System for controlling visualization of target areas for laser treatment

Abstract

To provide a system for helping reduce displayed visual effects of undesired laser-induced emissions, such as during an endoscopic or a similar minimally-invasive or other surgical treatment.SOLUTION: A system endoscopically images a first target of a patient using a light source and a light detector, and laser-treats a same or different second target of the patient using a laser source. For example, the system can have at least signal processing circuitry, which can include a target response signal laser-source flashing component detector and a flashing analyzer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This document relates generally to, but is not limited to, systems and methods that help reduce the displayed visual effects of undesired laser-induced emissions, such as during endoscopic or similar minimally invasive or other surgical treatment of at least one of hard or soft tissues of a human or another animal. [Background technology]

[0002] Spectroscopy and spectrometry can be used to help identify one or more materials by the visible light or other electromagnetic spectrum that is reflected by the material or that is otherwise scattered, transmitted, or absorbed. Spectroscopy can be used to help identify and treat one or more anatomical structures within an animal body, such as a human.

[0003] In certain endoscopic techniques, light from a visualization illumination source and a laser source may be endoscopically introduced into an animal cavity. Light from the illumination source may be used to illuminate the cavity, and light from the laser source may be used to treat a targeted anatomical structure or another area of ​​interest. During treatment of the targeted anatomical structure, a laser-induced emission ("light flash") may be observed on a display screen used to display an image of the response light reaching a photodetector or optical imaging device from the targeted area of ​​interest. Such response light may undergo signal processing and display, or analysis, or both, which may include using one or more spectroscopic techniques. Light flashes may result, for example, from a combustion reaction of material decomposition, liquid luminescence cavitation, laser-induced disruptive emission, or incineration of dirt or other contaminants, such as may be present at the working tip of a laser fiber used to optically couple light from a laser source to a target area.

[0004] When flashes of light occur, they can interfere with the imaging signal being displayed, the spectroscopic signal being analyzed, or both. For example, the flashes of light can create distortion artifacts that may be visible on the image of the target area being visually displayed on a display screen, or the flashes of light can create inconsistent spectroscopic readings on a photodetector that receives light from the target area of ​​interest. Such distortion artifacts or other anomalous responses due to laser source flashes can be undesirable during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Disclosed herein is a system for endoscopically imaging a first target on a patient using a light source and a photodetector, and for laser treating a second target on the patient, the same or different, using a laser source, the system comprising a signal processing circuit couplable to the photodetector to receive a target response signal indicative of light received from the patient in response to illumination by at least one of the light source and the laser source, the signal processing circuit including: a target response signal laser source flash component detector that detects a laser source flash component of the target response signal; and a flash analyzer that receives the laser source flash component of the target response signal from the target response signal laser source flash component detector and generates a flash alert or flash control signal based at least in part on an indication of the amount of the laser source flash component of the target response signal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for endoscopically imaging a target. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for endoscopically imaging a target using a signal processor / controller circuit to control various outputs. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for endoscopically imaging a target using a signal processor / controller circuit that detects light flashes. [Figure 2]FIG. 10 is a computer model graph of response light intensity versus response light wavelength. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a portion of a flash component detector or flash analyzer. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a portion of a flash component detector or flash analyzer. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a portion of a flash component. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of computer modeling of a flash on a display screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for an imaging procedure. [Figure 8A] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for detecting and controlling laser source flash. [Figure 8B] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for detecting and controlling laser source flash. [Figure 8C] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for detecting and controlling laser source flash. [Figure 8D] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for detecting and controlling laser source flash. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for using an accumulator to detect flashes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] This document describes, among other things, an endoscope or other system for imaging and laser treating one or more target regions of interest. The system may include a light source and a light detector, such as for illuminating and visualizing each of the target regions of interest. The system may also include a laser source, such as for delivering laser energy to the target regions of interest. The system may include a laser source flash component detector, such as for generating a flash alarm or flash control signal based on how much flash is occurring. The flash alarm or flash control signal may then be used to alert a user or control or compensate components of the system by improving a displayed image of one or more target regions. The amount of flash occurring may be determined using one or more techniques as described herein. For example, a spectroscopic filter or analyzer may accumulate response light wavelengths that occur outside the spectral band of the illumination light source, with such accumulated response light wavelengths providing an indication of how much laser source-induced flash is occurring. Alternatively or additionally, the amount of distortion artifacts displayed on the imaging channel or display screen (e.g., saturated pixel columns) can be used as an indicator of how much laser source-induced flashing is occurring. Further examples and details are described further below.

