Endoscope temperature and pressure control method and system

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of endoscope temperature pressure control, and particularly relates to an endoscope temperature pressure control method and system, the method comprising the following steps: preliminarily judging the type of a pressure event; when the type of the pressure event is a fuzzy rate pressure event, analyzing the characteristic change of an endoscope front end image; if the characteristic change of the image does not satisfy a preset change condition, starting active heat response detection; if the characteristic change of the image satisfies the preset change condition or the active heat response detection judges that the endoscope front end contacts a high-heat-conductivity medium, confirming a potential tissue contact event; when the potential tissue contact event is confirmed, not performing an exhaust operation; after receiving a warning signal, reducing the heat output of the endoscope front end or enhancing the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope front end; when the inhibition period ends or the target body cavity pressure returns to a preset safe pressure range, resuming the execution of pressure and temperature regulation modes. The above can improve the safety of endoscope operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of endoscopic temperature and pressure control, and specifically to an endoscopic temperature and pressure control method and system. Background Technology

[0002] In medical diagnosis and treatment, endoscopes are commonly used instruments. They are inserted into the body through natural cavities or tiny incisions, allowing doctors to directly observe changes in the tissues within. To obtain a clear and stable view during the examination, gas or liquid is usually injected into the cavity to expand the folded walls; this process is called gas injection or water injection. Simultaneously, the tip of the endoscope typically integrates an illumination source and an image sensor. These electronic components generate heat during operation. If the tip temperature becomes too high, it can not only cause noise in the image captured by the sensor, affecting diagnosis, but more seriously, it can cause thermal damage to the tissues it contacts.

[0003] In the existing operating procedure, the control system monitors the gas pressure within the body cavity using a pressure sensor. When the pressure falls below a preset lower limit, the system automatically activates the gas pump to replenish gas; when the pressure reaches a preset upper limit, gas replenishment stops, thus maintaining the pressure within a relatively stable range. For temperature control, the system obtains real-time temperature data through a temperature sensor located at the tip of the endoscope. Once the temperature exceeds a safe threshold, the control system activates a cooling mechanism, for example, by pumping cooling liquid through micro-channels inside the endoscope to cool the electronic components at the tip. This control method works effectively under ideal, static conditions, ensuring basic surgical safety and a clear field of vision.

[0004] However, in actual clinical practice, the internal environment of the human body is far from static. Take colonoscopy as an example: the colon itself exhibits involuntary, periodic peristaltic waves. This physiological peristalsis causes a segment of the intestine to contract rapidly within a short period, resulting in a rapid decrease in the volume of that local area. When the endoscope is positioned in this area, its pressure sensor detects a momentary, sharp pressure spike. Conventional pressure control systems cannot distinguish whether this pressure spike originates from overinflation by an external air pump or from the organ's own physiological activity, thus creating a safety hazard. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the aforementioned shortcomings by proposing an endoscope temperature and pressure control method and system.

[0006] The present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] An endoscope temperature and pressure control method, the method comprising the following steps:

[0008] Acquire pressure signals from the pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope;

[0009] Extract the pressure value from the pressure signal and calculate the rate of pressure change of the pressure signal;

[0010] Based on the pressure value and pressure change rate of the pressure signal, the type of pressure event can be preliminarily determined, including low-rate pressure event, high-rate pressure event, or fuzzy-rate pressure event.

[0011] When the type of stress event is a fuzzy rate stress event, image-assisted verification is initiated to analyze the feature changes of the endoscope tip image.

[0012] If the feature changes in the image do not meet the preset change conditions, active thermal response detection is initiated. Active thermal response detection includes: applying a thermal pulse to the illumination source at the tip of the endoscope; sampling the temperature of the tip of the endoscope and calculating the actual cooling rate of the tip of the endoscope; and determining whether the tip of the endoscope is in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium based on the comparison between the actual cooling rate and the preset baseline cooling rate.

[0013] If the feature changes in the image meet the preset change conditions, or if the endoscope tip is found to be in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity through active thermal response detection, then it is confirmed as a potential tissue contact event.

[0014] When a potential tissue contact event is identified, no venting operation is performed during the preset suppression period;

[0015] When a potential tissue contact event is confirmed, an early warning signal is sent to the temperature control module;

[0016] After receiving the warning signal, the temperature control module reduces the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhances the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip.

[0017] Once the inhibition period ends or the target cavity pressure returns to the preset safe pressure range, the preset pressure and temperature regulation mode will resume.

[0018] Through this technical solution, this application can intelligently identify pressure changes caused by physiological peristalsis, avoid misjudgment and suppress unnecessary venting operations, thereby maintaining a stable field of vision; at the same time, through active thermal response detection and image-assisted verification, it can promptly identify potential tissue contact events and link the temperature control module for early warning and adjustment, effectively reducing the risk of local tissue thermal damage and significantly improving the safety and efficiency of endoscopic operations.

[0019] Furthermore, in the above-described active thermal response detection steps, the method further includes:

[0020] Apply thermal pulses to the illumination source at the tip of the endoscope;

[0021] Sample the temperature of the endoscope tip and obtain the temperature drop curve of the endoscope tip;

[0022] Extract multiple thermal response characteristic parameters, including the actual cooling rate, from the descent curve;

[0023] The actual cooling rate is compared with the preset baseline cooling rate to make a preliminary judgment on whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity.

[0024] Furthermore, multiple thermal response characteristic parameters are compared with multiple preset sets of medium characteristic parameters, each set of which corresponds to the characteristic thermal response range of a known high thermal conductivity medium.

[0025] Based on the comparison results, identify the type of medium that comes into contact with the tip of the endoscope;

[0026] Based on the identified medium type, it is ultimately determined whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity.

[0027] Furthermore, when a potential tissue exposure event is confirmed, a preset suppression period is initiated. During this period, no venting operation is performed, and the pressure signal is continuously monitored. Venting operation is performed when any of the following conditions are met:

[0028] When the pressure value of the pressure signal exceeds the preset emergency venting threshold;

[0029] When the pressure value of the pressure signal remains above the preset upper limit threshold and the duration exceeds the preset duration threshold;

[0030] The upper limit threshold is less than the emergency exhaust threshold.

[0031] Furthermore, the steps for extracting multiple thermal response characteristic parameters from the descent curve include:

[0032] Multiple thermal response characteristic parameters characterizing the curve shape are extracted from the descent curve. These thermal response characteristic parameters include the instantaneous cooling rate at multiple time points, the average cooling rate over multiple temperature ranges, the curvature change of the descent curve, and the time required to reach a specific temperature drop ratio.

[0033] The current thermal response feature set is composed of multiple thermal response feature parameters;

[0034] The current thermal response feature set is compared with the feature thermal response range corresponding to multiple preset medium feature parameter sets. The feature thermal response range covers the variation of the thermophysical properties of the medium.

[0035] Based on the comparison results, the type of medium in contact with the tip of the endoscope is identified.

[0036] Furthermore, the step of comparing the current thermal response feature set with the feature thermal response range corresponding to multiple preset medium feature parameter sets, and ensuring that the feature thermal response range covers the variation of the thermophysical properties of the medium, includes:

[0037] Calculate the degree of matching between the current set of thermal response features and the range of characteristic thermal responses;

[0038] Based on the degree of matching, identify the type of medium that comes into contact with the tip of the endoscope;

[0039] When multiple media types have similar matching degrees, the media type with the higher media risk level is selected as the identification result according to the preset media risk level. The media risk level is determined by the corresponding risk score.

