Apparatus and method for detecting lymphatic contraction signal in real time

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for detecting a lymphatic contraction signal in real time, wherein the apparatus includes: a contrast medium injection module for injecting a fluorescent material including a lymphatic contrast medium into a subcutaneous interstitial fluid through a drug delivery system; a conversion module that obtains an optical signal by tracking the fluorescent material and converts the obtained optical signal into an electrical signal; a signal processing module that sets the electrical signal as a target signal and removes noise from the set target signal; an analysis module for analyzing the target signal from which the noise has been removed; and an output module that visualizes a result of analyzing the target signal and transmits same to an output device.

Description

Device and method for real-time detection of lymphatic contraction signals

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device and method for detecting a lymphatic contraction signal in real time, and more particularly, to a device and method for detecting a biosignal capable of measuring a lymphatic contraction signal in real time using an optical method.

[0002] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the material described in this section is not prior art to the claims of this application, and its inclusion in this section is not an admission that it is prior art.

[0003] Electrocardiography (ECG) is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart and graphically displays it. It is used to evaluate and diagnose various cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and myocardial infarction. ECGs are typically performed using a computerized electrocardiogram (ECG) machine and are interpreted by medical professionals. An ECG involves attaching electrodes to the patient's chest to record the heart's electrical activity. Electrodes are placed on various parts of the body, such as the chest, arms, and legs, to record electrical signals from various angles, allowing for the identification and diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities.

[0004] An electrocardiogram (ECG) is performed to diagnose arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms or pulses), to detect damage to the heart muscle caused by myocardial infarction, and to detect decreased or abnormal heart function. Furthermore, an ECG can detect electrical abnormalities and diagnose various heart diseases.

[0005] However, methods for measuring biosignals using electrical signals, such as electrocardiograms, can suffer from reduced accuracy due to the increased number of signal paths through internal tissues and bones, as electrocardiograms are measured on the skin surface. Furthermore, because the accuracy of an electrocardiogram depends on the correct placement of electrodes, incorrect electrode placement can distort the measured electrical signals. Furthermore, electrical signals generated by muscle activity or other external electrical interference can interfere with accurate measurements.

[0006] A real-time detection device and method for a lymphatic contraction signal according to an embodiment determines an abnormality in the lymphatic circulation function in the human body using an optical measurement signal, thereby providing information for early diagnosis of a lymphatic circulation disorder disease such as lymphedema.

[0007] In addition, the real-time detection device and method for lymphatic contraction signals according to the embodiment tracks the optical signal of a fluorescent contrast agent moving along the lymph fluid based on optical technology.

[0008] However, the problems to be solved according to one embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above.

[0009] A real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure for achieving the above-described technical problem may include: a contrast agent injection module for injecting a fluorescent material containing a lymphatic contrast agent into a subcutaneous interstitial fluid through a drug delivery system; a conversion module for tracking the fluorescent material to obtain an optical signal and converting the obtained optical signal into an electrical signal; a signal processing module for setting the electrical signal as a target signal and removing noise from the set target signal; an analysis module for analyzing the target signal from which noise has been removed; and an output module for visualizing the analysis result of the target signal and transmitting the result to an output device.

[0010] At this time, the signal processing module can compare the target signal with a reference signal, which is a lymph contraction signal cycle in a healthy state, and amplify the target signal by locking in according to the result of the comparison, and remove noise including other bio-signals with different frequencies from the amplified target signal.

[0011] In addition, the conversion module may include a laser that irradiates a laser beam in the form of a pulse or continuous wave for light expression of the fluorescent material; a light detection unit that traces an ICG molecule signal that is excited by the laser beam and generates light within the lymphatic system; and a signal filter that prevents interference between the generated light and the detected light.

[0012] In addition, the signal processing module can compare the frequency band of the reference signal with the frequency band of the noise, which is the other biosignal, to filter the frequency band of the noise, and obtain a response result value for the fluorescent material.

[0013] In addition, the analysis module analyzes the target signal along the time axis and the frequency axis, respectively, to calculate parameters of the lymph contraction signal, and the parameters of the lymph contraction signal may include vibration period, waveform, width, and regularity.

[0014] Additionally, the output module can transmit the calculated parameters together with the visualized lymph contraction signal to be output to the display of the output device.

[0015] In addition, the laser beam is output through an optical fiber, the beam size is adjusted by two movable lenses, and is reflected by a dichroic mirror that reflects light of 800 nm or less, and can be irradiated to a measurement area through an objective lens.

