Adaptive Endoscopic Illumination for Even Imaging and Fluorescence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current endoscopic illuminators provide illumination with a constant angular profile, leading to suboptimal illumination of lumens and flat or convex scenes, and existing image processing solutions like HDR techniques reduce resolution or amplify noise.

Innovation Solution

An endoscopic illuminator with first, second, third, and fourth illumination elements, each adjustable independently, providing illumination at different angles and spectral bands to optimize illumination evenness across the field of view, including fluorescence excitation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a constant angular profile illumination is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the illumination evenness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination system complexityVSAvoidillumination evenness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination system is divided into multiple independent illumination elements (first, second, third, and fourth elements) that can be controlled separately. Each element targets specific regions (central or peripheral areas) with adjustable illumination levels, allowing independent optimization of different field of view regions without increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different illumination elements provide different illumination characteristics to different regions of the field of view. The first and third elements illuminate the central area while the second and fourth elements illuminate the peripheral area, with each region receiving optimized illumination quality appropriate for its specific viewing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If image processing techniques like HDR are used to improve illumination evenness, then the illumination evenness is improved, but the image quality deteriorates due to reduced resolution and amplified noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination evennessVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination evenness is optimized before image capture by adjusting the illumination levels of different elements based on scene type detection. This preliminary illumination adjustment ensures uniform lighting across the field of view, eliminating the need for post-capture HDR processing that would compromise image quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system detects the scene type (lumen vs. flat/convex) and automatically adjusts the illumination levels of the various elements accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal illumination evenness is achieved adaptively without requiring quality-degrading image processing techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Achieves improved illumination evenness by automatically adjusting illumination levels based on scene type, enhancing image quality without reducing resolution or amplifying noise.

Implementation Method 1

the third and fourth illumination elements provide illumination at wavelengths at wavelength between 750 and 800 nm for stimulating Indocyanine green (ICG) or near infrared (NIR) fluorescence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence excitation: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS12575724B2Scene adaptive endoscopic illuminator with fluorescence illumination

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 KARL STORZ SE & CO KG

AI summary

Endoscopic illuminator devices and methods are provided with an adaptive illumination profile. An endoscopic illuminator includes a first and a third illumination element adapted for coupling first illumination light into a light input of an endoscope for illuminating a central area of a field of view of the endoscope. A second and a fourth illumination element are adapted for coupling second illumination light to the light input for illuminating a peripheral area of the field of view, arranged relative to the first illumination element such that the first illumination light enters the light input at a substantially different angle from the first illumination light, and having an illumination level adjustable separately from that of the first and third illumination element. The second and fourth illumination elements provide imaging light in a different spectral band than the first and third illumination elements.