[0040] Furthermore, the step of selecting a media type with a higher media risk level as the identification result based on the preset media risk level includes:

[0041] Pre-determine the risk score for each media type;

[0042] When multiple media types have similar matching degrees, the risk scores of the multiple media types are compared according to the preset risk score.

[0043] Based on the comparison results, the media type with the highest risk score was selected as the identification result.

[0044] Furthermore, steps to reduce heat output at the endoscope tip or enhance its heat dissipation capacity include:

[0045] Obtain the identified media type;

[0046] Obtain the duration of potential organizational contact events;

[0047] Acquire pressure signals from the pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope;

[0048] Based on the type of medium, duration, and pressure signal, determine the extent of the decrease in heat output at the endoscope tip or the extent of the increase in heat dissipation capacity at the endoscope tip.

[0049] Based on the type of medium, duration, and pressure signal, determine the rate at which the heat output of the endoscope tip decreases or the rate at which the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip increases.

[0050] Depending on the determined amplitude and speed, reduce the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhance the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip.

[0051] Furthermore, the steps for determining the extent of the decrease in heat output at the endoscope tip or the extent of the increase in heat dissipation capacity at the endoscope tip, based on the media type, duration, and pressure signal, include:

[0052] Based on the medium type, duration, and pressure signal, consult the preset amplitude mapping table or execute the preset set of conditional rules;

[0053] Based on the review results or execution results, determine the extent to which the heat output of the endoscope tip decreases or the extent to which the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip increases.

[0054] Furthermore, the preset set of conditional rules includes:

[0055] Define several conditional rules;

[0056] Conditional rules include hierarchical rules or parallel rules;

[0057] Each conditional rule includes judgments on the medium type, duration, and pressure signal;

[0058] Each conditional rule is associated with either the reduction in heat output at the endoscope tip or the enhancement in heat dissipation at the endoscope tip.

[0059] This application also discloses an endoscope temperature and pressure control system applied to the above-mentioned endoscope temperature and pressure control method, the system comprising:

[0060] The signal acquisition module is used to acquire pressure signals from the pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope.

[0061] The pressure signal processing module is used to extract the pressure value of the pressure signal and calculate the pressure change rate of the pressure signal.

[0062] The judgment module makes a preliminary judgment on the type of pressure event based on the pressure value and pressure change rate of the pressure signal, including low-rate pressure event, high-rate pressure event, or fuzzy-rate pressure event.

[0063] The verification module initiates image-assisted verification when the stress event type is a fuzzy rate stress event, analyzing the feature changes of the endoscope tip image.

[0064] If the feature changes in the image do not meet the preset change conditions, the detection module will activate active thermal response detection. Active thermal response detection includes: applying a thermal pulse to the illumination source at the tip of the endoscope; sampling the temperature of the tip of the endoscope and calculating the actual cooling rate of the tip of the endoscope; and determining whether the tip of the endoscope is in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium based on the comparison between the actual cooling rate and the preset benchmark cooling rate.

[0065] If the feature changes in the image meet the preset change conditions, or if the endoscope tip is found to be in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium by active thermal response detection, then it is confirmed as a potential tissue contact event.

[0066] The exhaust suppression module, when a potential tissue contact event is identified, will not perform an exhaust operation during a preset suppression period;

[0067] The warning signal sending module sends a warning signal to the temperature control module when a potential tissue contact event is confirmed.

[0068] The temperature control module, upon receiving an early warning signal, reduces the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhances the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip.

[0069] The adjustment module resumes the preset pressure and temperature adjustment mode after the inhibition period ends or the target body cavity pressure returns to the preset safe pressure range.

[0070] This application provides a system that can implement the above-mentioned method through this technical solution. Through modular design, the functional units work together to achieve intelligent and safe control of endoscope temperature and pressure, providing reliable hardware and software support for clinical operation.

[0071] In summary, the method of this application significantly improves the safety, stability, and efficiency of endoscopic operations through intelligent identification, proactive intervention, and multiple safeguards, providing a more reliable solution for clinical applications.

[0072] To further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. However, the drawings provided are for reference and illustration only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0073] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of an endoscope temperature and pressure control method according to the present invention;

[0074] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an endoscope temperature and pressure control system according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0075] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can understand the advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified and changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings of the present invention are for simple illustrative purposes only and are not depictions of actual dimensions; this is stated in advance. The following embodiments will further describe the relevant technical content of the present invention in detail, but the disclosed content is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0076] This embodiment provides an endoscope temperature and pressure control method and system, combined with Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown.

[0077] refer to Figure 1 An endoscope temperature and pressure control method, the method comprising the following steps:

[0078] Acquire pressure signals from the pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope;

[0079] Extract the pressure value from the pressure signal and calculate the rate of pressure change of the pressure signal;

[0080] Based on the pressure value and pressure change rate of the pressure signal, the type of pressure event can be preliminarily determined, including low-rate pressure event, high-rate pressure event, or fuzzy-rate pressure event.

[0081] When the type of stress event is a fuzzy rate stress event, image-assisted verification is initiated to analyze the feature changes of the endoscope tip image.

[0082] If the feature changes in the image do not meet the preset change conditions, active thermal response detection is initiated. Active thermal response detection includes: applying a thermal pulse to the illumination source at the tip of the endoscope; sampling the temperature of the tip of the endoscope and calculating the actual cooling rate of the tip of the endoscope; and determining whether the tip of the endoscope is in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium based on the comparison between the actual cooling rate and the preset baseline cooling rate.

[0083] If the feature changes in the image meet the preset change conditions, or if the endoscope tip is found to be in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity through active thermal response detection, then it is confirmed as a potential tissue contact event.

[0084] When a potential tissue contact event is identified, no venting operation is performed during the preset suppression period;

[0085] When a potential tissue contact event is confirmed, an early warning signal is sent to the temperature control module;

[0086] After receiving the warning signal, the temperature control module reduces the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhances the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip.

[0087] Once the inhibition period ends or the target cavity pressure returns to the preset safe pressure range, the preset pressure and temperature regulation mode will resume.

[0088] The "endoscope tip" mentioned in this application generally refers to the part of the endoscope inserted into the human body cavity, which integrates key components such as a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an illumination source, and an image sensor. The "pressure sensor" is used to monitor pressure changes within the body cavity in real time, and its output "pressure signal" is a continuous electrical signal representing the instantaneous value of the current intracavitary pressure. The "pressure value" is a quantitative representation of the pressure signal, while the "pressure change rate" reflects how quickly the pressure changes over time and can be obtained by differentiating the pressure value.

[0089] "Type of pressure event" is a classification of pressure signal characteristics. For example, "low-rate pressure event" may refer to a slow rise or fall in pressure, usually associated with normal gas injection or venting operations; "high-rate pressure event" refers to a rapid and drastic change in pressure, which may be caused by physiological peristalsis or external shock; "fuzzy-rate pressure event" refers to a situation where the rate of pressure change is between low and high rates, or its characteristics are insufficient for clear classification, and further verification is required.

[0090] "Image-assisted verification" refers to using image analysis acquired by the endoscope tip to aid in judgment. For example, observing whether there are "characteristic changes" such as blurred vision or mucosal adhesion in the image, which may indicate that the endoscope tip is in contact with tissue. "Active thermal response detection" is a method that actively detects the contact state between the endoscope tip and the medium. By applying a brief "thermal pulse" to the "illumination source," a small change in the tip's temperature is caused. Then, a "temperature sensor" samples the tip's "temperature" and calculates the "actual cooling rate." Because different media (such as gases, liquids, and tissues) have different thermal conductivity, the heat dissipation characteristics and cooling rate of the tip will also differ when in contact with different media. By comparing the "actual cooling rate" with a preset "reference cooling rate" (such as the cooling rate measured in a gaseous environment), it can be determined whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a "medium with high thermal conductivity," such as human tissue or liquid.

