Endoscope Halation Control via Laser Aiming and Gain Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope systems face challenges in confirming the irradiation position for lithotripsy procedures due to the invisible nature of YAG laser beams, requiring additional visible aiming lasers, which can cause halation affecting image quality and visibility.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with an aiming monochromatic laser beam for position confirmation, including a halation detection and control mechanism to adjust illumination light intensity and gain, ensuring clear visibility without increasing the optical filter thickness or image sensor size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an aiming monochromatic laser beam is radiated for position confirmation, then the irradiation position becomes visible and confirmable, but halation is generated affecting image quality and visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful aiming laser beam from the image pickup path by introducing an optical filter that blocks the laser wavelength. This separates the aiming function (visual confirmation) from the imaging function, allowing the laser to be visible for positioning while preventing it from degrading image quality through halation effects.
Solution Approach 2:
An optical filter serves as an intermediary element between the aiming laser beam and the image sensor. The filter transmits visible light for imaging while blocking the specific wavelength of the aiming laser, mediating between the need for visible aiming guidance and the need to maintain image quality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the optical filter thickness is increased to suppress aiming laser beam energy, then halation is reduced, but the image sensor size must be increased which complicates the endoscope structure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing physical dimensions (filter thickness or sensor size), the patent changes the wavelength parameter by using an optical filter with specific spectral characteristics. The filter blocks the aiming laser wavelength while transmitting visible light, achieving halation suppression through spectral selectivity rather than increased material thickness or sensor area.
3Illumination intensity
If the illumination light intensity is increased to compensate for halation, then image brightness improves, but the halation effect is enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The optical filter extracts or removes the harmful aiming laser beam from reaching the image sensor. By blocking the laser wavelength specifically, the system prevents the laser from creating halation effects that would otherwise require compensation through increased illumination intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful aiming laser beam into a beneficial aiming guidance tool by making it visible through the optical filter. The laser serves its dual purpose of providing aiming guidance while being blocked from creating halation effects on the image sensor, turning what would be a harmful interference into a useful visual indicator.
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 suppresses aiming laser beam energy on the image sensor, improving visibility during aiming laser use without altering the image sensor's size or adding thickness to optical filters, thus enhancing procedural accuracy and image clarity.
Implementation Method 1
an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of an object
Implementation Method 2
an illumination portion configured to irradiate the object with illumination light
Implementation Method 3
an insertion channel provided in the endoscope and configured to allow insertion of at least a laser probe capable of irradiating a predetermined position of the object with an aiming monochromatic laser beam for confirming a laser irradiation position
Implementation Method 4
a halation detection portion configured to detect halation relating to the object when the aiming monochromatic laser beam is radiated
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system includes an endoscope, an illumination portion, a light adjustment portion, an insertion channel configured to allow insertion of a laser probe capable of radiating an aiming monochromatic laser beam, a gain control portion, a halation detection portion, and a control portion, and in a case that halation by the aiming monochromatic laser beam is detected in the halation detection portion, the control portion controls the light adjustment portion to adjust the illumination light and controls the gain control portion to control the gain.