Endoscope illumination ratio control for blood vessel clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscope observation systems have limitations in effectively highlighting specific structures within biological tissue, such as blood vessels, due to inadequate control over illumination wavelengths and emphasis processing, leading to suboptimal image quality and potential artifacts like color noise and gradation collapse.
Innovation Solution
An observation system that includes a light source generating specific wavelength bands of light, an emphasizing processing unit, and a control system to adjust the ratio of light quantities based on user input for enhanced visualization of tissue structures, using blue, green, and red LEDs to optimize illumination and processing for different tissue depths and structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the light quantity ratio of the second wavelength band (higher blood extinction coefficient) to the first wavelength band is increased to enhance blood vessel emphasis, then the emphasis effect on blood vessels is improved, but color noise and gradation collapse artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the light quantity ratio between the first and second wavelength bands based on the selected emphasis amount. When emphasis amount is increased, the control portion increases the ratio of second wavelength band light quantity to first wavelength band light quantity, and vice versa. This dynamic adjustment allows optimal balance between blood vessel emphasis and artifact suppression for different observation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of light quantity ratio between different wavelength bands to control the emphasis effect. By varying this parameter according to user selection, the system optimizes the balance between highlighting blood vessels and preventing color noise and gradation collapse artifacts.
2Measurement precision
If emphasizing processing is applied to highlight tissue structures, then the visibility of blood vessels and tissue structures is improved, but image artifacts such as color noise and gradation collapse occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides multiple emphasis amount levels (first, second, and intermediate values) that users can select. The control portion dynamically adjusts the light quantity ratio and emphasizing processing strength according to the selected emphasis amount, allowing users to balance between structure visibility and artifact suppression based on specific observation needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies emphasizing processing at different degrees rather than always at maximum strength. By using intermediate emphasis amounts, the system achieves sufficient structure visibility while avoiding excessive processing that would cause severe artifacts like color noise and gradation collapse.
3Device complexity
If fixed wavelength illumination is used, then the system configuration is simple, but the adaptability to different tissue depths and structures is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination light is segmented into multiple wavelength bands (first wavelength band with lower blood extinction coefficient and second wavelength band with higher blood extinction coefficient). Each wavelength band targets different tissue depths and structures, allowing the system to adapt to various observation requirements while maintaining a relatively simple endoscope configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscope system achieves multi-functionality by using multiple wavelength bands for illumination. The same endoscope can observe different tissue depths and structures by switching between wavelength bands and adjusting emphasis amounts, eliminating the need for multiple specialized endoscopes.
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 system provides improved visualization of blood vessels and other tissue structures by adjusting light ratios and processing techniques, reducing artifacts and maintaining image quality across varying emphasis levels, thus enhancing the clarity and accuracy of biological tissue observations.
Implementation Method 1
light of a first wavelength band scattered or absorbed in a layer of a predetermined depth in biological tissue, and light of a second wavelength band scattered or absorbed in the layer of the predetermined depth in the biological tissue
Implementation Method 2
light of a first wavelength band scattered or absorbed in a layer of a predetermined depth in biological tissue, and light of a second wavelength band scattered or absorbed in the layer of the predetermined depth in the biological tissue
Implementation Method 3
an image obtained by picking up an image of return light from the biological tissue illuminated by the illumination light
Data Source
AI summary
An observation system includes: a light source portion configured to generate light of a first wavelength band, and light of a second wavelength band; an emphasizing processing portion configured to perform processing for highlighting a structure positioned in a layer of a predetermined depth in the biological tissue, to an image obtained by picking up an image of return light from the biological tissue; a selecting portion configured to change an emphasis amount; and a control portion configured to increase a ratio of a light quantity of the light of the second wavelength band to the light quantity of the light of the first wavelength band when the emphasis amount is increased, or decrease the ratio of the light quantity of the light of the second wavelength band to the light quantity of the light of the first wavelength band when the emphasis amount is decreased.