[0091] A "potential tissue contact event" refers to a situation where the endoscope tip may come into contact with human tissue. Once such an event is confirmed, the system will enter protection mode. The "suppression period" is a preset time during which the system will suspend routine "venting operations" to prevent cavity collapse due to misjudgment. The "temperature control module" is a subsystem of the endoscope system responsible for regulating the temperature of the endoscope tip. By receiving "warning signals," it can "reduce the heat output of the endoscope tip" (e.g., lower the power of the illumination source) or "enhance the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip" (e.g., activate coolant circulation). "Preset pressure and temperature regulation modes" refer to the system's routine control strategies for maintaining intracavitary pressure and tip temperature within safe ranges under normal operating conditions.

[0092] Specifically, this method first requires acquiring a pressure signal from a pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope. This can be achieved by integrating the pressure sensor into the tip of the endoscope and connecting its output to a signal acquisition circuit. For example, the pressure sensor can be a piezoresistive sensor, whose resistance changes with pressure; the pressure signal can be obtained by measuring the resistance value.

[0093] The system then extracts the pressure value from the pressure signal and calculates the rate of pressure change. The pressure value can be read directly from the pressure sensor, while the rate of pressure change can be obtained by performing differential or derivative operations on the continuously acquired pressure values. For example, a pressure value can be acquired every 10 milliseconds, and then the difference between two adjacent acquired values ​​can be calculated and divided by the time interval to obtain the instantaneous rate of pressure change.

[0094] Based on the pressure value and rate of change of the pressure signal, the system will initially determine the type of pressure event, including low-rate pressure events, high-rate pressure events, or fuzzy-rate pressure events. This can be achieved by setting different pressure thresholds and pressure change rate thresholds. For example, when the pressure value is within the normal range and the rate of change is below a certain threshold, it can be identified as a low-rate pressure event; when the rate of change is much higher than a certain threshold, it can be identified as a high-rate pressure event. Events falling between these two categories, or those that do not meet the clearly defined classification criteria, are initially identified as fuzzy-rate pressure events.

[0095] When the pressure event is initially identified as a blurry rate pressure event, the system will initiate image-assisted verification, analyzing characteristic changes in the endoscope tip image. This can be achieved by acquiring image data in real time through the image sensor at the endoscope tip and analyzing it using image processing algorithms. For example, it can analyze features such as image sharpness, brightness, color distribution, or the presence of specific textures (e.g., mucosal folds). When the image shows blurriness, abnormal brightness, or large areas of red mucosal adhesion, it may indicate that the endoscope tip is in contact with the tissue.

[0096] If the changes in image features do not meet the preset change conditions (i.e., image-assisted verification fails to clearly indicate tissue contact), the system will initiate active thermal response detection. Active thermal response detection involves applying a thermal pulse to the illumination source at the endoscope tip. For example, this can be achieved by controlling the drive current of the illumination source to emit light at an intensity higher than normal operating power for a very short time (e.g., 50 milliseconds), thus generating a brief heat output. Subsequently, the system samples the temperature of the endoscope tip and calculates the actual cooling rate. This is done by acquiring temperature data in real time using a temperature sensor at the endoscope tip and monitoring the temperature drop curve over time after the thermal pulse ends, calculating its slope to obtain the actual cooling rate. Finally, by comparing the actual cooling rate with a preset baseline cooling rate, it is determined whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity. For example, if the actual cooling rate is significantly higher than the baseline cooling rate measured in a gaseous environment, it indicates that the endoscope tip may be in contact with a medium with even higher thermal conductivity (such as tissue or liquid).

[0097] If the changes in image features meet preset change conditions, or if active thermal response detection determines that the endoscope tip is in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity, then a potential tissue contact event is confirmed. This means that the system has, through multimodal information fusion, is highly certain that the endoscope tip has come into contact with the tissue.

[0098] When a potential tissue contact event is confirmed, the system will not perform venting operations during a preset suppression period. For example, a 5-second suppression period can be set, during which the system will not activate the venting valve even if the pressure sensor detects excessive pressure. Simultaneously, when a potential tissue contact event is confirmed, the system will send a warning signal to the temperature control module. This warning signal can be a digital or analog signal, notifying the temperature control module of the current risk of tissue contact.

[0099] Upon receiving a warning signal, the temperature control module will reduce the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhance its heat dissipation capacity. For example, the temperature control module can immediately reduce the power of the illumination source to decrease its heat generation; or it can activate the internal cooling system of the endoscope to increase the flow rate of the coolant, thereby enhancing heat dissipation efficiency.

[0100] Finally, once the inhibition period ends or the target cavity pressure returns to the preset safe pressure range, the system will resume executing the preset pressure and temperature regulation mode. This means that after the risk is eliminated, the system will return to the normal pressure and temperature control strategy to ensure the smooth progress of the examination.

[0101] The endoscopic temperature and pressure control method of this application, by integrating pressure signal analysis, image-assisted verification, and active thermal response detection, can more accurately identify potential contact events between the endoscope tip and a high thermal conductivity medium (such as human tissue). When traditional pressure control systems rely solely on pressure thresholds for judgment, instantaneous pressure spikes caused by physiological peristalsis are often misjudged as overinflation, triggering unnecessary venting operations, leading to cavity collapse and loss of field of vision. This application, by introducing the calculation of pressure change rate and the classification of fuzzy rate pressure events, and further combining image-assisted verification and active thermal response detection, can effectively distinguish between physiological peristalsis and actual pressure anomalies, avoiding venting operations caused by misjudgment.

[0102] Specifically, when a pressure event is initially identified as a fuzzy rate pressure event, the system does not immediately perform venting but instead initiates image-assisted verification. If changes in image features (such as blurred vision or mucosal adhesion) meet preset conditions, it is directly confirmed as a potential tissue contact event. If image verification is unclear, active thermal response detection is further initiated, applying thermal pulses and analyzing the cooling rate to determine whether there is contact with a high thermal conductivity medium. This multi-level, multi-modal verification mechanism significantly improves the accuracy of tissue contact event identification.

[0103] Once a potential tissue contact event is confirmed, the method of this application will enter an intelligent response mode. First, during a preset suppression period, the system will not perform venting operations. This directly solves the problem of cavity collapse caused by accidental venting in traditional methods, ensuring the stability and continuity of the examination field of view, avoiding the tedious operation of repeated inflation and reconstruction of the field of view by doctors, thereby shortening the examination time and reducing patient discomfort.

[0104] Secondly, the system sends an early warning signal to the temperature control module, prompting it to proactively reduce the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhance its heat dissipation capacity. This contrasts sharply with traditional passive temperature control systems. Traditional systems only initiate cooling when the temperature sensor detects that the absolute temperature exceeds the threshold, failing to anticipate or address the risk of efficient heat conduction due to tissue contact. This application, however, can proactively reduce the risk of thermal damage even before the tip temperature reaches the dangerous threshold after a tissue contact event is identified. For example, when the endoscope tip is in close contact with the intestinal wall, even if the overall tip temperature does not rise significantly, the local temperature at the contact point may have already risen rapidly. This proactive intervention mechanism effectively prevents damage to local tissues due to heat accumulation, significantly improving the safety of endoscopic procedures.

