Endoscope Optical Flow Monitoring for Lens Contamination Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgeons face challenges in determining whether image clarity issues in endoscope graphics are due to optical system impairments such as contamination or damage, which can complicate surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that evaluate optical flow vectors in endoscope image data to determine the state of the optical system, including contamination and damage, by identifying distinct image flow vectors and thresholds to assess the system's condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the endoscope optical system is used continuously for surgical procedures, then productivity is improved, but the optical system may become contaminated or damaged, worsening reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of optical system contamination and damage by analyzing image flow vectors before the contamination significantly degrades image quality. This allows for early intervention and maintenance scheduling that prevents reliability failures while maintaining continuous productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors image data during surgical procedures, analyzes optical flow vectors to detect contamination patterns, and provides feedback about optical system condition. This real-time feedback enables dynamic adjustment of maintenance schedules and continues operation until actual failure points are reached, optimizing both productivity and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the surgeon manually inspects image quality to detect optical system issues, then measurement precision might be improved, but the complexity of operation increases and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system performs self-diagnosis by automatically analyzing image flow vectors for contamination patterns. The system detects its own degradation state without requiring external manual inspection, thereby maintaining high measurement precision while preserving surgical workflow simplicity and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual visual inspection process is replaced with an automated computational analysis system that processes image data and detects contamination through optical flow vector analysis. This substitution maintains or improves detection precision while eliminating the time loss and operational complexity associated with manual inspection.
3Ease of operation
If the endoscope optical system operates without maintenance monitoring, then ease of operation is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to undetected contamination and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors its own condition through continuous analysis of image flow vectors during normal operation. This self-monitoring capability maintains operational simplicity by requiring no additional user actions while simultaneously ensuring reliability through continuous detection of contamination and damage patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The contamination detection process operates continuously during normal image acquisition without interrupting or adding to the operational workflow. The system maintains ease of operation by integrating monitoring into the existing imaging function, while ensuring reliability through uninterrupted surveillance of optical system condition throughout the surgical procedure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a device (100) and a system for determining the state of an optical system (125) for an endoscope (120). The device comprises: an input interface (110) configured to receive image data (71) acquired by means of the optical system (125); a computing unit (150) configured to implement at least one evaluation module (152) configured to determine the entire optical flow of the acquired image data (71), to identify at least one image flow vector (22, 25) based thereon, and, if at least two different image flow vectors (22, 25) have been identified, to determine at least one state of the optical system (125) based thereon; and an output interface (190) configured to generate an output signal (79) containing information about the determined at least one state of the optical system (125).