Endoscope Field-of-View Adjustment via Sensor and Image Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscope systems face challenges in maintaining a stable field of view during laparoscopic surgeries, particularly when there are changes in the environment or the presence of obstacles, as they rely on manual adjustments and lack precise mechanisms for automatically centering the imaging target within the field of view.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with an imaging unit, field-of-view adjustment mechanism, position sensor, distance measurement unit, and image comparison unit that computes and adjusts the field-of-view to ensure the imaging target remains centered, using both sensor-based and image-based computations to drive the adjustment mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of the endoscope is used, then the field of view can be adjusted, but the precision and stability of maintaining the imaging target at the center is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adjusts the field of view by computing the driving amount based on position information and image comparison results, eliminating the need for manual adjustment operations while maintaining high precision centering of the imaging target
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously compares the current image with the stored reference image and uses the comparison results to compute corrective driving amounts, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that maintains high precision positioning automatically
2Productivity
If sensor-based computation is used to determine driving amount, then the field of view adjustment is efficient, but it may be inaccurate when obstacles are present
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses image comparison feedback to verify and correct the driving amount computed from sensor data, ensuring high accuracy even when obstacles are present by comparing the actual image results with expected outcomes
Solution Approach 2:
The system stores reference images and position information in advance, allowing it to quickly compute driving amounts based on pre-prepared data while maintaining accuracy through subsequent image comparison verification
3Measurement precision
If image-based computation is used to determine driving amount, then the accuracy is high, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs image comparison selectively based on the situation, using sensor-based computation for routine adjustments and resorting to more computationally intensive image-based verification only when necessary, such as when obstacles are detected or precision requirements are high
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes and stores reference images and key features, enabling faster comparison and computation during actual operation by having the necessary data ready in advance rather than processing everything from scratch
4Stability of the object's composition
If automatic field of view adjustment mechanism is implemented, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions including position computation, image comparison, driving amount calculation, and mechanism control, consolidating what could be separate complex subsystems into a single multi-functional unit that maintains stability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines sensor-based and image-based computation methods into a unified control approach, merging multiple data sources and processing techniques into a single integrated field of view adjustment mechanism that achieves high stability through coordinated operation
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system computes a distal end position of the endoscope or a position of the desired imaging target. An image taken of the desired imaging target is recorded. A position of the desired imaging target is computed and recorded. A current image taken by the imaging unit is compared with the image of the desired imaging target already recorded. A first driving amount for driving the field-of-view adjustment mechanism is computed such that the desired imaging target is positioned on an axis of sighting of the imaging unit. A second driving amount for driving the field-of-view adjustment mechanism is computed in such a way as to include a center of the image of the desired imaging target. The field-of-view adjustment mechanism is driven from either one of the first driving amount or the second driving amount.