Endoscope System Yellow Dye Contamination Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accuracy of oxygen saturation calculation in endoscope systems is reduced due to contamination from dirt or mucus containing yellow dye, such as bilirubin or stercobilin, which absorbs light in the blue wavelength band, making it difficult to determine when the observation target requires cleaning.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system that acquires image signals across specific wavelength ranges to calculate signal ratios, including a ratio that accounts for yellow dye concentration and blood volume, and generates a warning when contamination is detected, allowing for accurate oxygen saturation calculation and prompting cleaning when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If blue wavelength light is used to calculate oxygen saturation, then oxygen saturation can be measured, but yellow dye in mucus absorbs the light and reduces calculation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the wavelength parameter by using green light (530±30nm) instead of blue light to illuminate the observation target. This wavelength change avoids the absorption peak of yellow dye while still allowing oxygen saturation measurement through appropriate wavelength selection and signal processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary substance (green dye or green fluorescent material) that emits or reflects green light when excited. This intermediary allows the measurement to proceed by providing the necessary green wavelength signal that is not absorbed by yellow dye, thereby mediating between the measurement requirement and the contamination problem
2Measurement precision
If multiple wavelength signals are used to detect contamination, then contamination detection accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the same imaging device to perform multiple functions: capturing both the green wavelength signal for oxygen saturation measurement and the blue wavelength signal for contamination detection. This multi-functionality approach avoids needing separate dedicated detection systems while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system alternately emits blue light and green light (or blue narrowband light and white light) to the observation target in periodic cycles. This periodic illumination allows sequential acquisition of contamination detection signals and oxygen saturation measurement signals using the same optical path and imaging device, reducing system complexity
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 effectively displays a warning when contamination is present, enabling more accurate oxygen saturation calculations and improving diagnostic accuracy by accounting for the presence and amount of yellow dye contamination.
Implementation Method 1
first signal light and second signal light having different wavelength bands and different absorption coefficients for oxygenated hemoglobin and reduced hemoglobin are alternately emitted to blood vessels in the mucous membrane and reflected light beams of the first and second signal light beams are detected by a sensor
Implementation Method 2
different absorption coefficients for oxygenated hemoglobin and reduced hemoglobin
Implementation Method 3
reflected light beams of the first and second signal light beams are detected by a sensor
Implementation Method 4
mucus containing yellow (or yellow brown) dye, such as bilirubin or stercobilin, may adhere to the mucous membrane. The yellow dye absorbs light in a blue wavelength band
Data Source
AI summary
The endoscope system includes: an image signal acquisition unit acquiring first image signal in first wavelength range where the amount of light absorption changes according to the concentration of yellow dye, second image signal in second wavelength range where the amount of light absorption changes according to the blood volume of an observation target, and third image signal in third wavelength range where a change in the amount of light absorption according to the concentration of the yellow dye is smaller than the first wavelength range and a change in the amount of light absorption according to the blood volume is smaller than the second wavelength range; a signal ratio calculation unit calculating first signal ratio based on the first and second image signals and calculating second signal ratio based on the second and third image signals; and a warning notification unit calculating a threshold value and generates warning signal.