[0105] The above-mentioned active thermal response detection steps further include:

[0106] Apply thermal pulses to the illumination source at the tip of the endoscope;

[0107] Sample the temperature of the endoscope tip and obtain the temperature drop curve of the endoscope tip;

[0108] Extract multiple thermal response characteristic parameters, including the actual cooling rate, from the descent curve;

[0109] The actual cooling rate is compared with the preset baseline cooling rate to make a preliminary judgment on whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity.

[0110] Furthermore, multiple thermal response characteristic parameters are compared with multiple preset sets of medium characteristic parameters, each set of which corresponds to the characteristic thermal response range of a known high thermal conductivity medium.

[0111] Based on the comparison results, identify the type of medium that comes into contact with the tip of the endoscope;

[0112] Based on the identified medium type, it is ultimately determined whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity.

[0113] Specifically, a thermal pulse is applied to the illumination source at the tip of the endoscope. The purpose is to generate a transient temperature rise at the tip of the endoscope through controllable energy input, providing initial conditions for subsequent temperature drop curve sampling. The temperature of the endoscope tip is sampled, and its temperature drop curve is obtained. This drop curve can be understood as the trajectory of the endoscope tip's temperature change over time after the thermal pulse is applied. This curve contains rich information about the thermophysical properties of the medium, such as thermal conductivity and heat capacity. Multiple thermal response characteristic parameters, including the actual cooling rate, are extracted from the drop curve. These parameters may include, but are not limited to, the initial cooling rate, the average cooling rate over a specific time period, the curvature change of the curve, and the time required to reach a specific temperature drop ratio. These parameters collectively characterize the heat exchange characteristics between the endoscope tip and the contact medium.

[0114] The actual cooling rate is compared with a preset benchmark cooling rate to make a preliminary and rapid judgment, screening out situations where high thermal conductivity media may be in contact. Further, multiple thermal response characteristic parameters are compared with preset sets of multiple media characteristic parameters. These sets are obtained in advance through experiments or simulations, and each set represents the typical thermal response characteristic range of a known high thermal conductivity medium (e.g., different types of tissues, body fluids, etc.) under a specific thermal pulse. This comparison aims to improve the accuracy of media identification through multi-dimensional data matching. Based on the comparison results, the type of medium in contact with the endoscope tip is identified, meaning the system can distinguish which specific high thermal conductivity medium is in contact with the endoscope tip. Based on the identified medium type, a final judgment is made regarding whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium. This final judgment is based on more detailed medium type information, making the judgment result more accurate and reliable.

[0115] Specifically, when a thermal pulse is applied to the tip of an endoscope, the rate of temperature decrease and the shape of the curve will exhibit unique characteristics when it comes into contact with media of different thermal conductivity. By sampling and acquiring the complete temperature decrease curve and extracting multiple thermal response characteristic parameters, the dynamic process of these heat exchanges can be captured more comprehensively and meticulously. These multi-dimensional characteristic parameters, such as instantaneous cooling rate, average cooling rate, and curve curvature, can more accurately reflect the thermophysical properties of the contact medium. Subsequently, these extracted characteristic parameters are compared with preset characteristic thermal response ranges established for different known high thermal conductivity media, enabling the system not only to determine whether a high thermal conductivity medium is in contact but also to identify the specific medium type. For example, tissues and body fluids differ in their thermal conductivity characteristics; by analyzing the detailed characteristics of the temperature decrease curve, they can be effectively distinguished.

[0116] In some preferred embodiments, it is assumed that when the endoscope operates within a body cavity, its tip may come into contact with various media, including normal tissue, blood, saline solution, or mucus. In traditional methods based on a single cooling rate, blood and saline solution may experience rapid cooling similar to tissue due to their higher thermal conductivity, thus being misjudged as tissue contact events.

[0117] The solution proposed in this application addresses this problem by continuously sampling the temperature of the endoscope tip after a thermal pulse is applied to the illumination source at the endoscope tip, capturing a complete temperature drop curve. For example, if the endoscope tip is in contact with tissue, its temperature drop curve may exhibit an initial rapid decrease followed by a plateauing; while if it is in contact with saline solution, its temperature drop curve may show an initial rapid decrease, but the cooling rate will subsequently slow down more rapidly, or the curve shape may exhibit different characteristics. The system extracts multiple thermal response characteristic parameters from these drop curves, such as the average cooling rate within 0-1 seconds, the average cooling rate within 1-3 seconds, the time required to reach a 50% temperature drop, and the curvature change of the curve.

[0118] Subsequently, these extracted thermal response feature parameters are compared with several pre-defined sets of medium feature parameters. These sets are established experimentally beforehand; for example, one set corresponds to the characteristic thermal response range of normal tissue, another to the characteristic thermal response range of blood, and yet another to the characteristic thermal response range of physiological saline. Through comparison, the system can identify the type of medium currently in contact. For example, if the current thermal response feature set has the highest matching degree with the characteristic thermal response range of physiological saline, the system will identify the contact medium as physiological saline. Based on this identification result, the system can ultimately determine whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium (specifically, tissue).

[0119] When a potential tissue exposure event is confirmed, a preset suppression period is initiated. During this period, no venting is performed, and the pressure signal is continuously monitored. Venting is performed when any of the following conditions are met:

[0120] When the pressure value of the pressure signal exceeds the preset emergency venting threshold;

[0121] When the pressure value of the pressure signal remains above the preset upper limit threshold and the duration exceeds the preset duration threshold;

[0122] The upper limit threshold is less than the emergency exhaust threshold.

[0123] Specifically, upon confirmation of a potential tissue contact event, the system initiates a preset inhibition period. During this period, routine venting is typically not performed to maintain stable contact between the endoscope tip and the tissue. However, to ensure patient safety, the system continuously monitors the pressure signal from the endoscope tip pressure sensor. When the monitored pressure signal exceeds a preset emergency venting threshold, it indicates that the intracavitary pressure has reached a level that could pose an immediate danger to the patient, and venting will be performed immediately. Furthermore, if the pressure signal remains above a preset upper limit threshold (which is lower than the emergency venting threshold), and this duration exceeds a preset duration threshold, it also indicates that while the intracavitary pressure has not reached an emergency danger level, prolonged high pressure may still cause discomfort or potential risks, thus triggering venting as well. By setting emergency venting thresholds and upper limit thresholds, combined with duration thresholds, tiered management and response to intracavitary pressure can be achieved.

[0124] When the endoscope tip contacts the tissue, while suppressing gas release helps maintain contact and operational stability, continuous injection or ineffective gas removal from the body cavity can lead to abnormally high pressure. By continuously monitoring pressure signals, the system can monitor the pressure within the body cavity in real time. Once the pressure reaches the emergency gas release threshold, it indicates a critical situation requiring immediate gas release to prevent injury. Conversely, when the pressure remains at a high level for an extended period (above the upper limit threshold and exceeding the duration threshold), it indicates a risk of chronic pressure accumulation. In this case, gas release can promptly alleviate the pressure and prevent it from rising further to a dangerous level. This dual-judgment mechanism ensures that patient safety is prioritized while maintaining operational stability.

[0125] In some preferred embodiments, assuming that during a colonoscopy, the endoscope tip confirms potential contact with the colonic wall tissue, the system immediately initiates a gas suppression period. During this period, the system continuously monitors the pressure within the colon. If the monitored pressure signal suddenly spikes and exceeds a preset emergency gas release threshold, such as 30 mmHg, the system immediately triggers a gas release operation to rapidly reduce colonic pressure and prevent acute injury to the patient. Conversely, if the pressure signal does not reach the emergency gas release threshold but remains above, for example, an upper limit threshold of 25 mmHg, and this state persists for more than a preset duration threshold of 5 seconds, the system also initiates a gas release operation. In this case, although the pressure is not immediately critical, prolonged high pressure may cause patient discomfort or excessive intestinal wall distension; therefore, timely gas release helps mitigate this potential risk. In this way, even in the event of tissue contact, body cavity pressure can be managed flexibly and safely.

