Abstract: In an optical coherence tomography measurement, interference light of the reflected light of the measuring light from the object and the reference light obtained by dividing light emitted from a light source unit is detected. A controller switches between a measurement initiating position adjusting mode in which the position in the direction of depth of the object in which tomographic image signal is to be obtained is adjusted and a tomographic image obtaining mode in which a tomographic image of the object is to be obtained. The controller controls the tomographic image to be obtained from the interference light generated by the laser light in the image obtaining mode and controls the tomographic image to be obtained from the interference light generated by the low coherence light in the measurement initiating position adjusting mode.

Abstract: In an optical coherence tomography measurement, interference light of the reflected light of the measuring light from the object and the reference light is detected. A controller switches between a measurement initiating position adjusting mode and a tomographic image obtaining mode. A light source which emits light having a predetermined wavelength band is provided and the wavelength emitted from the light source is selected. The controller controls so that a laser beam is emitted while the wavelength is swept at a predetermined period and the tomographic image signal is obtained on the basis of the interference light by the laser beam in the image obtaining mode, while controls so that light of a predetermined wavelength is emitted and the tomographic image signal is obtained on the basis of the interference light by the light of a predetermined wavelength in the measurement initiating position adjusting mode.

Abstract: Low coherence light having a central wavelength ?c of 1.1 ?m and a full width at half maximum spectrum ?? of 90 nm is emitted. The low coherence light has wavelength properties suited for the light absorbing properties, the diffusion properties, and the dispersion properties of living tissue. A light dividing means divides the low coherence light into a measuring light beam, which is irradiated onto a measurement target via an optical probe, and a reference light beam that propagates toward an optical path length adjusting means. A multiplexing means multiplexes a reflected light beam, which is the measuring light beam reflected at a predetermined depth of the measurement target, and the reference light beam, to form coherent light. A coherent light detecting means detects the optical intensity of the multiplexed coherent light. An image obtaining means performs image processes, and displays an optical tomographic image on a display apparatus.

Abstract: A light source unit emits a laser beam, of which the wavelength is swept at a predetermined period. The central wavelength ?c of the sweep and the wavelength sweep width ?? of the laser light beam satisfy the conditions: ?c2?/???23, ?c+(??/2)?1.2 ?m, and ?c?(??/2)?0.98 ?m. A light dividing means divides the laser beam into a measuring light beam, which is irradiated onto a measurement target via an optical probe, and a reference light beam that propagates toward an optical path length adjusting means. A multiplexing means multiplexes a reflected light beam, which is the measuring light beam reflected at a predetermined depth of the measurement target, and the reference light beam, to form a coherent light beam. A coherent light beam detecting means detects the intensity of the multiplexed coherent light beam. Image processes are performed, an optical tomographic image is displayed.

Abstract: A (??) 75 ?m low coherence light beam is emitted. The low coherence light beam has wavelength properties suited for the light absorbing properties, the diffusion properties, and the dispersion properties of living tissue. A light dividing means divides the low coherence light beam into a measuring light beam, which is irradiated onto a measurement target via an optical probe, and a reference light beam that propagates toward an optical path length adjusting means. A multiplexing means multiplexes a reflected light beam, which is the measuring light beam reflected at a predetermined depth of the measurement target, and the reference light beam, to form a coherent light beam. A coherent light beam detecting means detects the optical intensity of the multiplexed coherent light beam. An image obtaining means performs image processes, and displays an optical tomographic image on a display apparatus.

Abstract: A (??) 75 ?m low coherence light beam is emitted. The low coherence light beam has wavelength properties suited for the light absorbing properties, the diffusion properties, and the dispersion properties of living tissue. A light dividing means divides the low coherence light beam into a measuring light beam, which is irradiated onto a measurement target via an optical probe, and a reference light beam that propagates toward an optical path length adjusting means. A multiplexing means multiplexes a reflected light beam, which is the measuring light beam reflected at a predetermined depth of the measurement target, and the reference light beam, to form a coherent light beam. A coherent light beam detecting means detects the optical intensity of the multiplexed coherent light beam. AN image obtaining means performs image processes, and displays an optical tomographic image on a display apparatus.

Abstract: A light source device for use in an image capturing device such as an endoscope capable of reducing size and cost, and preventing heat generation at an illuminated position. An illumination unit of the endoscope includes LED light sources for emitting ultraviolet light, fluorescent fibers for generating red, green and blue light respectively by irradiation of the ultraviolet light, a sampling light source, and an excitation light source. Upon capturing a normal image, the ultraviolet light is emitted sequentially from the LED light sources to cause the fluorescent fibers to generate the red, green and blue light. The light of each color is passed through a light guide and irradiated on an observation area of a living body. Thereafter, reflected images attributable to the light of each color are captured with a CCD image capturing element of a charge multiplying type, and captured images are displayed on a monitor.

Abstract: An compact imaging apparatus having an OCT function is provided. An image formed of the illuminating-light reflected from a examination area is displayed on a monitor. A signal-light for obtaining an optical tomographic image is guided in a fiber through an insertion portion and projected onto a living tissue measurement area by an illuminating lens. The measurement area is scanned with the signal-light by a Piezo actuator moving the output face of the fiber. An OCT obtaining-portion obtains and displays on a monitor an optical tomographic image by using the interference caused by the signal-light reflected from the measurement area and a reference-light. By performing the scanning with the signal-light using an image-obtaining lens, the need to insert a probe for obtaining an optical tomographic image through a forceps port is eliminated. Therefore, the number of required forceps ports is reduced, and the insertion portion can be made thin.

