Endoscope Shape Display Reliability Fade-Out

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope shape display technologies do not effectively convey the reliability of the shape information displayed on the screen, leading to confusion for operators, especially when detection accuracy changes or sensors fail.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope shape display device that calculates the reliability of the shape estimation and displays it in a fade-out mode, using equations that consider sensor accuracy, shape change degree, and elapsed time to provide visual feedback on the screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If color-coded display is used to indicate detection range status, then operator awareness of effective detection range is improved, but reliability information of the displayed shape is not provided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability informationVSAvoidinformation completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope shape display is segmented into multiple regions based on reliability levels. The display area is divided into a first area (high reliability) and a second area (low reliability), allowing operators to visually distinguish between reliable and unreliable shape information without losing overall context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different visual characteristics are applied to different regions of the display based on their reliability levels. The first area uses display characteristics that indicate high reliability, while the second area uses characteristics that indicate low reliability, providing localized quality information throughout the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If entire endoscope shape is displayed continuously, then visual continuity is maintained, but unreliable shape information may mislead operators

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape detection accuracyVSAvoidoperator confusion
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Different visual characteristics are applied to different regions of the display based on their reliability levels. The first area uses display characteristics that indicate high reliability, while the second area uses characteristics that indicate low reliability, providing localized quality information throughout the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous feedback to operators about the reliability of shape information through visual characteristics. This feedback mechanism helps operators understand which parts of the displayed shape are reliable and which require caution, preventing misleading interpretations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Illumination intensity

If color changes are used to indicate detection status, then detection range visibility is improved, but distinction between detection status and reliability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay visibilityVSAvoidinformation differentiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display is segmented into multiple areas with different visual characteristics. By dividing the display into a first area and a second area with distinct characteristics, the system can simultaneously convey both detection status and reliability information without confusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different visual characteristics are applied to different regions of the display based on their reliability levels. The first area uses display characteristics that indicate high reliability, while the second area uses characteristics that indicate low reliability, providing localized quality information throughout the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution provides operators with clear and continuous visual feedback on the reliability of the endoscope shape, reducing confusion and improving operational accuracy by indicating unreliable parts on the screen, thus assisting in accurate navigation within complex observation objects.

Implementation Method 1

a shape sensor 130 that senses a magnetic field generated by a source coil 14i

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field sensing: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3607870B1Endoscope shape display device, and endoscope system
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 HOYA CORPORATION
  • EP3607870B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3607870B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3607870B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention has an object to provide an endoscope shape display device that is capable of providing an operator with information regarding how reliable a provided shape of an endoscope is. The endoscope shape display device according to the present invention calculates reliability of an estimation result of the shape of the endoscope and displays, in a fade-out mode, at least a part of an image of the shape of the endoscope in conjunction with the reliability (see Fig. 3).