Catheter Light-Position Imaging With Differential Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter positioning techniques are not sufficiently precise for verifying the desired position within a target object.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus with a light emitting part, camera, driver, controller, and display that generates a light position image by overlaying the light emission image on the exterior image, using differential image processing to enhance visibility of the catheter's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a light emitting part is provided in a catheter to verify position, then position verification capability is improved, but image clarity and precision are insufficient due to noise and motion artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitting part emits light periodically rather than continuously. The controller captures images at specific intervals synchronized with the light emission cycles. This periodic action allows the system to accumulate multiple images over time and perform differential processing to eliminate motion artifacts and noise, thereby improving position verification precision without sacrificing image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The controller compares images captured during light emission with images captured during non-emission periods, using differential processing to generate a light position image. This feedback mechanism allows the system to identify and isolate the light signal from the catheter's light emitting part while subtracting out background noise and motion artifacts, resulting in clear position verification
2Measurement precision
If differential image processing is used to reduce noise, then image quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to capture images in a periodic sequence - first capturing an image during light emission, then capturing another image during non-emission. This structured periodic approach simplifies the differential processing algorithm compared to continuous monitoring, as the controller only needs to perform subtraction between paired images taken at specific intervals, reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining high position verification precision
Solution Approach 2:
The controller pre-plans the image capture sequence to coincide with light emission and non-emission periods. By preparing the capture timing in advance and synchronizing with the periodic light emission, the controller minimizes the need for complex real-time processing and artifact removal algorithms, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving superior image quality through differential processing
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
Facilitates easy verification of the catheter's position by displaying a clear light position image, reducing noise and motion artifacts, and preventing incorrect insertion.
Implementation Method 1
light emitted from the light emitting part is transmitted through the human body and the light is received
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging apparatus includes: a tube; a light-emitting part in the tube; a driver that switches emission and non-emission of light from the light emitting part; a camera that takes images of the target object; a controller that controls the driver and generates a display image using the image obtained from the camera; and a display that displays the display image; where the controller generates a light position image corresponding to the light from the light-emitting part based on the difference between a first image obtained from the camera correlated with the light emission and a second image obtained from the camera correlated with the light non-emission, and generates the display image by overlaying the light position image in a visible color on an exterior image of the target object obtained from the camera.