Endoscope Spectral Separation Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems face challenges in accurately separating normal return light from specific return light, leading to noise interference and inaccurate information acquisition.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope system employs a light source that emits normal and specific lights, a spectral element that transmits specific return light and reflects normal return light, and dedicated image pickup elements for each type of return light, preventing noise mixing and ensuring accurate information acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the return light is separated by transmitting normal return light and reflecting specific return light, then the specific return light can be obtained, but normal return light may be mixed into the specific return light causing noise
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reflecting specific return light and transmitting normal return light (which causes noise), the patent inverts the approach by transmitting specific return light and reflecting normal return light. This inversion prevents normal return light from mixing with specific return light, thereby eliminating noise while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the return light separation process into distinct transmission and reflection paths using a spectral element. By dividing the light paths and assigning different wavelengths to different paths (specific return light transmitted, normal return light reflected), the system achieves clean separation without mixing, resolving the noise problem.
2Measurement precision
If a spectral element is used to separate return light, then specific return light can be isolated, but it is difficult to reflect only specific return light without mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the spectral separation challenge by inverting the conventional approach. Instead of attempting to reflect only specific wavelengths (which is difficult and causes mixing), it transmits specific wavelengths and reflects all others. This inversion makes the spectral separation easier to achieve with standard optical components while maintaining high purity of the specific return light.
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 configuration effectively prevents normal return light from mixing with specific return light, allowing for the acquisition of accurate and noise-free information, thereby enhancing the system's ability to obtain precise images and biological information.
Implementation Method 1
a spectral element that transmits first specific return light which is return light from the subject illuminated with the first specific light and that reflects normal return light which is return light from the subject illuminated with the normal light
Implementation Method 2
a light source that emits normal light consisting of white light including red light, green light, and blue light, and first specific light having a peak wavelength different from a peak wavelength of each of the red light, the green light, and the blue light
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system includes a light source unit that emits normal light and first specific light having a peak wavelength different from that of each of red light, green light, and blue light included in the normal light, a dichroic filter that transmits first specific return light which is return light from a subject illuminated with the first specific light and that reflects return light from the subject illuminated with the normal light, a CMOS sensor on which the return light of the normal light is incident, and a CMOS sensor on which the first specific return light is incident.