Endoscope System Clock Synchronization Control Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
In endoscope systems, there is a synchronization issue between image information from the endoscope camera and medical information from peripheral devices during surgical operations, leading to inaccurate reproduction of events post-surgery due to clock information discrepancies among devices.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with a real-time clock and a control unit that adjusts and synchronizes clock information from peripheral devices, ensuring all medical information is timestamped consistently, allowing for synchronous reproduction of medical information and image information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate peripheral devices are provided for endoscopic camera, aeroperitoneum device, blood-pressure measuring device, and electric scalpel device, then each device can independently perform its specific function, but clock information synchronization among devices deteriorates due to timelag and communication delay
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized control unit is introduced as an intermediary that collects clock information from all peripheral devices and manages synchronization. This mediator coordinates the clock information among independent devices, resolving the synchronization issue without compromising device independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls various peripheral devices, collects clock information from all devices, and manages synchronization across the system. This multi-functional approach enables consistent timekeeping across independently operating devices.
2Quantity of substance
If medical information is collected from multiple peripheral devices with different clock standards, then comprehensive surgical operation records can be obtained, but accurate reproduction of surgical events cannot be achieved due to clock information discrepancies
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the time parameter representation by converting all clock information to a unified time standard managed by the control unit. This parameter transformation enables accurate temporal alignment of medical information from multiple devices while preserving comprehensive data coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors and adjusts clock information from peripheral devices, using feedback mechanisms to maintain synchronization. This ensures that all medical information is timestamped according to a consistent time reference, enabling accurate surgical event reproduction.
3Reliability
If clock information is added to medical information from peripheral devices, then time-stamped records can be created, but system complexity increases due to synchronization processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit merges clock information collection, device control, and synchronization processing into a single integrated function. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity by centralizing the synchronization logic rather than distributing it across multiple devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an endoscope system including: a real time clock; an interface for receiving medical information output from a peripheral device; and a control unit that adjusts clock information added to the received medical information into clock information of the real time clock when the peripheral device adds the clock information to the medical information, and adds clock information of the real time clock at a time of receiving to the received medical information when the peripheral device does not add the clock information to the medical information. According to the invention, even the medical information obtained from the different devices can be reproduced with data from the respective devices synchronized by associating the clock information based on the identical real time clock therewith. Consequently, even after the surgical operation, the contents of treatment performed during the surgical operation can be accurately reproduced.