[0016] In addition, ICG molecules excited by the laser beam emit light within the measurement area, and the emitted light can be focused by the objective lens to transmit an optical signal to an optical detector.

[0017] In addition, in the above measurement area, fluorescent light of 800 nm or more is emitted, and when it is reflected together with the laser beam reflected from the skin surface, only the fluorescent light can pass through the dichroic mirror.

[0018] In addition, the laser beam passes through a high-pass filter, the optical detector blocks the detected light to eliminate interference of the optical signal caused by the fluorescent light, and the signal filter passes only light between a preset band among the fluorescent light passing through the dichroic mirror, so that only the light emitted by the ICG molecules can be selectively passed.

[0019] Additionally, light passing through the signal filter is focused through a lens, and the focused light is focused onto a fiber connected to a light detection unit through a pair of lenses that can move past an aperture at a focal position, the aperture blocks scattered light to increase a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the pair of lenses can be focused to transmit more light to the fiber.

[0020] In addition, a method performed by a real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure for achieving the above-described technical task may include a step of injecting a fluorescent material containing a lymphatic contrast agent into the interstitial fluid under the skin through a drug delivery system in a contrast agent injection module; a step of tracking the fluorescent material in a conversion module to obtain an optical signal and converting the obtained optical signal into an electrical signal; a step of setting the electrical signal as a target signal in a signal processing module and removing noise from the set target signal; a step of analyzing the target signal from which noise has been removed in an analysis module; and a step of visualizing the analysis result of the target signal in an output module and transmitting the result to an output device.

[0021] The above-described real-time lymphatic contraction signal detection device and method overcome the limitations of existing lymphatic diagnosis techniques, which primarily rely on static spatial information, and enable dynamic temporal analysis through dynamic analysis of lymphatic contraction signals. The embodiments also enable quantitative analysis of lymphatic flow, establishing new diagnostic criteria.

[0022] In addition, the real-time detection device and method for a lymphatic contraction signal according to the embodiment are relatively small and easy to use, so they can be easily applied to various clinical environments.

[0023] In addition, the real-time detection device and method for a lymphatic contraction signal according to the embodiment can provide a new standard for diagnosing lymphatic diseases and can propose a new type of diagnostic device.

[0024] In addition, through the example, by optically analyzing the movement pulse signal of lymph fluid or the lymph contraction signal, it is possible to more accurately determine the degree of dysfunction of the peripheral lymphatic vessels and the smoothness of lymph circulation.

[0025] In addition, the examples can provide major evaluation criteria for diagnosing circulatory diseases caused by lymphatic circulation abnormalities, such as lymphedema.

[0026] In addition, through the example, abnormalities in the lymph circulation function in the human body can be determined by optical measurement signals, enabling early diagnosis of diseases with lymph circulation disorders such as lymphedema.

[0027] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the detailed description of the present invention or the composition of the invention described in the claims.

[0028] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a real-time detection system for lymphatic contraction signals through optical signal analysis.

[0029] Figure 2 is a drawing showing a real-time detection device for a lymph contraction signal according to an embodiment.

[0030] Figure 3 is a drawing showing the configuration of a conversion module according to an embodiment.

[0031] Figure 4 is a drawing to explain the function of the conversion module in more detail.

[0032] Figure 5 is a drawing showing the configuration of lenses configured in an optical detector according to an embodiment.

[0033] Figure 6 is a drawing showing an output interface applied to an actual patient by a real-time lymph contraction signal detection device according to an embodiment.

[0034] Figure 7 is a diagram showing a real-time detection process of a lymph contraction signal according to an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a real-time lymph contraction signal detection device.

[0036] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, identical or similar components will be given the same reference numbers, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably only for the convenience of writing the specification, and do not in themselves have distinct meanings or roles. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to make it easier to understand the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the attached drawings, and it should be understood that they include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0037] Terms that include ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[0038] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components intervening. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components intervening.

[0039] In this application, terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood not to exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0040] In this specification, the term "unit" includes a unit realized by hardware, a unit realized by software, and a unit realized using both. Furthermore, a single unit may be realized using two or more pieces of hardware, and two or more units may be realized by a single piece of hardware.

[0041] Some of the operations or functions described herein as being performed by a terminal, apparatus, or device may instead be performed by a server connected to the terminal, apparatus, or device. Similarly, some of the operations or functions described herein as being performed by a server may also be performed by a terminal, apparatus, or device connected to the server.

