Endoscope Sensor Zone Segmentation for Concurrent Imaging and Spectroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes lack the capability to simultaneously perform high-quality imaging and advanced tissue analysis, such as spectroscopy, which is essential for accurate diagnostics and treatment.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope incorporates a distal end with a light capturing device and an illumination device, featuring multiple optical devices assigned to different zones of an image sensor. These optical devices include imaging and measurement capabilities, allowing for concurrent imaging and tissue analysis, including diffuse reflection spectroscopy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical devices are assigned to different zones of an image sensor for concurrent imaging and tissue analysis, then diagnostic capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical devices (imaging optics and spectroscopy optics) with a single shared image sensor into one integrated endoscope head. This merging approach enables concurrent imaging and tissue analysis functions while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate sensors and processing systems, directly resolving the technical contradiction between enhanced diagnostic capability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor serves multiple functions by being shared between different optical devices - it captures both standard images through imaging optics and spectral data through spectroscopy optics. This multi-functionality allows the endoscope to perform diverse diagnostic tasks (imaging, spectroscopy, tissue analysis) with a single sensor platform, improving adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Device complexity
If multiple optical devices share a common image sensor, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor is divided into distinct zones, with specific regions assigned to different optical devices. The imaging optics project images onto one zone while spectroscopy optics direct spectral information onto another zone. This spatial segmentation prevents signal interference between functions and ensures that each optical device receives dedicated sensor real estate, maintaining measurement precision despite the shared sensor architecture
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the image sensor are optimized for different measurement types - some zones are dedicated to high-resolution imaging while others are allocated for spectral analysis. This local optimization ensures that each functional area of the sensor operates at peak performance for its specific purpose, preventing the shared architecture from compromising measurement precision
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope that is configured for imaging as well as for tissue analysis is disclosed. The endoscope includes an image sensor to which multiple optical devices are arranged in order to carry out different tasks with one and the same image sensor. In particular, the task of imaging and measurement tasks may be concurrently or temporally graded.