Biological Observation System Using Dual Red Light Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biological observation systems for viewing living tissue inside body cavities lack effective methods for distinguishing between different tissue features, such as capillary vessels and blood vessels, due to limitations in wavelength separation and color sensitivity, leading to suboptimal image quality and mode selection.
Innovation Solution
A biological observation system that employs a light source apparatus providing alternating red lights with different absorption coefficients for blood, combined with an image pickup device having pixels with specific spectral sensitivities and a processor for color separation processing, allowing for precise separation of red, green, and blue color components based on wavelength, enabling improved image quality and mode selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single red light source is used for illumination, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to distinguish between different tissue features and vascular structures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single red light source is segmented into multiple light sources with different characteristics (first red light with higher absorption coefficient, second red light with lower absorption coefficient). This segmentation allows selective illumination of different tissue layers and vascular structures, enabling precise differentiation between capillary vessels and larger blood vessels while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular light source configuration.
2Illumination intensity
If broad-band white light is used for illumination, then the illumination intensity is sufficient, but the wavelength separation capability is inadequate for distinguishing specific vascular structures
Solution Approach 1:
The broad-band white light is segmented into multiple narrow-band red light sources with specific wavelength characteristics. Each red light source is optimized for penetrating specific tissue depths and highlighting particular vascular structures. This segmentation maintains sufficient illumination intensity while achieving precise wavelength separation for distinguishing capillary vessels from larger blood vessels based on their differential absorption characteristics.
3Productivity
If conventional color separation processing is used, then the processing speed is adequate, but the color component separation precision is insufficient for accurate tissue feature visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing images at multiple wavelength bands (red, green, blue) simultaneously using parallel light sources and detectors. This preliminary multi-wavelength capture enables subsequent color separation processing to achieve high precision by having pre-separated wavelength components ready for processing, thereby maintaining fast processing speed while significantly improving color component separation precision for accurate tissue feature visualization.
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 enhances image quality by allowing for precise separation and display of tissue features, improving the ability to select desired observation modes that emphasize specific vascular structures, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a light source apparatus configured to, as illuminating light for illuminating an object, supply a first red light having a wavelength band belonging to a red region
Implementation Method 2
supply a second red light having a wavelength band belonging to the red region and having an absorption coefficient for blood that is lower than an absorption coefficient for blood of the first red light
Implementation Method 3
an image pickup device comprising a plurality of pixels having spectral sensitivities such that a sensitivity to any one color among a predetermined plurality of colors is relatively higher than a sensitivity to other colors than the one color, and which is configured to receive light from an object and generate an image pickup signal for each of the plurality of pixels
Implementation Method 4
perform color separation processing for separating, from an image pickup signal generated by the image pickup device, an image pickup signal corresponding to a color component obtained when an image of light of a predetermined wavelength band included in light from the object is picked up by a pixel having a greatest sensitivity to the light of the predetermined wavelength band among the plurality of pixels
Data Source
AI summary
A biological observation system includes: a light source apparatus configured to supply a first illuminating light, and a second illuminating light, while switching between the first illuminating light and the second illuminating light; an image pickup device configured to receive light from an object at each of a plurality of pixels having different sensitivities, and picks up an image; a color separation processing portion configured to separate, from respective color components, a color component obtained when an image of light of a predetermined wavelength band is picked up by a pixel having the greatest sensitivity to the light in the predetermined wavelength band; and a control portion configured to cause different processing to be performed between a case where an inputted image pickup signal corresponds to the first illuminating light and a case where an inputted image pickup signal corresponds to the second illuminating light.