[0126] Specifically, the steps described above for extracting multiple thermal response characteristic parameters from the descent curve can be further refined.

[0127] The steps for extracting multiple thermal response characteristic parameters from a descent curve include:

[0128] Multiple thermal response characteristic parameters characterizing the curve shape are extracted from the descent curve. These thermal response characteristic parameters include the instantaneous cooling rate at multiple time points, the average cooling rate over multiple temperature ranges, the curvature change of the descent curve, and the time required to reach a specific temperature drop ratio.

[0129] The current thermal response feature set is composed of multiple thermal response feature parameters;

[0130] The current thermal response feature set is compared with the feature thermal response range corresponding to multiple preset medium feature parameter sets. The feature thermal response range covers the variation of the thermophysical properties of the medium.

[0131] Based on the comparison results, the type of medium in contact with the tip of the endoscope is identified.

[0132] Specifically, during active thermal response detection, when a thermal pulse is applied to the illumination source at the endoscope tip, the temperature of the endoscope tip decreases over time, forming a temperature drop curve. To more comprehensively and accurately characterize the thermal response characteristics of the endoscope tip when in contact with different media, multiple thermal response characteristic parameters need to be extracted from this temperature drop curve. These parameters aim to characterize the morphological features of the temperature drop curve, thereby reflecting the thermophysical properties of the medium. For example, the instantaneous cooling rate refers to the rate of temperature decrease at specific time points on the temperature drop curve (such as 1 second, 2 seconds, 5 seconds after the application of the thermal pulse), which can reflect the heat absorption capacity of the medium in a short time. The average cooling rate across multiple temperature ranges, such as the average cooling rate within the range of temperature decreasing from 50°C to 40°C, or from 40°C to 30°C, can reflect the overall thermal conductivity efficiency of the medium within different temperature ranges. The curvature change of the temperature drop curve can reveal the dynamic characteristics of the cooling process, such as whether the cooling rate is accelerating, decelerating, or remaining stable, which is of great significance for distinguishing the thermal response behavior of different media. In addition, the time required to reach a specific temperature drop percentage, such as the time required for a 50% temperature drop, can intuitively reflect the overall heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the medium.

[0133] The extracted thermal response feature parameters are combined into a current thermal response feature set. This set contains the complete thermal response fingerprint of the currently detected endoscope tip in contact with the medium. Subsequently, this current thermal response feature set is compared with multiple preset medium feature parameter sets. Each preset medium feature parameter set corresponds to a known high thermal conductivity medium (e.g., different tissue types, blood, saline, etc.) and includes the characteristic thermal response range that the medium may exhibit under different conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, tissue state, etc.). These characteristic thermal response ranges are designed to cover variations in the thermophysical properties of the medium to ensure the robustness of the comparison. By comparing the current thermal response feature set with these preset characteristic thermal response ranges, the type of medium in contact with the endoscope tip can be identified based on the degree of matching or similarity.

[0134] This application further proposes a step of comparing the current thermal response feature set with the feature thermal response range corresponding to multiple preset medium feature parameter sets, wherein the feature thermal response range covers the variation of the thermophysical properties of the medium, including:

[0135] Calculate the degree of matching between the current set of thermal response features and the range of characteristic thermal responses;

[0136] Based on the degree of matching, identify the type of medium that comes into contact with the tip of the endoscope;

[0137] When multiple media types have similar matching degrees, the media type with the higher media risk level is selected as the identification result according to the preset media risk level. The media risk level is determined by the corresponding risk score.

[0138] Specifically, calculating the matching degree between the current thermal response feature set and the feature thermal response range refers to quantitatively analyzing the similarity or agreement between the currently collected thermal response feature data and the feature thermal response ranges of various known media. This matching degree can be achieved through various algorithms, such as Euclidean distance, cosine similarity, correlation coefficient, fuzzy logic matching, or the output probability of machine learning models (such as support vector machines and neural networks). Its purpose is to provide a quantitative basis for subsequent media type identification. Identifying the media type in contact with the endoscope tip based on the matching degree can be understood as selecting the media type with the highest matching degree or reaching a preset threshold as the initial identification result after calculating the matching degree of each media type. For example, a matching degree threshold can be set; when the matching degree of a media type exceeds this threshold, it is considered that the endoscope tip has contacted that media. In practical applications, when multiple media types have similar matching degrees, the media type with the higher media risk level is selected as the identification result based on a preset media risk level. This aims to prioritize safety when there is uncertainty in the identification result. The degree of similarity can be defined as the difference in matching degree being within a preset tolerance range; for example, the difference between the highest and second-highest matching degree is less than a certain percentage. The media risk level refers to the pre-assessment and classification of the potential harm that different media may cause to endoscopic operations. For example, blood vessels, nerves, and vital organ tissues may be assigned a higher risk level, while fat and muscle tissue may have a lower risk level. This risk level is determined by a corresponding risk score, which can be a numerical value; a higher value indicates a higher risk level. When there is ambiguity in the identification results, the system will prioritize the media type with the highest risk score as the final identification result to ensure the most conservative and safe control strategy is adopted under uncertain circumstances.

[0139] This application's solution effectively addresses the ambiguity issues that may arise during media identification by introducing a matching degree calculation and a mechanism for selecting media based on risk level when matching degrees are similar. First, by accurately calculating the matching degree between the current set of thermal response features and the thermal response ranges of various media, the likelihood of contact between the endoscope tip and different media can be quantitatively assessed. Second, when multiple media types exhibit similar matching degrees, traditional identification methods may fail to provide a clear judgment or even lead to misjudgment. This application, by pre-setting media risk levels and selecting media types with higher risk levels as the identification result, ensures that the system can adopt a more cautious and safer strategy in situations of identification uncertainty. For example, if the thermal response features of the endoscope tip show similar matching degrees with both blood vessels and adipose tissue, but the risk level of blood vessels is much higher than that of adipose tissue, the system will prioritize identifying it as blood vessel contact, thereby triggering stricter temperature and pressure control measures to avoid unnecessary damage to high-risk tissues. This risk-based decision-making mechanism significantly improves the robustness and safety of media identification.

[0140] In some preferred embodiments, it is assumed that after the endoscope tip performs active thermal response detection, the collected thermal response feature set is analyzed and compared with the characteristic thermal response ranges of three preset media types A (adipose tissue), B (muscle tissue), and C (vascular tissue). The calculation results show that the matching degree of media type A is 0.85; the matching degree of media type B is 0.83; and the matching degree of media type C is 0.84. In this example, the matching degree of the three media types is relatively high and the differences between them are small, belonging to the case of similar matching degree. At this time, the system will check the preset media risk level. Assume that the preset risk score is: the risk score of adipose tissue (media type A) is 2 (low risk); the risk score of muscle tissue (media type B) is 4 (medium risk); and the risk score of vascular tissue (media type C) is 8 (high risk). According to the scheme of this application, since media type C (vascular tissue) has the highest risk score of 8, even if its matching degree (0.84) is not the highest, in order to ensure the safety of operation, the system will still determine the final identification result as the endoscope tip contacting vascular tissue. Therefore, upon receiving the warning signal, the temperature control module will take more proactive and conservative measures to reduce heat output or enhance heat dissipation based on the identified high-risk media type (vascular tissue). For example, it will rapidly and significantly reduce heat output to minimize thermal damage to vascular tissue. This approach ensures that patient safety is always prioritized and potential serious complications are avoided, even when there is ambiguity in the identification process.

