Endoscope Light Intensity Control via Reflected Signal Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling high intensity light sources in endoscopic imaging systems, such as Xenon lights, are ineffective due to issues like slow-response, high-frequency noise, nonlinearity, and non-monotonic response times, posing safety hazards and failing to adjust light intensity safely when the light source is not directed at a surface or when components are disconnected.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that use a controller to increment or decrement the light source output intensity in small steps, based on exposure values and adaptive normalization, to ensure safe operation, including self-calibration and failure detection, without requiring hardware changes, and can handle Xenon or Xenon-like light sources with slow-response and non-monotonic characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high intensity light source output is used to illuminate body tissue, then image quality is improved, but safety hazards increase (fire risk, tissue desiccation, eye exposure)
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the reflected light signal from the tissue and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the light source intensity. When the endoscope is close to tissue, the reflected light signal increases, triggering the system to reduce intensity. When disconnected or far from tissue, the signal decreases, prompting intensity increase to maintain image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source intensity is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system transitions between different intensity levels based on real-time operational conditions, automatically adapting to maintain both safety and image quality without manual intervention.
2Illumination intensity
If automatic exposure system increases light intensity to compensate for low reflected light, then image exposure is improved, but tissue damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the reflected light signal to intelligently control intensity adjustments. When the endoscope is close to tissue, the strong reflected signal indicates proper positioning, and the system maintains or reduces intensity rather than increasing it, preventing tissue damage while ensuring adequate image exposure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If light source intensity is reduced to safe levels, then safety is improved, but image exposure quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts intensity based on operational context. When the endoscope is close to tissue (safety mode), intensity is kept at safe levels. When disconnected or far from tissue (operational mode), intensity automatically increases to ensure proper image exposure, resolving the trade-off between safety and image quality.
4Power
If Xenon light source is used for high intensity output, then illumination capability is improved, but control difficulty increases due to slow-response and non-monotonic characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The control approach is segmented into discrete intensity levels rather than attempting continuous control. The system uses stepwise adjustment through specific power levels, which accounts for the slow and non-monotonic response characteristics of Xenon lights, making the control process more manageable and predictable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic scanning through predefined intensity levels to find the appropriate output. Rather than attempting direct continuous control, the controller periodically adjusts through a sequence of intensity steps, allowing the Xenon light to respond within its inherent time constants while still achieving the desired control outcome.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus where the output from a high intensity light source is controlled to produce well-exposed images/videos and to reduce automatically the intensity when an unsafe issue is detected in medical devices such as endoscopes and the like. The method and apparatus overcome problems to control light sources that have high-frequency noise, slow-response time, nonlinearity, and non-monotonic response time and to protect the patients' tissues from possible overheating/burning and the eyes of personnel and patients from possible direct exposure to high intensity light used in medical devices such as endoscopes and the like.