Endoscope Display Switching for Insertion and Observation Stages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope systems fail to provide useful information tailored to the specific stages of examination, such as insertion and observation, which are crucial for smooth operation and effective diagnosis during large intestine examinations.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope system with a control program that determines the examination stage based on captured images and adjusts the display to provide insertion support information during insertion and observation support information during pulling-out, using a system control unit to manage display units and light sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If insertion support information is displayed during the pulling-out stage, then information relevance is reduced, but if observation support information is displayed during the insertion stage, then operational difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation relevanceVSAvoidoperational difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit dynamically switches between insertion support information and observation support information based on the determined examination stage. The system adapts the displayed content in real-time according to whether the endoscope is in the insertion stage or pulling-out stage, ensuring information relevance while maintaining ease of operation throughout the procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a single display mode is used throughout the examination, then device complexity is reduced, but information usefulness for different stages is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay mode complexityVSAvoidinformation usefulness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit serves multiple functions by displaying different types of information (insertion support information and observation support information) based on the examination stage. This multi-functionality allows a single display unit to provide stage-appropriate information without requiring separate display devices, balancing device complexity with information usefulness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If stage-specific information is provided, then examination effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexamination effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The determination unit continuously monitors examination parameters (such as insertion depth or detected anatomical structures) to determine the current examination stage, and this determination feeds back to control what information the display unit shows. This feedback mechanism enables stage-specific information provision that improves examination effectiveness while keeping system complexity manageable through automated stage detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4070713B1Endoscope system and control program
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP4070713B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4070713B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4070713B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an endoscope system, a control program, and a display method that can provide useful information in accordance with a stage of an examination to an operator of an endoscope. A system control unit 44 determines a stage of an examination by an endoscope 1. A display device 7 switches a display image in accordance with a determination result of the stage by the system control unit 44. The stage of the examination by the endoscope 1 includes a first stage in which the endoscope 1 is inserted into a subject and a second stage in which the endoscope 1 is pulled out from the subject. The display device 7 displays a screen including information for supporting insertion of the endoscope 1 into the subject in a case in which it is determined that the stage of the examination is the first stage, and displays a screen including information for supporting observation of an image obtained by the endoscope 1 in a case in which it is determined that the stage of the examination is the second stage.