Endoscopic Scattering Imaging Circuit for Early Tumor Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic scattering imaging technologies face challenges in early detection of tumors like esophagus cancer due to the need for specialized polarizing optical systems, highly sensitive image pickup elements, and precise illumination and observation light angle control, which increase costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus that enhances the light source device and processor within an existing endoscopic optical system to perform scattering imaging using a rotating filter and image processing circuit, estimating spectral reflectance and calculating scattering features to generate color information correlated with pathological changes without requiring a polarizing optical system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a polarizing optical system is used to measure scattering characteristics, then the ability to detect early tumor changes is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary functional components from a traditional polarizing optical system. Instead of using complex polarizers and polarizing beam splitters, the invention uses a simple linear optical system with basic filters and detectors to achieve the same scattering measurement function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from polarized light intensity ratios to spectral intensity distributions. By measuring intensity at multiple wavelengths and using spectral analysis, the system achieves scattering characteristic detection without requiring polarizing components, thus simplifying the optical system while preserving measurement capability
2Measurement precision
If highly sensitive image pickup elements are used to detect polarized light, then the detection capability is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical polarizing system with a spectral measurement system. Instead of using sensitive polarized light detectors, the invention uses standard intensity detectors combined with spectral filtering to extract scattering information from intensity variations across wavelengths, eliminating the need for specialized high-sensitivity polarized light detection components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spectral filters as intermediaries between the light source and detector. These filters convert the complex polarized light detection problem into a series of simple intensity measurements at different wavelengths, allowing standard detectors to achieve the same information extraction capability as specialized polarized light sensors
3Measurement precision
If precise illumination and observation light angle control is implemented, then the scattering measurement accuracy is improved, but the ease of operation and device complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs an optical system where a single illumination geometry serves multiple measurement purposes. The same illumination and collection angles used for general imaging also work for scattering measurements across different wavelengths, eliminating the need for precise angle control mechanisms and making the system easier to operate while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the measurement function into spectral filtering rather than angular control. Instead of precisely controlling light angles to achieve wavelength-specific scattering measurements, the invention uses spectral filters to separate wavelengths, allowing measurements at fixed, easy-to-maintain angles while achieving the same measurement precision
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 easy and effective scattering imaging for early tumor detection by converting spectral reflectance into color information with higher pathological correlation, reducing the need for specialized equipment and improving the visualization of structural variants within epithelial tissues.
Implementation Method 1
a light source device for emitting light
Implementation Method 2
the scattering spectroscopy and scattering imaging are a technology for finding an early change which is difficult to find on a general observation image by optically capturing the scattering change
Implementation Method 3
an image pickup device for converting a living body observed image to video signals
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing circuit includes a spectrum estimating portion for inputting image data, obtaining data required for spectrum estimation from an estimation data supplying portion and estimating spectrums of pixels, a scattering feature calculating portion for calculating several scattering features based on spectrums of pixels from the spectrum estimating portion and data required for feature calculation from the feature calculation data supplying portion, and a color image generating portion for performing a display color calculation based on a scattering feature image from the scattering feature calculating portion and for determining RGB values of respective pixels and outputting RGB images in order to display scattering features as a color image.