Collimated Laser Fiber Depth Estimation for Kidney Stones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices struggle to accurately measure the depth of kidney stones within the body, leading to inaccurate stone size estimations and potentially requiring unnecessary removal or fragmentation procedures.
Innovation Solution
A medical system comprising a device with a handle, shaft, imager, processor, and laser fibers that transmit collimated beams of light onto a target and a reference surface, allowing the processor to calculate the depth of the target based on pixel characteristics of the light beams in generated images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional imaging methods are used to estimate stone size, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient leading to inaccurate depth estimation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces collimated light beams as an intermediary measurement tool. Two separate light sources project parallel beams onto the stone, and the displacement of these beams in the captured image provides indirect information about stone depth. This intermediary approach enables accurate depth estimation without requiring complex direct measurement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical depth measurement mechanisms with an optical system. Instead of using physical probes or complex mechanical gauges to measure stone depth, the system uses light projection and image analysis to calculate depth based on beam displacement, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while improving measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If accurate stone depth measurement is achieved through multiple light sources and image processing, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imager in the system serves multiple functions: it captures the visual field, records the positions of collimated light beams, and enables depth calculation through image processing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated depth sensing components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates optical copies of reference positions using collimated light beams. By projecting known beam positions onto the stone and measuring their displacement in the image, the system infers depth information without requiring direct physical contact or complex sensing at the measurement point, thus managing system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If collimated light beams are used to measure stone depth, then the measurement precision improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic or pulsed activation of the light sources rather than continuous operation. The collimated light beams are projected only when depth measurement is required, and the duration is limited to the time needed to capture the necessary images. This periodic action significantly reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous illumination while maintaining measurement precision when needed.
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
The system provides more accurate measurements and estimations of stone depth, enabling more precise stone removal procedures and reducing the need for unnecessary interventions.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second laser fibers may be configured to transmit respective first and second collimated beams of light onto a target
Implementation Method 2
transmit respective first and second collimated beams of light
Data Source
AI summary
Medical systems and related methods useful to estimate the depth of a target are described. The system may include a medical device that includes a handle and a shaft, the medical device also including an imager, a processor, and at least one laser source coupled to a first laser fiber and a second laser fiber. The first and second laser fibers may be configured to transmit respective first and second collimated beams of light onto a target simultaneously without fragmenting the target. The processor may be configured to determine a depth of the target from a proximal facing surface of the target to a distal facing surface of the target based on pixel characteristics of the first and second collimated beams of light in at least one image generated by the imager.