Endoscopic Illumination Control for Real-Time Tissue Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopic laser therapy lacks accurate real-time monitoring of tissue composition during procedures, leading to inefficient and potentially harmful treatment of both target and surrounding tissues, as manual identification is prone to error and continuous monitoring of tissue type or composition is not feasible.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic target identification system that includes an endoscope with an optical fiber coupled to a non-endoscopic illumination source, allowing for a diagnostic beam to be emitted when the illumination mode changes, enabling continuous in vivo identification of target composition and adjusting laser settings accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional endoscopic laser therapy is used without real-time tissue composition monitoring, then the procedure is simpler and faster to perform, but the treatment precision and safety are reduced due to manual identification errors
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent light sources with distinct spectral characteristics (e.g., first light source at 450-480nm blue range, second light source at 560-590nm yellow-green range). Each light source can be independently controlled to illuminate the target tissue, enabling spectral analysis of reflected light to determine tissue composition without requiring a single complex monitoring system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary illumination system that mediates between the laser therapy device and the tissue target. By using multiple light sources with specific wavelengths that reflect differently off various tissue types (muscle, fat, connective tissue), the system provides compositional information without directly monitoring the laser-tissue interaction, thus improving precision while managing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple light sources with different spectral ranges are used to illuminate the target, then tissue composition can be identified more accurately, but the illumination system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into multiple independent light sources, each emitting in a specific spectral range (e.g., blue 450-480nm, yellow-green 560-590nm). This segmentation allows each light source to be optimized for specific tissue type detection while maintaining independent control, improving identification accuracy without requiring a single overly complex illumination system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of illumination wavelength by selecting from multiple light sources with distinct spectral characteristics. By varying the wavelength parameter and analyzing the reflected light properties, the system can differentiate between various tissue compositions (muscle, fat, connective tissue) while keeping each individual light source relatively simple.
3Productivity
If the endoscopic illumination source is adjusted to provide different amounts of illumination, then the diagnostic beam can be optimized for target identification, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by sequentially activating different light sources rather than illuminating continuously with all sources simultaneously. The controller can switch between first and second light sources in a periodic manner, allowing diagnostic imaging at optimized illumination levels while minimizing overall system complexity through time-multiplexed control.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination control is made dynamic by allowing real-time adjustment of which light source is active and at what intensity level. The controller can dynamically switch between different illumination modes (first light source only, second light source only, or alternating) based on the diagnostic needs and surgical conditions, improving identification efficiency without requiring a permanently complex control architecture.
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
Enables precise and efficient treatment by continuously monitoring tissue composition, allowing for real-time adjustment of laser settings to effectively target specific tissues while minimizing exposure to non-treatment areas, thereby improving procedure efficacy and reducing surgery time.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber insertable through a working channel of the endoscope and coupled to a non-endoscopic illumination source
Implementation Method 2
determine a composition of a target based on the diagnostic beam incident on the target and light from the diagnostic beam being reflected from the target
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for identifying a target during an endoscopic procedure are disclosed. An endoscopic target identification system includes an endoscope having an endoscopic illumination source, an optical fiber insertable through a working channel of the endoscope and coupled to a non-endoscopic illumination source different from the endoscopic illumination source, and a controller. The controller can send a control signal to the non-endoscopic illumination source to emit a diagnostic beam through the optical fiber when the at least one endoscopic illumination source changes from a first mode to a second mode. The second mode has a lower amount of illumination than the first mode. The controller can determine a composition of a target based on the diagnostic beam incident on the target and light from the diagnostic beam being reflected from the target.