[0141] This application further proposes a step of selecting a media type with a higher media risk level as the identification result based on a preset media risk level, including: preset a risk score corresponding to each media type; when multiple media types have a similar degree of matching, compare the risk scores of multiple media types according to the preset risk scores; and select the media type with the highest risk score as the identification result based on the comparison results.

[0142] Specifically, the pre-defined risk score for each media type refers to assigning a quantified numerical value during the system design or deployment phase to various media types that may come into contact with the endoscope tip, such as tissue, liquid, and gas, based on their potential harm to the endoscope or patient. This risk score can be comprehensively assessed based on factors such as clinical data, biocompatibility, thermal damage threshold, and tissue sensitivity; a higher value indicates a greater risk. For example, vascular tissue may be assigned a higher risk score, while ordinary body cavity fluids may be assigned a lower risk score.

[0143] Specifically, when multiple media types exhibit similar matching degrees, the system compares the risk scores of these media types based on preset risk scores. This means that during active thermal response detection, if the calculated set of current thermal response features matches multiple preset sets of media feature parameters so closely that it's impossible to clearly distinguish which medium it is, the system will no longer rely solely on the matching degree but will instead introduce preset risk scores as the decision-making basis. In this case, the system will obtain the risk scores corresponding to these media types with similar matching degrees and compare these scores.

[0144] Therefore, based on the comparison results, the media type with the highest risk score is selected as the identification result. This means that in the aforementioned ambiguous or uncertain situations, the system will prioritize media types with the highest risk scores as the final identification result. This strategy aims to ensure that when multiple possibilities exist, the system always tends to take the most conservative and safest judgment, thereby triggering corresponding, more cautious temperature control measures to protect patients and equipment to the greatest extent possible.

[0145] In some preferred embodiments, it is assumed that during endoscopic procedures, active thermal response detection results show that the current thermal response feature set of the endoscope tip exhibits a highly similar degree of matching with the characteristic thermal response ranges of three media types—"blood vessel wall," "intestinal mucosa," and "muscle tissue"—for example, matching degrees of 92%, 91%, and 90%, respectively. In this case, the system may find it difficult to make a clear judgment based solely on the degree of matching.

[0146] At this point, according to the scheme of this application, the system will consult the preset media risk scores. Assume the preset risk scores are: blood vessel wall (risk score 90), intestinal mucosa (risk score 70), and muscle tissue (risk score 50). The system will compare the risk scores of these three media types. Since the blood vessel wall has the highest risk score of 90, even if its matching degree is similar to other media types, the system will still select "blood vessel wall" as the final identification result. Therefore, the temperature control module will receive a warning signal and, based on the identified "blood vessel wall" type, take more proactive measures to reduce heat output or enhance heat dissipation, such as reducing the heat output of the endoscope tip to the lowest safe level or enhancing heat dissipation as quickly as possible to minimize thermal damage to the fragile blood vessel wall. This risk-priority-based decision-making mechanism ensures operational safety under identification uncertainty.

[0147] Steps to reduce heat output at the endoscope tip or enhance its heat dissipation capacity include:

[0148] Obtain the identified media type;

[0149] Obtain the duration of potential organizational contact events;

[0150] Acquire pressure signals from the pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope;

[0151] Based on the type of medium, duration, and pressure signal, determine the extent of the decrease in heat output at the endoscope tip or the extent of the increase in heat dissipation capacity at the endoscope tip.

[0152] Based on the type of medium, duration, and pressure signal, determine the rate at which the heat output of the endoscope tip decreases or the rate at which the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip increases.

[0153] Depending on the determined amplitude and speed, reduce the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhance the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip.

[0154] Specifically, upon confirming a potential tissue contact event, the system first acquires the currently identified medium type. This medium type is determined through active thermal response detection, identifying the type of medium in contact with the endoscope tip, such as tissue, liquid, or other media with high thermal conductivity. Simultaneously, the system acquires the duration of the potential tissue contact event, which helps assess the severity and urgency of the contact. Furthermore, pressure signals from the endoscope tip pressure sensor are continuously acquired to reflect the current pressure status within the body cavity. Based on the acquired medium type, duration, and pressure signal, the system intelligently determines the extent to which the heat output of the endoscope tip needs to be reduced, or the extent to which its heat dissipation capacity needs to be increased. For example, the required cooling may differ for media with different thermal conductivity; longer contact times may require greater adjustments; and abnormally high body cavity pressure may necessitate more aggressive intervention. Further, the system also determines the rate at which the heat output of the endoscope tip decreases or the rate at which its heat dissipation capacity increases, based on the aforementioned medium type, duration, and pressure signal. This means that thermal regulation is not static but dynamically adjusted according to real-time conditions to avoid responses that are too fast or too slow. Therefore, once the specific amplitude and speed are determined, the temperature control module will execute operations to reduce the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhance its heat dissipation capacity according to these parameters. This ensures the accuracy and adaptability of heat regulation, thereby better protecting tissues and maintaining operational stability.

[0155] This application's solution achieves precise control over the heat output or heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip by comprehensively considering the media type, duration, and pressure signal. Specifically, the media type provides crucial information about the thermophysical properties of the contact material; for example, contact with tissues with high thermal conductivity requires faster and more significant cooling to avoid thermal damage. The duration reflects the cumulative effect of potential damage; longer contact time increases the risk, thus requiring more aggressive intervention. The pressure signal provides real-time feedback on the body cavity environment; for example, abnormally high pressure may indicate a more urgent situation requiring a faster response. By using this multi-dimensional information as input, the system can dynamically calculate the optimal cooling amplitude and rate, thereby avoiding the inadequacy or over-cooling that may result from traditional fixed adjustments, ensuring appropriate tissue protection in various clinical scenarios.

[0156] In some preferred embodiments, assuming the endoscope tip comes into contact with liver tissue during the examination and the medium type is identified as "liver tissue" through active thermal response detection, the system detects that the contact event has lasted for 5 seconds, and the pressure signal from the endoscope tip pressure sensor indicates that the body cavity pressure is slightly higher than the normal range. Based on this information, the system determines, according to preset rules or by consulting a preset mapping table, the optimal heat output reduction for "liver tissue" under the conditions of "5-second duration" and "slightly higher pressure" is 20%, and the reduction rate is 5% per second. Subsequently, the temperature control module gradually reduces the illumination power of the endoscope tip according to this reduction rate and magnitude, thereby reducing heat output and effectively avoiding thermal damage to the liver tissue. If the medium type is identified as "gastric wall tissue," and the contact time is short and the pressure is normal, a smaller cooling magnitude (e.g., 10%) and a slower cooling rate may be determined to protect the tissue while minimizing the impact on the operation.

[0157] Specifically, the steps described above for determining the magnitude of the decrease in heat output at the endoscope tip or the magnitude of the increase in heat dissipation capacity at the endoscope tip based on the medium type, duration, and pressure signal may include:

[0158] Based on the medium type, duration, and pressure signal, consult a preset amplitude mapping table or execute a preset set of conditional rules; based on the consultation or execution results, determine the magnitude of the reduction in heat output at the endoscope tip or the magnitude of the enhancement in heat dissipation capacity at the endoscope tip.

[0159] The pre-defined amplitude mapping table can be understood as a data structure, such as a two-dimensional or multi-dimensional lookup table, that maps different media types, the duration of potential tissue contact events, and combinations of pressure signals to corresponding reductions in heat output or enhancements in heat dissipation capacity. This mapping table can be pre-constructed and optimized using extensive experimental data, simulations, or expert experience to ensure reasonable and safe control parameters under various complex operating conditions.

