Endoscope System for Simultaneous Visible and Fluorescence Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscope imaging technologies face limitations in distinguishing between similar-looking tissues, such as cancers and healthy tissue, due to limited resolution and the need for simultaneous visible and fluorescent imaging to enhance contrast during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system employing two discrete laser sources, one for visible light and another for excitation light, which induces fluorescence, uses a camera with a Bayer filter and notch filter to capture and process both visible and fluorescent images in real-time, allowing for the creation of composite images that enhance tissue differentiation without requiring additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional endoscope imaging is used, then the imaging structure is simple, but the tissue contrast and ability to distinguish similar-looking tissues is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines visible light imaging and fluorescence imaging into a single integrated endoscope system. The imaging sensor captures both reflected visible light and fluorescence emission simultaneously, merging two imaging modalities into one device to improve tissue contrast without requiring separate imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging sensor performs multiple functions by detecting both reflected visible light and fluorescence emission across different wavelength ranges. This multi-functional approach allows the single sensor to provide both anatomical visualization and molecular contrast information, enhancing tissue differentiation capability
2Measurement precision
If separate visible and fluorescence imaging systems are used, then tissue differentiation is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges visible light imaging and fluorescence imaging into a single integrated endoscope system. The imaging sensor captures both reflected visible light and fluorescence emission simultaneously, merging two imaging modalities into one device to improve tissue contrast without requiring separate imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging sensor performs multiple functions by detecting both reflected visible light and fluorescence emission across different wavelength ranges. This multi-functional approach allows the single sensor to provide both anatomical visualization and molecular contrast information, enhancing tissue differentiation capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cameras and beam splitters are added for simultaneous imaging, then imaging capability is enhanced, but the device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines visible light imaging and fluorescence imaging into a single integrated endoscope system. The imaging sensor captures both reflected visible light and fluorescence emission simultaneously, merging two imaging modalities into one device to improve tissue contrast without requiring separate imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging sensor performs multiple functions by detecting both reflected visible light and fluorescence emission across different wavelength ranges. This multi-functional approach allows the single sensor to provide both anatomical visualization and molecular contrast information, enhancing tissue differentiation 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 solution enables real-time, high-resolution, simultaneous visible and fluorescent imaging, improving tissue contrast and aiding surgeons in distinguishing between different bodily structures without affecting the frame rate or requiring extra cameras or beam splitters, thus enhancing surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
a light source optically coupled to a proximal end of a fiber optic cable to emit visible light and excitation light into the fiber optic cable
Implementation Method 2
a fiber optic cable optically transmitting the visible light and the excitation light from the light source to a distal end of the fiber optic cable
Implementation Method 3
receiving fluorescence light emitted from a plurality of dye molecules in response to the plurality of dye molecules absorbing the excitation light
Implementation Method 4
an image sensor at the distal end of the fiber optic cable that receives a reflection of the visible light and the fluorescence light simultaneously
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2
AI summary
An endoscope apparatus includes a fiber optic cable with a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The endoscope apparatus also includes a light source optically coupled to the proximal end of the fiber optic cable to emit visible light and excitation light into the fiber optic cable for output from the distal end. The light source is configured to emit both the visible light and the excitation light simultaneously, and a wavelength of the excitation light is outside a wavelength spectrum of the visible light. An image sensor coupled to the distal end of the fiber optic cable and positioned to receive a reflection of the visible light as reflected visible light.