[0008] 1A shows an example of a portion of a system 100 that may be used to image and laser treat one or more regions of interest, such as a target 102 or other targets 102, within a human or other animal patient or subject. Portions of the system 100 may be contained within or coupled to a delivery device, such as an endoscope 110, for treating targets 102 located within the subject. This may be aided by associated visualization or imaging, and then illumination, of the internal target 102 or region of interest, such as a cavity or other surrounding area nearby.

[0009] 1A, system 100 may include an illumination source 104 that may provide broadband illumination (e.g., including light at wavelengths visible to humans, such as approximately 380 nm to 740 nm) to internal target 102. Such illumination may serve to enable visualization or imaging of target 102, such as with a photodetector or imaging pixel array (“camera”) 106. For visualization or imaging, the light detected at camera 106 may be detected, converted, and provided as an electronic response signal. For example, this electronic response signal may represent one of a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) image frames or a video sequence, which may be provided to display driver 114 for display on display screen 108, etc.

[0010] Illumination light from illumination source 104 may be provided to internal target 102, such as via one or more optical fibers or other illumination optics of endoscope 110 or another delivery system. A distal portion of endoscope 110 may be inserted into a subject, such as via an opening or incision. Laser light from laser source 112 may also be provided via endoscope 110 or another delivery system, such as to treat target 102. For example, such laser treatment may include laser lithotripsy, which serves to destroy biological concretions (sometimes called "stones") in target 102. Other laser treatment procedures may include treating tumors or precancerous growths, or ablatating blood vessels or tissue within a patient's body.

[0011] 1B , a controller circuit 116 may be included in system 100, such as to aid in operating one or more components, such as laser source 112, light source 104, or another component. Controller circuit 116 may also aid in signal processing of any response light signals detected and converted by camera 106 or another photodetector. Controller circuit 116 may include or be coupled to components for at least one of detecting, measuring, or analyzing whether a laser source flash is occurring, such as to generate a flash warning or flash control signal based on how much flash is occurring, as described further below. The flash warning or flash control signal may then be used to improve the displayed image of one or more target areas, alert a user, or control or compensate system components, as described further below.

[0012] Flashes of light are reflected emissions from the target 102 that may be generated when the laser source 112 delivers energy to treat the target 102. However, flashes of light can be an undesirable by-product of laser treatment because, for example, it can interfere with a user's visualization or imaging view of the target 102 or its surroundings during the treatment procedure.

[0013] 1C , signal processing circuit 122 may be coupled to receive, from camera 106 or another photodetector, an electrically converted indication of response light from target 102. This indication of response light may include a response light component attributable to the laser source flash and a response light component not attributable to the laser source flash. Signal processing circuit 122 may include a flash analyzer 120, which may include or be coupled to a flash component detector 118, such as for detecting or distinguishing the flash component of the response light from the non-flash component of the response light. For example, response light having a wavelength longer than a certain first threshold (e.g., greater than a first threshold of 720 nm) may be deemed to represent the flash component of the response light, and response light having a wavelength shorter than the first threshold (e.g., shorter than a first threshold of 720 nm) may be deemed to represent the non-flash component of the response light. For example, the non-flash component of the response light may include response light received in response to illumination light from the light source 104 or response light that conveys spectroscopic information about one or more constituent analyte substances of the target 102 .

[0014] FIG. 2 shows an example of a computer-modeled graph of response light intensity versus response light wavelength when the target 102 is illuminated by both the illumination light source 104 and the treatment laser source 112 during a procedure. In FIG. 2, the non-flash component 202 of the response light from the endoscopic light source 104 predominates at wavelengths less than 625 nanometers, which may be designated as the first threshold mentioned above. The flash component 204 from the laser source 112 predominates at wavelengths greater than 625 nanometers. As mentioned above, the flash component 204 may result from light scattering during decomposition of biological material, for example. The flash component 204 may also result from burning of the laser fiber. As shown in FIG. 2, the flash component 204 may be stronger than the intensity of the response light due to illumination by the endoscopic light source 202.

