Adaptive Endoscope Lighting for Reflective Tools and Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic illumination systems require manual user adjustments and struggle to adapt to varying scene geometries, leading to inconsistent lighting and difficulty in capturing high dynamic range scenes with specular highlights and reflective metallic tools.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with multiple lighting elements that automatically adjust illumination by computing correspondence between lighting elements and scene regions using stereo triangulation and structured light patterns, allowing real-time or near real-time control of light intensity based on scene topography.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control of light source units is used, then doctors can control lighting during surgery, but it requires constant manual adjustment and is burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system automatically adjusts illumination levels by having the camerahead capture images, the processor analyze light intensity across scene regions, and the controller modulate lighting element drive levels based on measured scene brightness - the system serves itself without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from image sensors to measure actual scene light intensity, processes this information to determine required lighting adjustments, and modifies illumination output accordingly - creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing scene conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed lighting assumptions are used, then illumination system is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying scene geometries and produces inconsistent lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system transitions from static fixed assumptions to dynamic adaptation by continuously measuring scene light intensity with image sensors, processing spatial distribution patterns, and adjusting illumination levels in real-time based on actual scene geometry and lighting conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes lighting parameters (intensity, distribution) based on measured scene characteristics, adjusting the drive levels of individual lighting elements according to the spatial distribution of light intensity detected in different scene regions
3Illumination intensity
If high intensity lighting is used for reflective regions, then specular highlights are captured, but less reflective regions become underexposed
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different illumination intensities to different scene regions by analyzing the spatial distribution of light intensity from image sensors and selectively modulating the drive levels of individual lighting elements to provide locally optimized illumination - brighter regions receive reduced intensity while darker regions receive enhanced intensity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for producing adaptive lighting controls for an endoscope with multiple light emitting elements such as distinct light fibers, or distinct distal light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc. The amount of light delivered to the scene can be locally adjusted on a per-light basis to manage the dynamic range of the scene. For example, highly reflective metallic tools may benefit from reduced light, while cavities may benefit from increased light projected into the lumen.