A method of examining breasts of a patient in an examination room to detect for potential breast cancer includes sliding a camera assembly along a rail between a pair of rail ends on a horizontal plane between a plurality of positions. A plurality of control thermographic images and a plurality of test thermographic images are recorded during the sliding movement to allow the camera assembly to consecutively record the control and test thermographic images of breasts of the patient from each of the plurality of positions. The camera assembly is slid to first and second optimal positions that are each disposed adjacent to one of the rail ends and in alignment with first and second sides of the breasts of the patient to capture images of the lymph nodes on the sides of the breasts.

The present invention relates to a sample information acquisition apparatus including a determination unit that determines a state of contact between a probe and a sample and whether the sample is on an optical path on the basis of an ultrasonic echo signal of ultrasonic waves received by the probe for the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the probe, prior to generation of a photoacoustic image; and a control unit that causes a light irradiating unit to irradiate the sample with light on the basis of a result of the determination. The determination unit determines the state of contact on the basis of information about multiple ultrasonic echo signals received by multiple transducers that are set apart from each other, among the multiple ultrasonic echo signals received by the multiple transducers in response to the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the multiple transducers in the probe.

A processing apparatus, comprises: a first acquirer configured to acquire a first specific information distribution of an object based on acoustic waves propagating from the object onto which light is irradiated; a second acquirer configured to acquire a characteristic value of the first specific information distribution of the object; a third acquirer configured to acquire information indicating a correspondence between an optical coefficient and the characteristic value of the first specific information distribution; and a fourth acquirer configured to acquire the optical coefficient of the object using the characteristic value of the first specific information distribution of the object and the information indicating the correspondence.

A serialized probe component for an optoacoustic device has a unique identifier associated therewith and includes, in an embodiment, an operative connection between a read-write memory and the optoacoustic device. Software adapted to generate and store logs in a read-write memory is executed on the optoacoustic device and stores logs concerning utilization of the serialized probe component on the read-write memory. A method for logging operational information concerning an optoacoustic device is further disclosed.

There is employed an information processing system including: a photoacoustic image acquiring unit that acquires photoacoustic image data derived from photoacoustic waves generated by an object that is irradiated with light; a setting unit that sets a simulation condition; a reference image acquiring unit that acquires simulation image data being photoacoustic image data corresponding to the simulation condition set by the setting unit; and a display controlling unit that causes a photoacoustic image based on the photoacoustic image data and a reference image based on the simulation image data, to be displayed on a display unit.

A detector and inclusion location method that uses a reconstruction technique to target and localize sparse small-sized but high-contrast objects, such as a tumor inside tissue. The reconstruction technique applied, can dramatically enhance the property contrast of the tumors or abnormal inclusions by ten to one hundred fold. The reconstruction technique enables the use of nonlinear imaging ill-posed techniques that are function-oriented imaging techniques without any need for structural prior knowledge.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for imaging, for example, tumor resections.

Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for reading and scoring ultrasound and/or optoacoustic (US/OA) images that include at least one of OA images or US images acquired in connection with an examination for a region of interest (ROI). The system displays a first image that has an interior ROI outline separating an internal zone from a boundary zone. In some aspects, feature scores are obtained in connection with at least the boundary zone and peripheral zone of the first image and the feature scores are applied to a classification model to obtain at least one of a prognostic result or predictive result indicative of a trait of the lesion. In accordance with some aspects, an order in which feature scores are entered is automatically managed to obtain for the at least one of the peripheral zone or the boundary zone before the feature score is obtained for the internal zone.

The technology concerning improvement of resolution of an acoustic wave sensor having a hemispherical shape or the like is provided. An ultrasonic transducer unit includes an ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements, and a probe casing configured to support a plurality of the ultrasonic transducers, and to have a concave portion facing a subject. The plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements is arranged on a same plane facing a center of curvature of the probe casing. The plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements is arranged in a rotationally symmetrical manner about a normal line connecting the center of curvature of the probe casing to a point on a plane of the ultrasonic transducer.

According to some embodiments there is provided a wearable device for breast screening, comprising: at least one breast-contacting member shaped to contact a surface of a breast, the member comprising an array of force applying units and an array of sensors configured for sensing at least one parameter in response to force applied by the force applying units; the force applying units and the sensors disposed on or within the breast-contacting member and positioned to contact a surface of the breast; a memory storing one or more patterns suitable to detect a lump underlying the surface; wherein the pattern comprises a sequence of forces that vary spatially and/or vary in time; a controller configured for: reading data from the memory to control application of force; communicating with the sensors to receive signals associated with the at least one parameter sensed in response to the application of force; and to process the received signals to detect a lump.