Endoscope System Depth Discrimination Superficial Blood Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscope systems face challenges in accurately extracting and displaying superficial blood vessels due to the superimposition of blood vessels at varying depths, leading to reduced staging accuracy for conditions like Barrett's adenocarcinoma, especially when individual differences and depth variations are considered.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system that generates illumination light with different wavelength ranges, such as violet and blue light, and processes the resulting image signals to isolate and enhance blood vessels at specific depths by calculating a ratio or difference between these signals, assigning them to specific color channels to improve visibility and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional endoscope systems use single wavelength illumination to image blood vessels, then the imaging process is simple, but blood vessels at different depths are superimposed leading to reduced staging accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the blood vessel imaging by using multiple wavelength ranges (first wavelength range and second wavelength range) to capture image signals at different penetration depths. This segmentation allows separation of superficial blood vessels from subsurface blood vessels, resolving the depth superposition problem and improving staging accuracy without requiring complex additional hardware beyond standard light source capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of illumination light to control penetration depth. By selecting specific wavelength ranges (e.g., blue/violet for superficial, green/red for subsurface), the system optimizes light penetration to target specific depths, thereby improving measurement precision for blood vessel staging while using conventional light source components
2Measurement precision
If multiple wavelength images are processed to extract superficial blood vessels, then staging accuracy is improved, but the processing complexity and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes to image signal processing by calculating the ratio or difference between image signals from different wavelength ranges. This mathematical transformation selectively enhances superficial blood vessels while suppressing subsurface vessels, achieving depth discrimination and improved staging accuracy through computationally efficient operations that can be implemented in standard image processing pipelines
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing operations (ratio calculation vs. difference calculation) based on the specific imaging conditions and depth targets. This local quality approach allows optimization of processing methods for different scenarios, improving blood vessel extraction accuracy while adapting computational complexity to specific diagnostic needs
3Measurement precision
If blood vessels from entire surface layer are superimposed for imaging, then the imaging process is straightforward, but the density variation of superficial blood vessels cannot be accurately determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments blood vessel information by depth using multiple wavelength ranges, where shorter wavelengths (blue/violet) penetrate less deeply and highlight superficial blood vessels, while longer wavelengths (green/red) penetrate deeper and capture subsurface vessels. This depth segmentation preserves depth-specific information and enables accurate measurement of superficial blood vessel density for staging purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes in image signals resulting from different wavelength illuminations to distinguish blood vessels at different depths. By processing these color-differentiated signals through ratio or difference calculations, the system isolates superficial blood vessels and accurately determines their density, preventing information loss about depth-specific vascular characteristics
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 effectively extracts and displays blood vessels at specific depths, enhancing staging accuracy by distinguishing superficial blood vessels from surface blood vessels, thereby improving diagnostic precision.
Implementation Method 1
a light source unit configured to generate illumination light
Implementation Method 2
an image sensor configured to image an object of interest irradiated with the illumination light and generate image signals
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system is provided with a light source unit for generating illumination light, an image sensor for imaging an object of interest irradiated with the illumination light, an image signal obtaining section, a calculated image signal generator, and an image generator. The image signal obtaining section obtains a B1 image signal corresponding to violet light and a B2 image signal corresponding to blue light. The calculated image signal generator generates a calculated image signal from the B1 and B2 image signals. The image generator generates an image in which one of the B1 image signal and the B2 image signal is assigned to a luminance channel or a green channel and the calculated image signal is assigned to a remaining channel.