[0042] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0043] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a real-time detection system for lymphatic contraction signals through optical signal analysis.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, a real-time detection system for a lymphatic contraction signal according to an embodiment may include a real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal (100), an output device (5), and a data storage device (6). The real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal according to an embodiment is a medical device that provides information for early diagnosis of a lymphatic circulation disorder disease such as lymphedema by determining an abnormality in the lymphatic circulation function in the human body through an optical measurement signal. The real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal according to an embodiment uses an optical technique different from an electrocardiogram test method that measures an electrical signal of the heart and determines an abnormality in the signal to confirm the presence or absence of a disease, and tracks the optical signal of a fluorescent contrast agent moving along the lymph fluid.

[0045] The vascular system, the other circulatory system of the human body, is a closed system that transports blood, powered by the heart's pumping action. The vibrations of the arterial walls generated by the heart's pumping cycle propagate throughout the blood vessels, so blood moves with a nearly uniform pulse throughout the entire vascular system. This allows for the measurement of pulse or the identification of vascular abnormalities through electrocardiography.

[0046] In contrast, the lymphatic system is an open system, generating the circulatory power of lymph from the contraction of smooth muscle surrounding the lymphatic vessels (approximately two-thirds) and the contraction of surrounding skeletal muscle (approximately one-third). This contraction is triggered by pressure differences between the fluid in surrounding tissues and within the lymphatic vessels, which are detected by the peripheral nervous system, stimulating the contraction of lymphatic smooth muscle, generating a pulse signal corresponding to the movement of lymph.

[0047] Unlike the vascular system, the lymphatic flow pulse signal or lymphatic contraction signal provides information on the functional abnormalities of peripheral lymphatic vessels and the smoothness of lymphatic circulation. Accordingly, the real-time lymphatic contraction signal detection device (100) according to the embodiment can determine abnormalities in the lymphatic circulation function within the human body through optical measurement signals, thereby generating key evaluation criteria for diagnosing circulatory diseases caused by lymphatic circulation abnormalities, such as lymphedema.

[0048] In the embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, a fluorescent substance containing indocyanine green (ICG), which is a lymphatic contrast agent, is injected. In addition, it is injected (1) into the interstitial fluid under the patient's skin through a drug delivery system such as a microneedle. In the embodiment, measurement is performed after waiting for the drug to be sufficiently delivered from the interstitial fluid to the lymphatic vessels. After the patient is stabilized and fixes the measurement site (2), a signal is measured through a real-time detection device (100) that irradiates a laser to the measurement site and measures the signal. In the embodiment, the real-time detection device (100) of the lymphatic contraction signal can be connected and fixed to an output device (5) and an arm shape or a fixing frame (4) in order to minimize noise caused by movement during measurement. In the embodiment, the real-time detection device (100) of the lymphatic contraction signal determines the lymphatic contraction signal as an optical measurement signal, analyzes it, and outputs the analysis result and the measurement signal to the output device (5). In the embodiment, the output device (5) outputs the visual signal and calculated parameters obtained from the real-time lymph contraction signal detection device (100) to a display so that the examinee can check them. Finally, the data storage device (6) records and stores the visual signal and calculated parameters output to the output device (5).

[0049] A real-time detection device and method for a lymphatic contraction signal according to an embodiment determines an abnormality in the lymphatic circulation function in the human body using an optical measurement signal, thereby providing information for early diagnosis of a lymphatic circulation disorder disease such as lymphedema.

[0050] A real-time detection device and method for a lymphatic contraction signal according to an embodiment tracks an optical signal of a fluorescent contrast agent moving along lymph fluid based on optical technology.

[0051] Fig. 2 is a drawing showing a real-time detection device for a lymph contraction signal according to an embodiment.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 2, a real-time lymphatic contraction signal detection device (100) according to an embodiment may be configured to include a contrast agent injection module (110), a conversion module (120), a signal processing module (130), an analysis module (140), and an output module (150). The term 'module' used herein should be interpreted to include software, hardware, or a combination thereof, depending on the context in which the term is used. For example, the software may be machine language, firmware, embedded code, and application software. As another example, the hardware may be a circuit, a processor, a computer, an integrated circuit, an integrated circuit core, a sensor, a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System), a passive device, or a combination thereof.

[0053] The contrast agent injection module (110) injects a fluorescent substance into the subcutaneous interstitial fluid via a drug delivery system. In an embodiment, the fluorescent substance may include indocyanine green (ICG), a lymphatic contrast agent.

[0054] The conversion module (120) tracks the injected fluorescent material to obtain an optical signal and converts the obtained optical signal into an electrical signal.

