Chip-on-tip endoscope with temporal source modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscope designs suffer from throughput losses and image distortion due to fiber optics, and are costly, whereas chip-on-tip configurations reduce these issues by placing the camera close to the sample, minimizing signal loss and distortion, but face challenges in filtering multispectral data without significant miniaturization of filtering technology.
Innovation Solution
The use of chip-on-tip endoscope systems with camera chips at the tip, surrounded by source illumination fibers, employing optical imaging filters like acousto-optic tunable filters and liquid crystal tunable filters to filter and modulate source illumination before reaching the sample, allowing for multispectral data acquisition without the need for in-line filters at the camera.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If fiber optics are used to connect the camera and lens assembly, then the endoscope can relay images from the tip to the base, but throughput losses and image distortion occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the camera at the base and relaying images through fiber optics from the tip, the invention inverts the arrangement by placing the camera chip directly at the tip of the endoscope. This eliminates the need for long fiber optic relays and associated signal losses, allowing the camera to be positioned as close as possible to the sample while capturing images directly at the tip location.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the camera from the base location and relocates it to the tip of the endoscope. By removing the camera from its traditional position at the base and placing it directly at the imaging location, the system eliminates the need for fiber optic image relaying and the associated throughput losses and distortions.
2Length of stationary object
If fiber optics are used to connect the camera and lens assembly, then image relay is possible, but substantial image distortion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional endoscope architecture by placing the camera chip at the tip rather than at the base. This inversion eliminates the image relay path through fiber optics that causes distortion, allowing the camera to capture images directly at the sample location with minimal optical path and no relay-induced distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting the camera from the base position and relocating it to the tip, the invention removes the fiber optic relay system that causes image distortion. The camera is taken out of its traditional position and placed directly at the imaging location, eliminating the distortion-prone relay path.
3Reliability
If conventional endoscope designs with base-mounted cameras are used, then image relay is achieved, but high costs are incurred due to rigid lens assemblies and fiber optics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the camera from the base location and places it at the tip, thereby eliminating the need for expensive rigid lens assemblies and high-quality fiber optics required for image relay. By taking out the relay system entirely and positioning the camera at the tip, the manufacturing cost is significantly reduced while maintaining imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
By inverting the traditional architecture and placing the camera at the tip rather than at the base, the invention eliminates the need for expensive image relay components. The inversion removes the requirement for costly rigid lens assemblies and precision fiber optics, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while preserving the essential imaging function.
4Loss of energy
If chip-on-tip configurations are used, then signal throughput loss and image distortion are reduced, but filtering multispectral data becomes challenging without miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The invention addresses the filtering challenge by moving the filtering operation to the illumination source dimension rather than attempting to miniaturize filters at the camera. By modulating the illumination sources at different wavelengths and using temporal correlation, the system achieves multispectral filtering without requiring physical filters at the chip location, thus avoiding miniaturization complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/filter-based spectral separation approach with a temporal modulation and correlation approach. Instead of using physical filters that would require miniaturization, the system uses electronically controlled illumination modulation and temporal signal processing to achieve spectral discrimination, substituting mechanical filtering with electronic control.
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
This approach reduces signal loss and distortion, enables efficient multispectral data acquisition, and reduces the overall component count in the endoscope system, improving image quality and reducing costs by eliminating the need for specialized optics or fiber relays.
Implementation Method 1
a first camera chip configured to detect light that includes visible (VIS), near infrared (NIR), visible-near infrared (VIS-NIR), shortwave infrared (SWIR), extended shortwave infrared (eSWIR), near infrared-extended shortwave infrared (NIR-eSWIR)
Implementation Method 2
employing optical imaging filters like acousto-optic tunable filters
Implementation Method 3
employing optical imaging filters like acousto-optic tunable filters and liquid crystal tunable filters
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope has an improved chip-on-tip configuration that includes both a first configuration of source illumination fibers and a second plurality of source illumination fibers, along with a camera chip. The combination of the camera chip and the source illumination fibers on the tip of the endoscope results in endoscopes with reduced size and weight.