Abstract: A laser beam emitted from a laser light source is transmitted plural times through an a-Si layer on a substrate to be annealed by irradiating the a-Si layer with the laser beam so that a direction of the laser beam is reversed along an optical path along which the laser beam is transmitted through the a-Si layer. Since an operation in which energy is absorbed is repeated plural times when the laser beam is transmitted through the a-Si layer, input energy of the laser beam can be utilized without waste. Further, in an area of the a-Si layer that the laser beam is transmitted plural times, crystal growth in a lateral direction can be realized to form a large crystal grain in such a manner that an energy absorption distribution generated in a transmission direction is made constant to cause a solid-liquid interface to be flat along the optical path.

Abstract: A temperature distribution which is of the sum of the temperature distribution generated by a laser beam emitted from above and the temperature distribution generated by the laser beam emitted from below at the same irradiation position in a film which is of a subject of laser annealing is caused to be substantially constant in a thickness direction of the subject to be annealed. Therefore, a solid-liquid interface is formed substantially perpendicular to a surface direction of the subject to be annealed, crystal growth in a lateral direction is promoted, and a large crystal grain can be formed. As a result, even if the subject to be annealed has a thin film thickness, the annealing process can be performed by utilizing input energy without waste of the input energy.

Abstract: An optical tomograph obtains a tomogram of an object by dividing a low coherence light beam into a signal light beam and a reference light beam, shifting the frequency of at least one of the signal light beam and the reference light beam so that the signal light beam and the reference light beam becomes different from each other in frequency, causing the signal light beam to impinge upon the object, causing the signal light reflected at a predetermined depth of the object to interfere with the reference light beam, and measuring the intensity of the obtained interference light. A light amplifier amplifies the reflected signal light.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus that has an OCT function and can efficiently obtain an optical tomographic image is provided. An image of an area within a body cavity is displayed on a monitor, and an operator uses a pen-type input to specify a point thereon. An aiming-light is projected onto the body cavity and displayed on said monitor as a bright point, and a coated tube of an OCT probe is slid and rotated by a scanning controller so as to align the aiming-light with the point. A scanning-area setting means sets a ring shaped scanning area when the aiming-light and point are aligned. The scanning area is scanned with a signal-light, and an optical tomographic image is obtained and displayed on a monitor. An optical tomographic image can be efficiently and expediently obtained without the need to manually direct the irradiation position of the signal-light to a desired scanning area.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining a cellular image to be used in performing a test for pathology of the sentinel lymph node, which is the first lymph node a cancer metastasizes to. The gamma radiation emitted from a near-infrared fluorescent colorant injected in advance into the vicinity of a tumor is detected by use of a gamma-probe. A fiber coupler separates the low-coherence light emitted from the light source of an OCT portion (Optical Coherence Tomography) into a signal-light to be projected onto the sentinel lymph node and a reference-light whose wavelength is slightly shifted. The signal-light is projected onto the sentinel lymph node, and interference is caused between the signal-light reflected from a predetermined depth within the sentinel lymph node and the reference-light. A balance differential detector measures the intensity of the interference-light, and a cellular level ultra high-resolution optical tomographic image of the sentinel lymph node is obtained.

Abstract: Amplified spontaneous emission light, which is low coherence light radiated out from an optical fiber doped with a light emitting material when excitation energy is applied to the optical fiber, is divided into signal light and reference light. A frequency of the reference light is shifted to a frequency slightly different from the frequency of the signal light. A tomographic image of a measuring site is acquired from an intensity of interference light formed by the signal light reflected from the measuring site and the reference light.

Abstract: In an optical coherence tomography apparatus: low-coherence light from a light source is split into signal light and reference light; at least one of the frequencies of the signal light and the reference light is shifted so as to produce a predetermined frequency difference between the frequencies; the reference light and a portion of the signal light reflected from the object are optically multiplexed so as to produce interference light; and the optical intensity of the interference light is detected in order to obtain a tomographic image of the object. In the light source, the pulse width of pulsed light emitted from a pulsed light source unit is reduced by an optical-waveguide structure. The optical-waveguide structure is made of a material having a normal dispersion characteristic, and includes a structure which realizes an anomalous dispersion characteristic so as to reduce the pulse width of the pulsed light.

Abstract: A dynamic change detecting apparatus allows canceling the influence of environmental change or an individual difference between a plurality of laser elements so as to perform a stable detection.

Abstract: A homodyne interference system splits first and second light beams from a common light source and causes the first and second light beams to impinge upon an irradiating point of an organism at different directions. An optical heterodyne system splits a third beam from the common light source and imparts a frequency shift to the third beam. The outputs of the homodyne and heterodyne systems combine to permit extraction of a beat component of the homodyne system at a high SNR level. The output of the homodyne and heterodyne system are output as an image, which may be timed to a phase timing mechanism to provide an improved output.

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. An image signal is generated on the basis of the ratio of the intensity of a pulsation wave band signal to the intensity of a beat signal included in an output signal of the optical heterodyne detection system.

Abstract: A dynamic change detecting apparatus permits selection of a combination condition of various detection sensitivities and dynamic ranges.

Abstract: Low coherence light emitted from a light source is separated by a fiber coupler into a signal light, which is to be projected onto a target subject, and a reference light, which is to be modulated by a piezoelectric element. The signal light reflected from a predetermined depth of the target subject is synthesized with the reference light. The intensity of the interference light obtained thereby is detected by a balance differential detector, subjected to signal process by a signal processor, and displayed as a tomographic image on a display. The spectral width of the pulse light emitted from a pulse light source formed of an Er doped fiber is expanded in a zero dispersion fiber having a negative dispersion property, whereby the coherence length is shortened. The conventionally employed KTM Ti sapphire laser becomes unnecessary, and the light source becomes compact and inexpensive.