Endoscope Tip Orientation Feedback for Curved Vessel Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems struggle to accurately detect and correct deviations in the up-down direction of the tip portion, leading to difficulties in understanding the conditions of the observed site within irregularly curved blood vessels, which can hinder appropriate medical practices.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system equipped with an acceleration sensor on the camera head portion to detect gravitational acceleration, allowing for the calculation of deviation angles and superimposing an indicator on the image to correct for up-down direction deviations, using a camera control unit to process and display this information on a monitor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the endoscope is inserted into irregularly curved blood vessels, then the endoscope can reach the target site, but the tip portion rotates causing deviation in the up-down direction of captured images
Solution Approach 1:
The acceleration sensor provides real-time feedback on the tip portion's orientation by detecting gravitational acceleration. The camera control unit processes this feedback to calculate deviation angles and corrects the captured images accordingly, maintaining accurate up-down direction orientation despite rotations during navigation through curved blood vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical orientation reference systems with a sensor-based detection system. Instead of relying on mechanical alignment, the acceleration sensor detects gravitational acceleration to determine the tip portion's orientation, and the system electronically corrects image orientation based on this data.
2Measurement precision
If deviation correction is implemented through software processing, then image orientation accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acceleration sensor acts as an intermediary that provides objective orientation data to the camera control unit. This intermediary component enables automated deviation detection and correction, reducing the need for complex manual processing while maintaining high image orientation accuracy.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If an acceleration sensor is added to detect gravitational acceleration, then deviation detection capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The acceleration sensor enables the endoscope system to self-diagnose and self-correct its orientation. By detecting gravitational acceleration, the system automatically determines its own deviation and applies corrections without requiring external intervention or complex additional components.
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
Efficiently detects and corrects deviations in the up-down direction of the endoscope tip, enabling accurate medical practice by providing real-time feedback to users.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration sensor that is arranged at the tip portion and detects posture information in at least three directions
Data Source
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AI summary
An endoscope system includes an endoscope that can be inserted in and pulled out from a subject, and includes a tip portion provided with an imaging unit including an optical system and an image sensor, a posture control sensor that is arranged at the tip portion of the endoscope, and detects posture information in at least three directions, a front-rear direction, an up-down direction, and a left-right direction, of the tip portion, and a calculation device that calculates presence or absence of deviation in the up-down direction of an image captured by the imaging unit, based on the posture information in the three directions detected by the posture control sensor. The calculation device displays an indicator indicating the presence or absence of deviation in the up-down direction of the image in association with the image on a monitor.