[0015] Using the system shown in at least one of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, a total flash amount can be determined by accumulating or integrating the response light spectral energy at wavelengths longer than a first threshold. This total flash amount can then optionally be compared (e.g., using a comparator, etc.) to a specified second threshold. The specified second threshold can be either an absolute second threshold or a relative second threshold. For example, a relative second threshold can be specified for the non-flash component of the response light or for the total amount of response light, including both flash and non-flash components. If the total flash amount exceeds the second threshold, a flash alarm or flash control signal can be generated to signal this. The flash alarm can be displayed or otherwise used to inform a user, for example, that imaging or visualization is being affected by a laser source flash. As described further below, the flash control signal can be used to, for example, compensate for the effects of such laser source flash by adjusting one or more other components. The flash control signal need not be generated as a result of a comparison with a second threshold, for example, a non-threshold indicator of the entire flash may be used to generate a control signal, such as to compensate one or more other components for the effect of the laser source flash, if desired.

[0016] 3 shows in more detail an example portion of the flash component detector 118 or flash analyzer 120, which may receive a signal indicative of the response light from the camera or photodetector 106. The flash component detector or flash analyzer 120 may include a response light wavelength filter 302 to help separate the laser source flash component of the target response signal from the non-flash component of the target response signal. An integrator or accumulator 304 may be coupled to the output of the filter 302 to accumulate spectral energy at multiple wavelengths above a first wavelength threshold wavelength.

[0017] The accumulator 304 may generate a response within the system 100 indicative of the amount of flash occurring. For example, the accumulator 304 may accumulate at least one portion of the flash signal associated with the intensity of a wavelength received from the camera or photodetector 106. Optionally, the accumulator 304 may also accumulate the duration of the response light, including the wavelength associated with the flash. In one example, the accumulator 304 may accumulate saturated or similar pixel intensities (e.g., a flash may induce pixel saturation in a pixel column), durations, or pixel counts associated with the flash, as may be obtained from the display screen 108 or from a display driver that drives the pixels of the display screen 108. Alternatively or additionally, the accumulator 304 may perform weighted or unweighted accumulation of at least one spectrometer 402 reading at one or more specified wavelengths or wavelength bands. A flash warning or flash control signal may be generated based on the output of the integrator or accumulator 304 and provided to a user, such as a warning, or to another component, such as a flash control signal. For example, such a flash control signal may be used to compensate a display driver that drives the display screen 108 by replacing non-saturated pixels with flash saturated pixels. In one example, such a flash control signal may be used to compensate a camera or photodetector 106, as described further below.

[0018] 4 shows in more detail an example of a portion of the signal processor 122 or controller circuit 116, which may include one or both of the flash component detector 118 and the flash analyzer 120. A spectrometer 402 or another narrowband optical detector may be included to help spectrally separate wavelengths associated with the laser source flash component of the target response signal from wavelengths associated with, for example, non-flash components of the target response signal. The spectrometer 402 may be coupled to the integrator / accumulator 304 directly, through the response light wavelength filter 302, or both. The response light wavelength filter 302 may then be coupled to the accumulator 304. The accumulator 304 may provide an indication of the amount of flash, which may be compared to a threshold or otherwise signal processed and used to control the photodetector 106, such as to control a response from the photodetector based on the flash and non-flash components received from the photodetector 106.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows an example conceptualized timing diagram of the operating portions of system 100. At 504, a series of laser pulses is shown being emitted by a lithotripsy laser, such as to help break up a "stone" calculus. At 506, a series of corresponding example resulting laser flashes are shown for various intensities and durations. Various factors may affect the amount (intensity and duration) of the flash, including contaminants or other materials present near the tip of the laser fiber, past degradation of the laser fiber, or other factors as described herein. At 508, a series of flash detection indicator pulses may be generated by system 100. This may include detecting light from a target area of ​​interest using camera 106 and bandpass filtering to accumulate detected light above a "flash threshold" wavelength. As described, the "flash threshold" wavelength may be selected to distinguish between light detected due to a flash and light detected due to an endoscopic illumination source. The various flash detection indication pulses at 508 may have pulse widths and repetition frequencies that may track parameters for the corresponding laser pulse 504 that causes the flash occurrence. However, not every laser pulse 504 necessarily results in a flash occurrence 506 and the resulting flash detection indication pulse 508. Furthermore, the pulse width / duty of the resulting flash detection indication pulse 508 may vary depending on how much flashing is occurring, etc. A flash instance 506 occurs when the intensity of light detected by the camera 106 exceeds a specified flash threshold. In FIG. 5 , the duration of a particular flash instance 508 corresponds to the duration of a laser pulse 504 when the intensity is greater than the specified flash threshold. Thus, the pulse width or duty of a flash detection indication pulse 508 may be shorter than the corresponding fixed time of the corresponding laser source pulse 504.