[0055] The signal processing module (130) acquires the converted electrical signal as a target signal. Thereafter, the target signal is compared with a reference signal, which is a lymph contraction signal cycle in a healthy state. Thereafter, the signal processing module (130) locks in and amplifies the signal according to the comparison result and removes noise, which is another bio-signal with a different frequency. For example, the signal processing module (130) compares the frequency band of the reference signal with the frequency band of the noise, which is another bio-signal, filters the frequency band of the noise, and acquires a reaction result value for a fluorescent substance. In an embodiment, the reaction result value includes, but is not limited to, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence wavelength, fluorescence lifetime, reaction rate, and spectral shape.

[0056] The analysis module (140) analyzes the target signal from which noise has been removed, and the output module (150) visualizes the analysis results and transmits them to an output device. This allows the target signal analysis results to be output on the display of the output device.

[0057] Figure 3 is a drawing showing the configuration of a conversion module according to an embodiment.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 3, a conversion module (120) according to an embodiment may be configured to include a laser (121), an optical detector (123), and a light detection unit (125). The laser (121) irradiates a laser beam in the form of an excitation pulse or a continuous wave to cause light expression of a fluorescent material. The optical detector (123) adjusts the wavelength and irradiation direction of the laser beam. The light detection unit (125) tracks an ICG molecule signal that is excited by the laser beam and generates light within the lymphatic system. In an embodiment, the optical detector (123) converts an optical signal into an electrical signal by tracking an ICG molecule signal that generates light within the lymphatic system and transmits the optical signal to a signal processing module (130).

[0059] In the embodiment, the signal processing module (130) sets an electrical signal as a target signal and compares the target signal with a reference signal. In the embodiment, the reference signal is a reference signal for comparison with the target signal. The reference signal is a lymphatic contraction signal in a normal healthy state. In the embodiment, the signal processing module (130) locks in the target signal based on the cycle of the reference signal and amplifies it. Thereafter, noise, which is another biosignal with a different frequency, is removed. In the embodiment, other biosignals with a different frequency include, but are not limited to, movement due to breathing, muscle movement, vibration due to blood movement, etc.

[0060] The analysis module (140) analyzes the target signal with noise removed along the time axis and the frequency axis to calculate the parameters of the lymphatic contraction signal. In the embodiment, the parameters include, but are not limited to, vibration period, waveform, width, regularity, etc. The parameters thus calculated are transmitted to the output module (150). The output module (150) visualizes the parameters and the lymphatic contraction signal, and transmits the parameters together with the visualized lymphatic contraction signal to the output device so that they can be output on the display of the output device.

[0061] Figure 4 is a drawing to explain the function of the conversion module in more detail.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 4, in the embodiment, the laser (121) of the conversion module (120) emits a beam in the form of an excitation pulse or continuous wave for light expression of a fluorescent material. In the embodiment, the laser (121) can selectively emit a beam from 730 nm to 780 nm. The optical detector (123) is excited by the laser beam and tracks the ICG molecule signal that generates light within the lymphatic system. In the embodiment, the ICG molecule signal is from 780 nm to 1200 nm. In the embodiment, the optical detector (123) can measure light from 800 nm to 1100 nm, and thus can track the ICG molecule signal. In addition, the conversion module (120) includes a signal filter to prevent interference between each generated light and detected light. In the embodiment, the analysis module (140) analyzes the signal of the optical detector (123), and the output module (150) visualizes and outputs the signal of the optical detector (123).

[0063] Fig. 5 is a drawing showing the configuration of lenses configured in an optical detector according to an embodiment.

[0064] Referring to Fig. 5, in the embodiment, the optical detector (123) outputs an ICG pulse or continuous wave laser from a lens (25) through an optical fiber (15). In the embodiment, the beam size of the laser beam can be adjusted by two movable lenses (35, 45). The laser beam is reflected by a dichroic mirror (55) that reflects light of 800 nm or less, passes through an objective lens (65), and is irradiated onto a measurement area.

[0065] According to an embodiment, ICG molecules excited by a laser beam in the measurement area emit light having a spectrum of about 780 nm to 1100 nm. The emitted light is focused by an objective lens (65) to effectively transmit the optical signal to the optical detector (123). Fluorescent light of 800 nm or more emitted from the measurement area returns together with the laser beam reflected from the skin surface, and only the fluorescent light is transmitted by a dichroic mirror (55) that allows light of 800 nm or more to pass through.

