An object information acquiring apparatus is used, which has: a region setter setting a first region and a second region inside an object; a plurality of probes each receiving an acoustic wave propagated from the object to which light is radiated and outputting an electrical signal; a sound speed determiner setting a plurality of sound speeds for the first region and the second region respectively; an imaging processor acquiring an image using an electrical signal for each sound speed of the first region and acquiring an image using an electrical signal for each sound speed of the second region; a characteristic amount acquirer acquiring a comparison characteristic amount in a common region of the first region and the second region for each sound speed.

Provided herein are the systems, methods, components for a three-dimensional tomography system. The system is a dual-modality imaging system that incorporates a laser ultrasonic system and a laser optoacoustic system. The dual-modality imaging system generates tomographic images of a volume of interest in a subject body based on speed of sound, ultrasound attenuation and/or ultrasound backscattering and for generating optoacoustic tomographic images of distribution of the optical absorption coefficient in the subject body based on absorbed optical energy density or various quantitative parameters derivable therefrom. Also provided is a method for increasing contrast, resolution and accuracy of quantitative information obtained within a subject utilizing the dual-modality imaging system. The method comprises producing an image of an outline boundary of a volume of interest and generating spatially or temporally coregistered images based on speed of sound and/or ultrasonic attenuation and on absorbed optical energy within the outlined volume.

Provided herein are systems, devices, assemblies, and methods for generating exciter signals, for example, to activate a remotely located tag. The systems, devices, assemblies, and methods find use in a variety of application including medical applications for the locating of a tag in a subject.

A photoacoustic apparatus includes a light irradiation unit, an acoustic wave receiving unit that receives an acoustic wave generated by irradiating the object with light emitted from the light irradiation unit and that outputs an electric signal, a control unit that controls the light irradiation unit, and a processing unit that processes the electric signal. The control unit controls the light irradiation unit so that a density of a distribution of emission positions in a plurality of times of light emission by the light irradiation unit is higher in an inner part of the distribution of the emission positions than in an outer part of the distribution. The acoustic wave receiving unit outputs a plurality of electric signals corresponding to the plurality of times of light emission by receiving acoustic waves generated by the plurality of times of light emission. The processing unit acquires image data on the basis of the plurality of electric signals.

An object information acquiring apparatus is used which has an irradiating unit irradiating an object with light with a first wavelength at a first irradiation frequency, an element receiving an acoustic wave generated by the object irradiated with the light to output an electric signal, a processing unit acquiring characteristic information on the object using the electric signal, a scanning unit changing position of the irradiating unit relative to the object, and a controlling unit controlling movement of the scanning unit. The controlling unit controls the scanning unit such that an amount of light to which an identical area of the object is exposed is larger than a smallest value of a maximum permissible exposure at the first irradiation frequency.

An oximeter probe that takes into account tissue color (e.g., skin color or melanin content) to improve accuracy when determining oxygen saturation of tissue. Light is transmitted from a light source into tissue having melanin (e.g., eumelanin or pheomelanin). Light reflected from the tissue is received by a detector. A compensation factor is determined to account for absorption due to the melanin. The oximeter uses this compensation factor and determines a melanin-corrected oxygen saturation value.

An elastic wave receiving apparatus includes: a probe that receives an elastic wave generated from a subject; a plate-like compression plate that supports the subject and whose surface is scanned by the probe; a motor for driving the probe; a controller that supplies a drive signal to the motor so that the probe moves to a predetermined target position on the compression plate; and a load estimating unit that preliminarily acquires and stores a physical value corresponding to a load generated at the time of scanning the compression plate by the probe. The controller corrects the drive signal so that the probe moves to the target position regardless of the load by using the physical value stored in the load estimating unit.

Provided herein are systems, devices, assemblies, and methods for generating exciter signals, for example, to activate a remotely located tag. The systems, devices, assemblies, and methods find use in a variety of application including medical applications for the locating of a tag in a subject.

An object information acquiring apparatus comprises an irradiating unit which irradiates light on an object; a holding member which includes a light-absorbing member whose optical characteristics with respect to irradiated light are known and which holds the object; a detector which detects acoustic waves generated by tissue in the object and the light-absorbing member due to light irradiation; and a computing unit which calculates optical characteristics of the tissue in the object and the light-absorbing member by using the detected acoustic waves and which corrects the optical characteristics of the tissue in the object by using the calculated optical characteristics of the light-absorbing member and the known optical characteristics.

A system and method of imaging tissue includes administering a contrast agent having charged gold nanoparticles in suspension into a vessel of the subject, such that the nanoparticles are carried into the tissue; and performing microwave imaging of the tissue after administering the contrast agent. In embodiments, the nanoparticles have a tissue-selective protein tag. In embodiments, images are taken prior to administering the contrast agent, and further images may be taken during an agent—washout period after imaging with contrast agent. The contrast agent is injectable, with the nanoparticles suspended as a colloid in a biocompatible, isotonic, carrier. In particular embodiments, the nanoparticles have median diameter of less than fifty nanometers, or less than five nanometers, and may have a tissue-selective protein tag. A microwave imaging system has injection apparatus with the gold-nanoparticle agent, and is configured to take, and difference, pre and post contrast images as well as washout images.