[0020] FIG. 6 shows example 16 image frames displayed on a display screen, such as when flashing light is present, causing a distortion artifact displayed for saturated columns of pixels 602, shown in FIG. 6 as a corresponding bright horizontal line. In one example, such distortion artifact of saturated columns of pixels 602 can itself be used as an indicator of when and how much flashing light is present. For example, the bottom right frame of FIG. 6 shows four saturated columns of pixels 602 (relatively more flashing light), while the top right frame of FIG. 6 shows two saturated columns of pixels 602 (relatively less flashing light). Such flashing light distortion artifact indicators can be detected by observing the image intensity of the pixels displayed on display screen 108, or alternatively or additionally, by early upstream signal processing of the image signal being provided by camera 106 to video display driver 114 to generate an image for display on display screen 108.

[0021] For example, if initial upstream signal processing of the imaging signal being provided by camera 106 to video display driver 114 indicates a partial or full row of camera imaging array pixels above a saturation value indicative of a flash, a flash indicator may be generated upstream. In one example, the generated upstream flash indicator is used to compensate for the flash so that a higher intensity horizontal line of saturated pixels need not actually appear on display screen 108. For example, for appropriately high frame rates, a partial or full row of pixels saturated due to a flash may be replaced by a non-saturated partial or full row of pixels appearing in an immediately preceding or similar slightly earlier frame without significantly altering the visual appearance presented to the user on display screen 108. One or more other factors may be used in addition to pixel saturation above a flash threshold indicative of a flash. In examples where laser pulse injection trigger information is available, such information may then be used to adjust, for example, the pixel saturation flash threshold. For example, lowering the pixel saturation threshold indicative of a flash during a time window corresponding to a laser pulse injection can help improve the detection of a flash, either by detecting flash-induced imaging distortion artifacts, accumulating spectral information indicative of a flash, or any combination of these, or using one or more additional flash indicators.

[0022] In FIG. 6 , the bright horizontal columns correspond to the displayed distortion artifacts of saturated columns 602 of pixels. However, the signal processing circuit 116 or the display driver circuit 114 may include a brightness compensation signal that automatically adjusts the brightness of pixels of a frame displayed on the display screen 108. In such a scenario, a flash of light may trigger such brightness compensation, resulting in the displayed distortion artifacts of dark columns 602 of pixels. Such dark partial or full column distortion artifacts may similarly be used to indicate whether a flash of light is occurring and how much flash of light is occurring. Additional compensation may include displaying the same partial or full columns of pixels from the immediately preceding or slightly preceding frame, similar to the approach described above in response to bright partial or full saturated columns of pixels due to a flash of light. Additionally or alternatively, a separate indicator for flash of light (e.g., using bandpass filtering and spectral accumulation as described above) may be used to adjust the brightness compensation to avoid or reduce the presence of displayed distortion artifacts for dark columns 602 of pixels that are otherwise overcompensated from flash of light.

[0023] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a method for providing laser treatment while simultaneously imaging and / or spectroscopically analyzing a target area of ​​interest, such as in an endoscopic or similar minimally invasive procedure.

[0024] At 710, a cavity or other target area of ​​interest within a patient's body may be illuminated, which may include using a broadband illumination source 104 via an endoscope 110 to aid in imaging or otherwise visualizing the target area of ​​interest.

[0025] At 712, laser energy from the laser source 112 can be applied to the target area of ​​interest simultaneously with imaging of the target area of ​​interest to allow a physician or another user to observe the effects of the laser treatment via imaging, such as via the display screen 108.

[0026] At 714, laser energy and illumination light can be simultaneously delivered to a target region of interest, such as through the endoscope 110.

[0027] At 716 , when illumination light from light source 104 and laser light from laser source 112 are emitted, the illumination light and laser light are reflected or otherwise scattered from target 102 .

[0028] At 718, the reflected light is received by the camera or photodetector 106, converted, etc. for imaging of the target, for spectroscopic analysis of the target, or both. For example, spectroscopic analysis of the target may indicate whether the target being treated by the laser is a calculus ("stone") or tissue. Such information may be useful, for example, to help a physician or another user direct the laser toward the desired target, away from nearby organs at risk, or both.

[0029] At 720, the imaging information from the camera or photodetector 106 may be signal processed and provided to the display driver 114, such as to provide imaging display frame information for display on the display screen 108.

[0030] At 722, the display screen 108 may display an image or pictorial representation of the data received via the photodetector 114 and the signals processed by the signal processing circuitry 116.

[0031] FIG. 8A shows an example of a method for detecting a flash of light.