[0066] Since the laser beam passes through the high-pass filter, light of 800 nm or more detected by the optical detector (123) is blocked, and interference of the optical signal caused by the fluorescent light can be eliminated. The fluorescent light passing through the dichroic mirror (55) passes through the signal filter (75) that passes only light between 800 nm and 1200 nm. The signal filter (75) selectively passes only the light emitted by the ICG molecules. The fluorescent light passing through the signal filter (75) is focused by passing through the lens (85), passes through the aperture (95) at the focus position, and is focused onto the fiber connected to the optical detector through the movable lens pair (105, 115). At this time, the aperture (95) blocks scattered light to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the movable lens pair (105, 115) adjusts the focus to transmit more light to the fiber.

[0067] Fig. 6 is a drawing showing an output interface of a real-time lymph contraction signal detection device according to an embodiment applied to an actual patient.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 6, the real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal according to an embodiment is cheaper and easier to manufacture than conventional complex equipment for lymphatic diagnosis, such as MRI and lymphoscintigraphy, and has high space efficiency, so it has a very high possibility of being used in actual clinical settings.

[0069] As illustrated in Fig. 6, when using a real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal, the location of the lymphatic vessels is confirmed using ICG lymphography on the left hand of an actual lymphedema patient, and then the lymph pump signal is extracted for each area (area 1 to area 4) by utilizing prototype optical detectors at different peripheral locations. Thereafter, the output module can visualize the signal of lymphatic contraction for each area (area 1 to area 4) as a graph, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

[0070] Below, a method for detecting a lymphatic contraction signal in real time is described in order. Since the operation (function) of the method for detecting a lymphatic contraction signal in real time according to the embodiment is essentially the same as the function of the device for detecting a lymphatic contraction signal in real time, a description overlapping with FIGS. 1 to 6 will be omitted.

[0071] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a real-time detection process of a lymph contraction signal according to an embodiment.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 7, in step S100, a fluorescent material containing a lymphatic contrast agent is injected into the subcutaneous interstitial fluid through a drug delivery system in a contrast agent injection module (110). In step S200, a conversion module (120) tracks the fluorescent material to obtain an optical signal and converts the obtained optical signal into an electrical signal. In step S300, a signal processing module (130) sets the electrical signal as a target signal and removes noise from the set target signal. In step S400, an analysis module (140) analyzes the target signal from which noise has been removed. In step S500, an output module (150) visualizes the analysis result of the target signal and transmits it to an output device.

[0073] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a real-time lymph contraction signal detection device.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 8, the communication module (160) may be configured regardless of the communication mode, such as wired or wireless, and may be configured with various communication networks, such as a personal area network (PAN) and a wide area network (WAN). In addition, the communication module (160) may operate based on the well-known World Wide Web (WWW), and may also utilize a wireless transmission technology used for short-distance communication, such as infrared (IrDA: Infrared Data Association) or Bluetooth. For example, the communication module (160) may be responsible for transmitting and receiving data required to perform a technique according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0075] Memory (121) may refer to any type of storage medium. For example, memory (120) may include at least one type of storage medium among flash memory type, hard disk type, multimedia card micro type, card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory, etc.), RAM (Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), magnetic memory, magnetic disk, and optical disk. Such memory (121) may also constitute a database as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0076] The memory (121) can store at least one instruction that can be executed by the processor (130). In addition, the memory (121) can store any type of information generated or determined by the processor (131) and any type of information received by the device (100). In addition, the memory (121) stores various types of modules, instruction sets, or models.

[0077] The processor (131) may perform technical features according to embodiments of the present disclosure to be described later by executing at least one instruction stored in the memory (121). In one embodiment, the processor (131) may be configured with at least one core and may include a processor for data analysis and / or processing, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a general purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU), or a tensor processing unit (TPU) of a computer device.

[0078] The above-described real-time lymphatic contraction signal detection device and method overcome the limitations of existing lymphatic diagnosis techniques, which primarily rely on static spatial information, and enable dynamic temporal analysis through dynamic analysis of lymphatic contraction signals. The embodiments also enable quantitative analysis of lymphatic flow, establishing new diagnostic criteria.

[0079] In addition, the real-time detection device and method for a lymphatic contraction signal according to the embodiment are relatively small and easy to use, so they can be easily applied to various clinical environments.

[0080] In addition, the real-time detection device and method for a lymphatic contraction signal according to the embodiment can provide a new standard for diagnosing lymphatic diseases and can propose a new type of diagnostic device.