[0160] Furthermore, the pre-defined set of conditional rules is a decision-making mechanism based on logical judgment. This set of rules contains a series of predefined conditions and corresponding actions. For example, when the medium type is high-risk tissue, the duration exceeds a certain threshold, and the pressure signal shows a continuous increase in pressure, a rule can be triggered that specifies a significant reduction in heat output or an increase in heat dissipation capacity. These rules can be flexibly configured and adjusted according to clinical needs and safety standards to address different clinical scenarios and patient physiological conditions.

[0161] This application's solution introduces an amplitude mapping table or a set of conditional rules, making the determination of the reduction in heat output or the enhancement in heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip more systematic and intelligent. Once the system acquires key information such as media type, duration, and pressure signal, it can quickly and accurately obtain the corresponding control amplitude by directly consulting a preset mapping table or executing a preset rule set. This mechanism avoids the need for real-time calculations or manual judgment in complex situations, thereby improving response speed and control accuracy. By pre-defining and optimizing these mapping relationships or rules, it can be ensured that the endoscope's thermal management strategy can accurately adapt to different contact scenarios, effectively reducing the potential risk of tissue damage.

[0162] Specifically, the aforementioned set of pre-defined conditional rules may include the following:

[0163] The preset set of conditional rules includes:

[0164] Define several conditional rules;

[0165] Conditional rules include hierarchical rules or parallel rules;

[0166] Each conditional rule includes judgments on the medium type, duration, and pressure signal;

[0167] Each conditional rule is associated with either the reduction in heat output at the endoscope tip or the enhancement in heat dissipation at the endoscope tip.

[0168] Specifically, conditional rules refer to logical statements or judgment criteria used to guide the system in determining the output (i.e., the magnitude of the reduction in heat output or the magnitude of the enhancement in heat dissipation capacity) based on input parameters (i.e., media type, duration, and pressure signal). These rules are predefined and stored in the system so that they can be invoked and executed at runtime. Conditional rules can include hierarchical rules or parallel rules. Hierarchical rules mean that there is a priority or nesting relationship between rules; for example, the media type is determined first, and then the duration and pressure signal are determined based on the media type result. This structure allows the system to make multi-level, fine-grained decisions. Parallel rules mean that multiple conditional rules can be evaluated simultaneously, each rule independently judging its corresponding condition and may produce one or more results, ultimately determining the final magnitude through some aggregation logic (e.g., taking the most stringent magnitude or a weighted average). In practical applications, each conditional rule includes judgments on the media type at the endoscope tip, the duration of the potential tissue contact event, and the pressure signal from the pressure sensor at the endoscope tip. This means that each rule sets specific conditions for these three key parameters, for example, "if the media type is tissue A and the duration exceeds X seconds and the pressure signal is higher than value Y." Furthermore, each conditional rule is associated with either the reduction in heat output from the endoscope tip or the enhancement in heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip. When the condition for a given rule is met, the system will execute the adjustment associated with that rule. For example, if a conditional rule is met, the heat output from the endoscope tip is required to be reduced by Z%.

[0169] This application's solution, by defining a structured set of conditional rules, enables the system to make more refined and intelligent decisions based on the actual contact between the endoscope tip and a high thermal conductivity medium, including the identified medium type, the duration of potential tissue contact events, and pressure signals from the endoscope tip pressure sensor. Through the setting of hierarchical or parallel rules, more complex clinical scenarios and medium contact conditions can be covered, ensuring that the reduction in heat output or the enhancement in heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip can be accurately and appropriately determined under different risk levels and urgency levels. This rule-based decision-making mechanism, compared to a simple lookup table method, provides greater flexibility and adaptability, and can better cope with various complex situations that may arise in actual operation.

[0170] refer to Figure 2 This application proposes an endoscope temperature and pressure control system, which aims to implement the above-mentioned endoscope temperature and pressure control method. Through modular design, it ensures the effective execution of the method steps and the stable realization of system functions.

[0171] This application discloses an endoscope temperature and pressure control system, applied to the aforementioned endoscope temperature and pressure control method. The system includes:

[0172] The signal acquisition module is used to acquire pressure signals from the pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope.

[0173] The pressure signal processing module is used to extract the pressure value of the pressure signal and calculate the pressure change rate of the pressure signal.

[0174] The judgment module makes a preliminary judgment on the type of pressure event based on the pressure value and pressure change rate of the pressure signal, including low-rate pressure event, high-rate pressure event, or fuzzy-rate pressure event.

[0175] The verification module initiates image-assisted verification when the stress event type is a fuzzy rate stress event, analyzing the feature changes of the endoscope tip image.

[0176] If the feature changes in the image do not meet the preset change conditions, the detection module will activate active thermal response detection. Active thermal response detection includes: applying a thermal pulse to the illumination source at the tip of the endoscope; sampling the temperature of the tip of the endoscope and calculating the actual cooling rate of the tip of the endoscope; and determining whether the tip of the endoscope is in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium based on the comparison between the actual cooling rate and the preset benchmark cooling rate.

[0177] If the feature changes in the image meet the preset change conditions, or if the endoscope tip is found to be in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium by active thermal response detection, then it is confirmed as a potential tissue contact event.

[0178] The exhaust suppression module, when a potential tissue contact event is identified, will not perform an exhaust operation during a preset suppression period;

[0179] The warning signal sending module sends a warning signal to the temperature control module when a potential tissue contact event is confirmed.

[0180] The temperature control module, upon receiving an early warning signal, reduces the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhances the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip.

[0181] The adjustment module resumes the preset pressure and temperature adjustment mode after the inhibition period ends or the target body cavity pressure returns to the preset safe pressure range.

[0182] Specifically, the signal acquisition module is configured to acquire pressure signals from a pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope. This module can be a data acquisition unit, such as an analog-to-digital converter, used to convert analog pressure signals into digital signals for subsequent processing. The pressure signal processing module is configured to analyze and calculate the pressure signals acquired by the signal acquisition module, extracting the current pressure value and further calculating the rate of pressure change over time. This can be achieved using specific algorithms in a digital signal processor or microcontroller, for example, by performing differential operations on the pressure values ​​at consecutive sampling points to obtain the rate of pressure change.

[0183] The judgment module, based on the pressure value and rate of change provided by the pressure signal processing module, uses preset logical rules or machine learning models to perform a preliminary classification of the current pressure event. This classification helps the system respond quickly to pressure changes of different natures. The verification module is activated when the judgment module identifies an ambiguous rate pressure event. Its function is to assist in determining whether tissue contact exists by analyzing real-time image data from the endoscope tip. This may involve image processing algorithms, such as feature point detection, edge recognition, or texture analysis, to identify specific changes in the image related to tissue contact.

[0184] The detection module activates when image-assisted verification fails to provide a clear assessment. It actively applies thermal pulses and monitors the temperature response to determine if the endoscope tip is in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium. This module typically includes a heat source controller (e.g., controlling the power output of the illumination source), a high-precision temperature sensor, and a processor to calculate the actual cooling rate. The confirmation module integrates the assessment results from both the verification and detection modules to ultimately determine whether a potential tissue contact event has occurred. This module is implemented using logic gates or decision trees to ensure the accuracy of the assessment.

