed between a straight line extending in the length direction of the puncture needle and a straight line extending in the steering direction of the region of interest satisfies 0°??<90°.

Abstract: A first acoustic wave image is displayed in a first display color, and a second acoustic wave image is displayed in a second display color different from the first display color. A group of first menu icons for designating a process to be performed on the first acoustic wave image and a group of second menu icons for designating a process to be performed on the second acoustic wave image are displayed on menu icon display means. The group of first menu icons is displayed in the first display color, and the group of second menu icons is displayed in the second display color.

Abstract: In a photoacoustic measurement apparatus and a photoacoustic measurement system, it is possible to generate blood flow information using a photoacoustic image without requiring a separate tourniquet. A light source emits measurement light. A probe detects a photoacoustic wave generated in a subject after measurement light is emitted to the subject in each of the avascularized condition in which the subject is avascularized and the non-avascularized condition in which the subject is not avascularized. Photoacoustic image generation unit generates a photoacoustic image based on the detection signal of the photoacoustic wave. Blood flow information generation unit generates blood flow information based on the signal value of a photoacoustic image in a region of interest set in the photoacoustic image. The avascularization of the subject is performed by pressing the probe against the subject.

Abstract: In a biopsy needle having a hollow tubular outer needle, an inner needle that is disposed in a hollow portion of the outer needle so as to be movable in the tube axis direction relative to the outer needle, and a recessed sample collection portion that is cut inward from a circumferential surface of the inner needle, an outer groove extending in the tube axis direction of the outer needle is provided on at least the distal end side and the rear end side of the sample collection portion in the inner needle, and a light guide member is disposed in the outer groove. At least a part of the light guide member is fixed by fillers filled in the outer groove.

Abstract: In a photoacoustic measurement apparatus and a photoacoustic measurement system, blood flow information in a desired region can be generated using a photoacoustic image. A light source emits measurement light. A probe detects a photoacoustic wave generated in a subject after measurement light is emitted to the subject in each of the avascularized condition in which the subject is avascularized and the non-avascularized condition in which the subject is not avascularized. Photoacoustic image generation unit generates a photoacoustic image based on the detection signal of the photoacoustic wave. Blood flow information generation unit generates blood flow information based on the signal value of a photoacoustic image in a region of interest set in the photoacoustic image.

Abstract: A solid-state laser device includes a resonator composed of a pair of mirrors, a laser rod disposed in the resonator, and a laser chamber. The resonator and the laser rod are disposed in a housing. The laser rod is inserted through a hole of the laser chamber and is supported in a state in which two end portions are exposed. An O-ring is disposed at an exposed root of at least one rod end portion exposed from the laser chamber. The solid-state laser device includes a cover member that is disposed on a rod side surface of the rod end portion between the O-ring and a rod end surface and that blocks incidence of stray light, which is generated in the housing, on the O-ring.

Abstract: In a biopsy needle having a hollow tubular outer needle, an inner needle that is disposed in a hollow portion of the outer needle so as to be movable in the tube axis direction relative to the outer needle, and a recessed sample collection portion that is cut inward from a circumferential surface of the inner needle, an inner hole that extends in the longitudinal direction of the inner needle on each of the inner needle distal end side and the inner needle rear end side of the sample collection portion and are opened to the sample collection portion is provided in the inner needle, and a light guide member is disposed in the inner holes. At least a part of the light guide member is fixed by filler filled in the inner holes.

Abstract: The length of an optical fiber from a portion aligned with the rear end of an insertion needle to a fixing portion is a length obtained by adding a predetermined extra length to a linear distance between the rear end of the insertion needle in a case where the insertion needle is located at a protruding position (insertion position) and an optical fiber fixing position of a grip portion. There is provided a fiber feeding adjustment mechanism that suspends the optical fiber with a first suspension portion and a second suspension portion so as to make a detour in a state in which there is no slack, and changes the detour length continuously according to the movement of the insertion needle in a case where the insertion needle moves between the retracted position and the protruding position, thereby maintaining a state in which the optical fiber is suspended without slack.