[0032] At 810, illumination light and laser light may be endoscopically delivered into a cavity of the anatomical structure and endoscopically directed toward the target 102.

[0033] At 812, the camera or another photodetector 106 may convert the response signal detected from the target into an electrical signal for signal processing.

[0034] At 816, flash analyzer 120 may perform signal processing, such as to help determine whether a flash is present (or how much flash is present). This may include accumulating response light at wavelengths associated with the flash rather than the illumination, as described herein. Additionally or alternatively, this may include detecting distortion artifacts associated with the flash, such as bright partial or entire rows of saturated pixels, or dark partial or entire rows of pixels whose brightness due to the flash has been overcompensated.

[0035] At 824, based on an indication from the flash analyzer 120 as to whether a flash is present (or how much of a flash is present), the flash analyzer 120 may generate a flash alert, such as one that may be provided to the user via a visual, audible, tactile, or another alert indicator.

[0036] At 826, based on an indication from the flash analyzer 120 of whether a flash is present (or how much of a flash is present), the flash analyzer 120 may generate a flash control signal.

[0037] At 828, the flash control signal may be used to control one or more components that may be included in or coupled to system 100. For example, the flash control signal may be used to control one or more of an illumination light source, a laser source, a display driver, a display screen, a display compensation signal (e.g., brightness compensation), or a spectral target analyzer. For example, illumination light source 104 or laser source 112 may be controlled by a flash control signal (e.g., controller circuit 116) to increase or decrease the amount of illumination light or laser light emitted to reduce the occurrence or amount of flashing. Additionally or alternatively, a display driver or display screen may be controlled to replace pixels corresponding to the frame receiving the flash from the immediately preceding or slightly preceding frame. Additionally or alternatively, a display compensation signal, such as a brightness compensation signal, may be adjusted during a flash to avoid over-compensating for the brightness due to the flash, which would result in dark horizontal rows being displayed on the display screen. Additionally or alternatively, a spectral target analyzer may be controlled to avoid spectrally sampling the target area during a flashing event, etc. Such spectroscopic analysis can help identify whether tissue or biological stones are being targeted, which can assist the user in appropriately directing the laser toward target areas (e.g., stones) to be laser treated, or away from non-target areas (e.g., tissue) where treatment should be avoided, as appropriate for the particular procedure.

[0038] FIG. 8B shows another example of a method for detecting and responding to a laser source flash.

[0039] At 830, the flash component detector 118 may receive a response light signal from the target region of interest, such as through electronic imaging or conversion of the response light signal into another representation by a camera or another light detector 106.

[0040] At 832, the laser source flash component of the converted response optical signal may be separated from the non-flash component of the response optical signal, such as by using a bandpass filter or another wavelength specific filter, as described herein, and integrating or otherwise accumulating the response over wavelengths of interest that represent the flash component of the response optical signal.

[0041] At 834, the resulting accumulated response signal may be compared to one or more criteria, such as specified thresholds.

[0042] At 836, the spectroscopic analyzer may suppress spectroscopic signal sampling of the target area during the occurrence of the flash of light, which would otherwise prevent proper spectroscopic analysis, such as to determine whether the target constitutes a biological stone to be laser treated, or tissue where laser treatment should be avoided.

[0043] FIG. 8C shows an example of part of how a spectrometer can be used (e.g., without the need for a separate wavelength filter) to separate wavelengths of light to determine whether a flash is present (or how much of a flash is present), etc.

[0044] At 840, a spectrometer may measure the wavelength received from the target response signal.

[0045] At 842, the spectrometer 402 may then separate wavelengths associated with the laser source flash from wavelengths associated with non-flash components of the target response signal (e.g., using the response light wavelength filter 302), thereby enabling accumulation of energy or intensity of wavelengths associated with the flash component for comparison with a threshold at 844, and so on.

[0046] At 846, if the comparison at 844 indicates that the flash component exceeds the flash threshold, thereby indicating that flash is present and may affect the spectroscopically measured non-flashing component, the non-flashing component may be mitigated (e.g., may be ignored, not sampled, or suppressed).

[0047] FIG. 8D shows an example of a portion of a method where distortion artifacts or other components of an image of a target being captured and signal processed for display of the image of the target on a display screen indicate that a flash is occurring.

[0048] At 850, the response light from the target area of ​​interest may be converted into a response signal by a camera or another photodetector 106.

