Endoscope Light Control for Digestive Tract Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems face challenges in accurately measuring the size of digestive tract regions due to disturbances from mucous membrane reflection and halation caused by the simultaneous emission of auxiliary measurement light with illumination light.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system that includes an endoscope with an air supply device and a processor, which controls the emission of illumination and measurement light. The system acquires imaging signals at different air supply volumes, calculates distance information, and determines the region of the subject with high recognition accuracy by suppressing the illumination light during measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If auxiliary measurement light is emitted together with illumination light, then distance measurement can be performed simultaneously with illumination, but mucous membrane reflection and halation of illumination light become disturbances and recognition accuracy of pattern light decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulsed emission of measurement light at specific frame intervals, alternating between measurement light emission and illumination light emission. This periodic action allows the imaging device to capture measurement light images when measurement light is emitted and illumination light images when illumination light is emitted, thereby separating the two light sources in time and eliminating mutual interference while maintaining both functions
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging process is segmented into separate measurement phases and illumination phases. The imaging device captures different types of images at different time points: measurement light images for distance calculation and illumination light images for visual observation. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function without interference from the other light source
2Measurement precision
If illumination light intensity is suppressed or turned off during measurement light emission, then recognition accuracy of measurement light improves, but observation brightness of the subject decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically alternates between emission modes: during measurement light emission, illumination light is suppressed or turned off to maximize measurement accuracy; during illumination light emission, the subject is properly illuminated for observation. This periodic switching ensures that each function operates at optimal intensity without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing measurement light images and illumination light images at different time points. The processor then combines these pre-captured images to generate the final endoscope image, ensuring that both measurement accuracy and observation brightness requirements are met through advance preparation of both image types
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 achieves high recognition accuracy for calculating the region of the subject, thereby improving the reliability of size measurement results, especially in changes within the digestive tract.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a distance between a plurality of points on the subject and the endoscope by emitting measurement light and by emitting illumination light at a light intensity suppressed relative to the measurement light or turning off the illumination light
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes: an endoscope; an air supply device; and a processor, in which the processor controls emission of illumination light with which a subject is illuminated and measurement light for measuring a distance between a plurality of points on the subject and the endoscope. At a first air supply volume, the subject is imaged by emitting the measurement light and by emitting the illumination light with a light intensity suppressed relative to the measurement light or turning off the illumination light, and a region of the subject is calculated from obtained first distance information. At a second air supply volume, the subject is imaged by emitting the measurement light and by emitting the illumination light with a light intensity suppressed relative to the measurement light or turning off the illumination light, and a region of the subject is calculated from obtained second distance information.