[0185] Upon confirming a potential tissue contact event, the exhaust suppression module prevents the endoscopic system from venting for a preset suppression period to avoid tissue damage or misdiagnosis caused by venting. The warning signal sending module immediately sends a warning signal to the temperature control module upon confirming a potential tissue contact event, notifying it to take appropriate temperature control measures. Upon receiving the warning signal, the temperature control module reduces the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhances heat dissipation according to a preset strategy to prevent thermal damage to tissue. This can be achieved by adjusting the power of the illumination source, activating the cooling fan, or the fluid circulation system. The adjustment module is responsible for restoring the system to normal pressure and temperature regulation mode after the suppression period ends or the target cavity pressure returns to a preset safe pressure range, ensuring the continuity and safety of endoscopic operations.

[0186] The endoscopic temperature and pressure control system of this application achieves intelligent identification and response to endoscope tip-tissue contact events through the coordinated operation of various modules. Specifically, the signal acquisition module and pressure signal processing module continuously monitor the pressure status within the body cavity, providing basic data for the system. When pressure changes are ambiguous, the verification module uses visual information for auxiliary judgment, improving the accuracy of the judgment. If the visual judgment is still unclear, the detection module uses an active thermal response mechanism to accurately identify contact with high thermal conductivity media (such as tissue) by utilizing differences in thermophysical properties, overcoming the limitations of single pressure or image judgment. Once a potential tissue contact event is confirmed, the venting suppression module immediately intervenes, avoiding the risks that may be caused by unnecessary venting operations. At the same time, the early warning signal sending module promptly notifies the temperature control module, prompting it to quickly adjust the temperature of the endoscope tip, effectively reducing the risk of thermal damage. Finally, the adjustment module ensures that the system can smoothly resume normal operation after the risk is eliminated, ensuring the continuity of the surgical procedure and patient safety. This multimodal, hierarchical judgment and response mechanism significantly improves the safety and intelligence level of endoscopic operation.

[0187] The above-disclosed content is only a preferred and feasible embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made based on the content of the present invention specification and drawings are included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Furthermore, the elements therein can be updated as technology develops.

Claims

1. An endoscope temperature and pressure control system, characterized in that, The system includes: The signal acquisition module is used to acquire pressure signals from the pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope. The pressure signal processing module is used to extract the pressure value of the pressure signal and calculate the pressure change rate of the pressure signal. The judgment module makes a preliminary judgment on the type of pressure event based on the pressure value and pressure change rate of the pressure signal, including low-rate pressure event, high-rate pressure event, or fuzzy-rate pressure event. The verification module initiates image-assisted verification when the stress event type is a fuzzy rate stress event, analyzing the feature changes of the endoscope tip image. If the feature changes in the image do not meet the preset change conditions, the detection module will activate active thermal response detection. Active thermal response detection includes: applying a thermal pulse to the illumination source at the tip of the endoscope; sampling the temperature of the tip of the endoscope and calculating the actual cooling rate of the tip of the endoscope; and determining whether the tip of the endoscope is in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium based on the comparison between the actual cooling rate and the preset benchmark cooling rate. If the feature changes in the image meet the preset change conditions, or if the endoscope tip is found to be in contact with a high thermal conductivity medium by active thermal response detection, then it is confirmed as a potential tissue contact event. The exhaust suppression module, when a potential tissue contact event is identified, will not perform an exhaust operation during a preset suppression period; The warning signal sending module sends a warning signal to the temperature control module when a potential tissue contact event is confirmed. The temperature control module, upon receiving an early warning signal, reduces the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhances the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip. The adjustment module resumes the preset pressure and temperature adjustment mode after the inhibition period ends or the target body cavity pressure returns to the preset safe pressure range.

2. The endoscope temperature and pressure control system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Active thermal response detection further includes: A thermal pulse is applied to the illumination source at the tip of the endoscope; Sample the temperature of the endoscope tip and obtain the temperature drop curve of the endoscope tip; Extract multiple thermal response characteristic parameters, including the actual cooling rate, from the descent curve; The actual cooling rate is compared with the preset baseline cooling rate to make a preliminary judgment on whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity. Furthermore, multiple thermal response characteristic parameters are compared with multiple preset sets of medium characteristic parameters, each set of which corresponds to the characteristic thermal response range of a known high thermal conductivity medium. Based on the comparison results, identify the type of medium that comes into contact with the tip of the endoscope; Based on the identified medium type, it is ultimately determined whether the endoscope tip is in contact with a medium with high thermal conductivity.

3. The endoscope temperature and pressure control system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, When a potential tissue exposure event is confirmed, a preset suppression period is initiated. During this period, no venting is performed, and the pressure signal is continuously monitored. Venting is performed when any of the following conditions are met: When the pressure value of the pressure signal exceeds the preset emergency venting threshold; When the pressure value of the pressure signal remains above the preset upper limit threshold and the duration exceeds the preset duration threshold; The upper limit threshold is less than the emergency exhaust threshold.

4. The endoscope temperature and pressure control system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Multiple thermal response characteristic parameters can be extracted from the descent curve, including: Multiple thermal response characteristic parameters characterizing the curve shape are extracted from the descent curve. These thermal response characteristic parameters include the instantaneous cooling rate at multiple time points, the average cooling rate over multiple temperature ranges, the curvature change of the descent curve, and the time required to reach a specific temperature drop ratio. The current thermal response feature set is composed of multiple thermal response feature parameters; The current thermal response feature set is compared with the feature thermal response range corresponding to multiple preset medium feature parameter sets. The feature thermal response range covers the variation of the thermophysical properties of the medium. Based on the comparison results, the type of medium in contact with the tip of the endoscope is identified.

5. An endoscope temperature and pressure control system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The current thermal response feature set is compared with the feature thermal response range corresponding to multiple preset medium feature parameter sets. The feature thermal response range covers the variations in the thermophysical properties of the medium, including: Calculate the degree of matching between the current set of thermal response features and the range of characteristic thermal responses; Based on the degree of matching, identify the type of medium that comes into contact with the tip of the endoscope; When multiple media types have similar matching degrees, the media type with the higher media risk level is selected as the identification result according to the preset media risk level. The media risk level is determined by the corresponding risk score.

6. An endoscope temperature and pressure control system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Based on the preset media risk level, media types with higher media risk levels are selected as the identification results, including: Pre-determine the risk score for each media type; When multiple media types have similar matching degrees, the risk scores of the multiple media types are compared according to the preset risk score. Based on the comparison results, the media type with the highest risk score was selected as the identification result.

7. An endoscope temperature and pressure control system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Reducing heat output at the endoscope tip or enhancing its heat dissipation capacity includes: Obtain the identified media type; Obtain the duration of potential organizational contact events; Acquire pressure signals from the pressure sensor at the tip of the endoscope; Based on the type of medium, duration, and pressure signal, determine the extent of the decrease in heat output at the endoscope tip or the extent of the increase in heat dissipation capacity at the endoscope tip. Based on the type of medium, duration, and pressure signal, determine the rate at which the heat output of the endoscope tip decreases or the rate at which the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip increases. Depending on the determined amplitude and speed, reduce the heat output of the endoscope tip or enhance the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip.

8. An endoscope temperature and pressure control system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, Based on the media type, duration, and pressure signal, the extent to which the heat output of the endoscope tip decreases or the extent to which the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip increases is determined includes: Based on the medium type, duration, and pressure signal, consult the preset amplitude mapping table or execute the preset set of conditional rules; Based on the review results or execution results, determine the extent to which the heat output of the endoscope tip decreases or the extent to which the heat dissipation capacity of the endoscope tip increases.

9. An endoscope temperature and pressure control system as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The preset set of conditional rules includes: Define several conditional rules; Conditional rules include hierarchical rules or parallel rules; Each conditional rule includes judgments on the medium type, duration, and pressure signal; Each conditional rule is associated with either the reduction in heat output at the endoscope tip or the enhancement in heat dissipation at the endoscope tip.

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