[0049] At 852, a distortion or other artifact indicative of a flash may be detected. For example, a distortion artifact may include a partial or entire horizontal row of bright (e.g., saturated) pixels on the display screen, or in the imaging array of the camera or other photodetector 106, or in intermediate signal processing components therebetween. An additional or alternative example of a distortion artifact may include a partial or entire horizontal row of dark (e.g., over-brightness-compensated) pixels on the display screen, or in the imaging array of the camera or other photodetector 106, or in intermediate signal processing components therebetween, in examples that include automatic brightness compensation, which could potentially result in over-compensation if a flash occurs. An additional or alternative example of an artifact may include using brightness compensation itself to detect and indicate the presence of a flash.

[0050] At 854, in response to detecting a flash of light, the displayed image may be compensated. For example, this may include replacing one or more partial or entire columns of saturated pixels (or over-compensated pixels) with corresponding pixels from an immediately preceding frame or similarly recent frame. This may mitigate the effects of flash of light or over-compensation due to flash of light (e.g., automatic brightness compensation), while still providing a relatively consistent degree of accuracy in the visualization. At 856, in response to detecting a flash of light, one or more other components included in or coupled to the system, such as a light source, laser source, display driver, display screen, or spectroscopic analyzer, may be compensated or otherwise controlled, as described elsewhere herein.

[0051] FIG. 9 shows an example of part of how a flash analyzer can be used to detect flashes of light.

[0052] At 910, an accumulator may accumulate wavelengths of the target response signal that are associated with the flash component of the target response signal and that are not associated with the non-flashing component of the target response signal.

[0053] At 920, the accumulated wavelengths associated with the flash component may be compared to one or more criteria, such as a threshold, to determine whether a flash is occurring.

[0054] At 930, a flash alert or control signal may be generated in response to the comparison indicating that a flash has occurred. Optionally, accumulator 304 stores data associated with the laser-sourced flash, either temporarily or for longer-term recording. Such recorded data may include, for example, the accumulated spectral energy at the wavelength associated with the flash, its duration, or both. Such recorded flash information may be used to augment non-flash spectroscopic information regarding the response light from a target, such as that used to spectroscopically analyze the target's material type (e.g., stone or tissue). Because certain types of stones produce more flashes than other types of stones, information regarding whether a flash has occurred may be used to help distinguish between various stone types, such as by augmenting the non-flash spectroscopic data being analyzed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 100 systems 102 Target 104 Light source 106 Camera / Photodetector 108 Display screen 110 Endoscope 112 Laser Source 114 Display Driver 116 Signal Processor / Controller Circuit 120 Flash analyzer 302 Responsive Optical Wavelength Filter 304 Integrator / Accumulator 402 Spectrometer

Claims

1. 1. A system for controlling visualization of a target area on a display screen during laser treatment, comprising: a light source and a laser source coupled to the endoscope; a photodetector configured to receive light from the region of interest; a controller circuit in communication with the photodetector, a flash component detector configured to separate the received light including a laser source flash component and a non-flash component; a flash analyzer configured to determine an amount of the laser source flash component, the flash analyzer configured to generate a flash control signal in response to the analyzed received light; a compensation circuit configured to respond to the flash control signal; a controller circuit comprising: A system including:

2. 2. The system for controlling visualization on a display screen of claim 1, wherein said controller circuitry includes a light wavelength filter that separates said laser source glint component from said non-glitter component.

3. 3. The system for controlling visualization on a display screen of claim 2, wherein the compensation circuitry is configured to adjust compensation of brightness displayed on the display screen based on the separated laser source flash component and the non-flash component.

4. 2. The system for controlling visualization on a display screen of claim 1, wherein the laser source flash component is a light component resulting from at least one of a combustion reaction, liquid luminous cavitation, laser-induced disruptive emission, or incineration of a deposit attached to the tip of a laser fiber that guides light from the laser source.

5. 2. The system for controlling visualization on a display screen of claim 1, wherein when said flash analyzer detects said laser source flash component, said compensation circuit replaces corresponding pixels in a frame receiving the flash from a previous frame.

6. 2. The system for controlling visualization on a display screen of claim 1, wherein said light detector is a camera and said display screen is a video screen.

7. The flash component detector a responsive optical wavelength filter; an accumulator coupled to the response optical wavelength filter, the accumulator configured to accumulate spectral energy above a wavelength threshold or duration of spectral energy associated with the laser source flash component to generate a response indicative of the amount of the laser source flash component; 2. The system for controlling visualization on a display screen of claim 1, comprising:

8. The system for controlling visualization on a display screen of claim 7 , wherein the compensation circuit is configured to adjust brightness compensation.

Images