Endoscope Optics for Continuous Front and Side Tissue Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes suffer from blind spots and overlapping areas when capturing simultaneous front-view and side-view images, leading to discomfort and potential erroneous diagnoses due to discontinuous visual fields and hidden lesion sites.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with adjustable optical elements in front and side windows that alter the deflection characteristics of incident light using control signals to minimize blind spots and overlapping areas in captured images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If an objective lens with a wide viewing angle is used to capture images of portions between folds, then the visual field range is improved, but blind spots and overlapping areas are generated between front-view and side-view images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the optical element (liquid crystal lens) adjustable and variable. The focal length and deflection characteristics of the optical element can be dynamically changed based on control signals, allowing the system to adapt the visual field range to eliminate blind spots and overlapping areas while maintaining comprehensive coverage. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to optimize the visual field configuration according to specific observation needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the focal length and refractive index of the liquid crystal lens through voltage control. By changing these optical parameters, the system can adjust the deflection angle of incident light and the visual field range, thereby eliminating blind spots and overlapping areas between front-view and side-view images while maintaining comprehensive tissue coverage for accurate diagnosis.
2Area of stationary object
If simultaneous front-view and side-view images are captured, then a wide range of the observation target can be displayed, but blind spot areas and overlapping areas are generated between the images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using the image sensor to detect the visual field coverage and then adjusting the optical element's parameters based on this information. The system monitors the captured images and modifies the liquid crystal lens's focal length and deflection characteristics to eliminate blind spots and overlapping areas, ensuring continuous and comprehensive visual field coverage without information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the optical system dynamic by enabling real-time adjustment of the liquid crystal lens parameters. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt the visual field configuration based on the specific anatomical structures being observed, eliminating blind spots and overlapping areas while maintaining comprehensive coverage of the observation target.
3Measurement precision
If the visual field is narrowed to improve image clarity, then image quality is improved, but it becomes difficult to capture images of portions between adjacent folds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by using multiple observation windows (front window and side window) that capture different visual fields. The liquid crystal lens can selectively direct light from different angular ranges to the image sensor, allowing the system to segment the visual field coverage while maintaining high image quality in each segment. This enables comprehensive coverage of portions between folds without compromising image clarity.
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 ensures smooth visual field ranges by reducing blind spots and overlapping areas, enhancing diagnostic accuracy by providing continuous and accurate imaging of biological tissues.
Implementation Method 1
an optical element that is provided in at least one of the front window and the side window, and changes a visual field range of at least one of the front-view image and the side-view image by adjusting a deflection characteristic of incident light
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope that captures an image of a biological tissue in a body cavity includes: an image sensor configured to capture the image of the biological tissue; an objective lens that simultaneously forms, as captured images, a front-view image of the biological tissue obtained through a front window facing a front side of a light receiving surface of the image sensor and a side-view image of the biological tissue obtained through a side window facing a lateral side as compared with the front window, on the light receiving surface; and an optical element that is provided in at least one of the front window and the side window, and changes a visual field range of at least one of the front-view image and the side-view image by adjusting a deflection characteristic of incident light with a control signal.