Endoscope Polarized Light Imaging for Surface Texture Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscope imaging techniques struggle to effectively capture micro-geometric surface textures of organs due to low light intensity contrast, particularly in translucent areas, and often require the use of blue pigment liquids that can cause bleeding and color changes, making it difficult to observe micro-geometric surfaces without damaging the mucosa.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that uses a combination of polarized light beams with different polarization directions, such as 0 and 90 degrees, to enhance the contrast of micro-geometric surface features by capturing and processing images in a polarization image capturing mode, allowing for the detection and enhancement of depressed regions on the object's surface without the need for blue pigment liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If blue pigment liquid is sprinkled onto the mucosa to enhance surface texture visibility, then the micro-geometric surface texture can be observed, but the object may bleed and the mucosa may change its color
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses polarized light as an intermediary to enhance surface texture visibility without direct contact with the mucosa. By illuminating the surface with polarized light and analyzing the reflected light's polarization state, the system can detect micro-geometric features through changes in light intensity and polarization angle, eliminating the need for pigment liquids that cause bleeding and color changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical method of sprinkling pigment liquid with an optical method using polarized light. Instead of physically contacting the mucosa with liquid to enhance contrast, the system uses polarized illumination and detection to achieve surface texture visualization, thereby substituting a non-invasive optical system for the invasive liquid application method.
2Ease of operation
If conventional light intensity observation is used to capture micro-geometric surface texture, then the observation process is simple, but the light intensity contrast is insufficient to effectively capture the texture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the observation parameter from simple light intensity to polarized light intensity and polarization angle. By measuring the intensity of light with different polarization states and calculating the polarization angle, the system enhances the contrast of micro-geometric surface features while maintaining operational simplicity through automated image processing algorithms.
3Measurement precision
If polarized light illumination is used to enhance surface texture contrast, then the micro-geometric surface can be visualized, but the device complexity increases due to polarized light source and image sensor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates polarized light illumination and polarization-sensitive detection into a unified endoscope system that can perform both standard imaging and polarized light imaging. The system uses a single image sensor that can operate in different modes (standard intensity mode and polarized light mode), reducing the need for separate complex devices while maintaining enhanced surface texture detection capability.
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
This approach enables the effective detection and enhancement of micro-geometric surface features, providing an image similar to one obtained with blue pigment liquids, while avoiding the drawbacks of bleeding and color changes, by improving light intensity contrast and allowing for better visualization of surface textures.
Implementation Method 1
an object is sequentially irradiated with a first illuminating light beam that is polarized in a first direction and with a second illuminating light beam that is polarized in a second direction that intersects with the first direction
Implementation Method 2
an image pickup part for successively picking up images of reflection light from the subject and outputting light intensity image information
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An image processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an illuminating section which sequentially irradiates an object with a first illuminating light beam that is polarized in a first direction and with a second illuminating light beam that is polarized in a second direction that intersects with the first direction in a polarization image capturing mode. In the polarization image capturing mode, obtained are first and second polarization images to be generated based on signals representing light that has been transmitted through polarizers that have the polarization transmission axis in respective directions that are parallel to, and intersect with, the first direction while the object is being irradiated with the first illuminating light beam, and third and fourth polarization images to be generated based on signals representing light that has been transmitted through polarizers that have the polarization transmission axis in respective directions that are parallel to, and intersect with, the second direction while the object is being irradiated with the second illuminating light beam. And a depressed region on the surface of the object is detected based on the first and second polarization images that form one pair and/or the third and fourth polarization images that form another pair.