[0081] In addition, through the example, by optically analyzing the movement pulse signal of lymph fluid or the lymph contraction signal, it is possible to more accurately determine the degree of dysfunction of the peripheral lymphatic vessels and the smoothness of lymph circulation.

[0082] In addition, the examples can provide major evaluation criteria for diagnosing circulatory diseases caused by lymphatic circulation abnormalities, such as lymphedema.

[0083] In addition, through the example, abnormalities in the lymph circulation function in the human body can be determined by optical measurement signals, enabling early diagnosis of diseases with lymph circulation disorders such as lymphedema.

[0084] The disclosed content is merely an example, and various modifications and implementations can be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the claims claimed in the patent, so the scope of protection of the disclosed content is not limited to the specific embodiments described above.

Claims

1. In a real-time detection device for lymphatic contraction signals, A contrast agent injection module that injects a fluorescent substance containing a lymphatic contrast agent into the subcutaneous interstitial fluid through a drug delivery system; A conversion module that tracks the fluorescent material to obtain an optical signal and converts the obtained optical signal into an electrical signal; A signal processing module that sets the above electrical signal as a target signal and removes noise from the set target signal; An analysis module that analyzes the target signal from which noise has been removed; and A real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal, comprising an output module that visualizes the analysis results of the target signal and transmits them to an output device.

2. In paragraph 1, the signal processing module, A real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal, which compares the target signal with a reference signal, which is a lymphatic contraction signal cycle in a healthy state, amplifies the target signal by locking in based on the result of the comparison, and removes noise including other biosignals with different frequencies from the amplified target signal.

3. In the first paragraph, the conversion module, A laser that irradiates a laser beam in the form of a pulse or continuous wave to elicit light emission from the fluorescent material; A photodetector unit that tracks the ICG molecule signal that is excited by the laser beam and generates light within the lymphatic system; and A real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal, comprising a signal filter that prevents interference between generated light and detected light.

4. In the second paragraph, the signal processing module, A real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal, which compares the frequency band of the reference signal with the frequency band of the noise, which is the other biosignal, to filter the frequency band of the noise, and obtains a response result value for the fluorescent material.

5. In paragraph 1, The above analysis module analyzes the target signal along the time axis and frequency axis, respectively, to calculate the parameters of the lymph contraction signal, A real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal, wherein the parameters of the above lymphatic contraction signal include an oscillation period, a waveform, a width, and a regularity.

6. In the fifth paragraph, the output module, A real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal, which transmits the above-described parameters together with a visualized lymphatic contraction signal to the display of the output device.

7. In paragraph 3, The above laser beam, Output through optical fiber, The beam size is adjusted by two movable lenses. A real-time detection device for lymphatic contraction signals, which are reflected by a dichroic mirror that reflects light of 800 nm or less and irradiated to a measurement area through an objective lens.

8. In paragraph 7, The ICG molecules excited by the laser beam emit light within the measurement area, A real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal, wherein the emitted light is focused by the objective lens and transmitted as an optical signal to an optical detector.

9. In paragraph 8, In the above measurement area, a real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal that emits fluorescent light of 800 nm or more and, when reflected together with a laser beam reflected from the skin surface, passes only the fluorescent light through a dichroic mirror.

10. In paragraph 9, The above laser beam passes through a high-pass filter, The above optical detector blocks the detected light to eliminate interference of the optical signal caused by fluorescent light, A real-time detection device for a lymphatic contraction signal, wherein the signal filter selectively passes only light emitted by the ICG molecules by passing only light between a preset band among the fluorescent light passing through the dichroic mirror.

11. In paragraph 10, The light that passes through the above signal filter is focused through the lens, The above focused light is focused onto a fiber connected to a light detection unit through a pair of lenses that can move past an aperture at a focus position, The above aperture blocks scattered light, thereby increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The above lens pair is a real-time lymphatic contraction signal detection device that adjusts focus to transmit more light to the above fiber.

12. In a method performed by a real-time detection device for lymphatic contraction signals, A step of injecting a fluorescent substance containing a lymphatic contrast agent into the subcutaneous interstitial fluid through a drug delivery system in a contrast agent injection module; A step of tracking the fluorescent material in the conversion module to obtain an optical signal and converting the obtained optical signal into an electrical signal; A step of setting the electrical signal as a target signal in a signal processing module and removing noise from the set target signal; A step of analyzing the target signal from which noise has been removed in the analysis module; and A method for detecting a lymphatic contraction signal in real time, comprising: a step of visualizing the analysis result of the target signal in an output module and transmitting the result to an output device;

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