Electronic Endoscope Narrowband Imaging Vascular Depth Oxygen Saturation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic endoscope systems struggle to simultaneously acquire information about blood vessel depth and oxygen saturation, as existing methods either provide depth information using broadband light or oxygen saturation using narrowband light, but not both simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The system employs first, second, and third narrowband rays of different wavelength ranges, with at least one having a central wavelength of not more than 450nm, to capture vascular information including both vessel depth and oxygen saturation, using a processor to calculate luminance ratios and correlate them with stored data to determine these parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If broadband light is used for illumination, then overall tissue visibility is improved, but vascular information (depth and oxygen saturation) cannot be simultaneously acquired
Solution Approach 1:
The broadband light spectrum is segmented into multiple narrowband wavelength ranges (first, second, and third narrowband rays with different wavelength ranges). By capturing images under each narrowband illumination separately and processing them, the system can extract both depth information (from wavelength-dependent penetration) and oxygen saturation information (from wavelength-dependent absorption differences), thereby resolving the contradiction between overall visibility and vascular information acquisition.
2Loss of information
If narrowband light is used for illumination, then vascular information can be acquired, but overall tissue visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple narrowband images captured under different wavelength ranges are merged and processed together. The processing unit combines the information from first, second, and third narrowband rays to simultaneously derive both depth information and oxygen saturation information, thereby achieving comprehensive vascular information acquisition while maintaining overall tissue context.
3Loss of information
If sequential narrowband ray projection is used, then depth and oxygen saturation information can be obtained, but imaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic sequential projection of first, second, and third narrowband rays with different wavelength ranges. By capturing images during each projection period and processing them in sequence, the system obtains both depth information (from wavelength-dependent tissue penetration) and oxygen saturation information (from wavelength-dependent hemoglobin absorption), accepting the time trade-off for comprehensive vascular information.
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
Enables the simultaneous display of blood vessel depth and oxygen saturation information, improving diagnostic capabilities by providing detailed vascular insights.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit that captures reflected light from subject tissues while the narrowband rays are being projected, thereby to output image signals that represent luminance of the narrowband rays
Implementation Method 2
a processor that calculates a first luminance ratio between the first and third narrowband signals and a second luminance ratio between the second and third narrowband signals
Implementation Method 3
the light absorbance of blood vessels to the rays IR1 and IR3 will change according to the change in oxygen saturation of blood, whereas the ray IR2 is of such an infrared region that the light absorbance of blood vessels to the ray IR2 will not change regardless of oxygen saturation of blood
Data Source
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AI summary
Illumination light projected into a body cavity includes first to third narrowband rays (N1,N2,N3) of different wavelength ranges, at least one of these narrowband rays has a central wavelength of not more than 450nm. Under these narrowband rays, first to third narrowband image signals are respectively obtained through an endoscope. Based on the first to third narrowband image signals, vascular areas containing blood vessels are determined, and a first luminance ratio (S1/S3) between the first and third narrowband signals and a second luminance ratio (S2/S3) between the second and third narrowband signals are calculated at every pixel of the vascular areas. From the calculated first and second luminance ratios, information about both the depth and oxygen saturation of the blood vessels is acquired with reference to correlation data that correlates the first and second luminance ratios to the vessel depth and the oxygen saturation.