Abstract: A photoacoustic image evaluation apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire a first photoacoustic image generated at a first point in time and a second photoacoustic image generated at a second point in time before the first point in time, the first and second photoacoustic images being photoacoustic images generated by detecting photoacoustic waves generated inside a subject, who has been subjected to blood vessel regeneration treatment, by emission of light into the subject; acquire a blood vessel regeneration index, which indicates a state of a blood vessel by the regeneration treatment, based on a difference between a blood vessel included in the first photoacoustic image and a blood vessel included in the second photoacoustic image; and display the blood vessel regeneration index on a display.

Abstract: A photoacoustic image generation apparatus includes: a puncture needle that generates photoacoustic waves; an ultrasound probe that detects the photoacoustic waves and reflected ultrasonic waves reflected by the transmission of ultrasonic waves; a Processor that generates a Doppler signal on the basis of the reflected ultrasonic waves from a sample gate as a Doppler measurement target, that generates a photoacoustic image on the basis of the photoacoustic waves, and that detects the position of a tip portion of the puncture needle on the basis of the photoacoustic image; and a controller that sets the sample gate at a position which is a predetermined distance away from the detected position of the tip portion of the puncture needle and sets the sample gate, following movement of the tip portion of the puncture needle, in a state in which the distance is maintained.

Abstract: Provided is a photoacoustic measurement device including: an ultrasound image generation unit that generates an ultrasound image on the basis of a detection signal of reflected ultrasonic waves generated by the transmission of ultrasonic waves; a puncture needle detection unit that detects a length direction of a puncture needle on the basis of the ultrasound image; and a controller that controls a steering direction of a sample gate which is a Doppler measurement target on the basis of the length direction of the puncture needle such that an angle ? formed between a straight line extending in the length direction of the puncture needle and a straight line extending in the steering direction of the sample gate satisfies 0°??<90°.

Abstract: Provided is a photoacoustic measurement device including: an ultrasound image generation unit that generates an ultrasound image on the basis of a detection signal of reflected ultrasonic waves generated by the transmission of ultrasonic waves; a puncture needle detection unit that detects a length direction of a puncture needle on the basis of the ultrasound image; and a controller that controls a steering direction of a region of interest which is a color Doppler measurement target on the basis of the length direction of the puncture needle such that an angle ? formed between a straight line extending in the length direction of the puncture needle and a straight line extending in the steering direction of the region of interest satisfies 0°??<90°.

Abstract: A photoacoustic image generation apparatus includes: a puncture needle that generates photoacoustic waves; an ultrasound probe that detects the photoacoustic waves and reflected ultrasonic waves reflected by the transmission of ultrasonic waves; a processor that generates a color Doppler signal of a region of interest as a color Doppler measurement target, generates a photoacoustic image on the basis of the photoacoustic waves, and detects the position of a tip portion of the puncture needle on the basis of the photoacoustic image; and a controller that sets the region of interest such that the position of the tip portion of the puncture needle and a center position of the region of interest are separated from each other by a predetermined distance and sets the region of interest, following the movement of the tip portion of the puncture needle, in a state in which the distance is maintained.

Abstract: A photoacoustic image generation apparatus includes: a puncture needle including a photoacoustic wave generation portion that absorbs light and generates photoacoustic waves; an acoustic wave detection unit having a piezoelectric element array in which a plurality of piezoelectric elements that detect the photoacoustic waves are arranged; a controller configured to specify some piezoelectric element groups in the piezoelectric element array and switches the piezoelectric element groups to acquire detection signals of all receiving regions in the piezoelectric element array; and a processor configured to generate a photoacoustic image on the basis of the detection signals of the photoacoustic waves, detect a position of a tip portion of the puncture needle on the basis of the photoacoustic image. The controller specifies the piezoelectric element groups on the basis of the position of the tip portion of the puncture needle detected by the processor.

Abstract: A solid-state laser device includes a resonator composed of a pair of mirrors, a laser rod disposed in the resonator, and a laser chamber. The resonator and the laser rod are disposed in a housing. The laser rod is inserted through a hole of the laser chamber and is supported in a state in which two end portions are exposed. An O-ring is disposed at an exposed root of at least one rod end portion exposed from the laser chamber. The solid-state laser device includes a cover member that is disposed on a rod side surface of the rod end portion between the O-ring and a rod end surface and that blocks incidence of stray light, which is generated in the housing, on the O-ring.