Medical Image Size Measurement for Endoscopic Observation Targets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical imaging technologies struggle to accurately measure and present the size of observation targets, such as lesions, with activated carbon injection technology being costly and its mercury removal efficiency is affected by NOx and SO2.

Innovation Solution

Utilization of metal sulfides (e.g., FeS2, CuS, CuFeS2) as mercury removal adsorbents, which contact with flue gas and waste liquid, adsorbing and converting Hg0 from flue gas and Hg2+ from waste liquid into stable mercury sulfide compounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If activated carbon injection technology is used for mercury removal, then mercury removal efficiency is improved, but operational costs increase and secondary pollution is caused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemercury removal efficiencyVSAvoidoperational costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive activated carbon with inexpensive metal sulfide powders (FeS2, CuS, CuFeS2) that can be sprayed as disposable adsorbents. These cheap short-living materials are injected into the flue gas stream, perform adsorption, and are then removed with the ash, eliminating the need for expensive carbon replacement and disposal systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the harmful components (S and As) from the metal sulfide adsorbents after they have performed their mercury removal function. By taking out these harmful components through leaching processes, the remaining adsorbent material can be reused or disposed of safely, resolving the secondary pollution problem while maintaining low operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If activated carbon injection technology is used for mercury removal, then mercury removal efficiency is improved, but secondary pollution is caused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemercury removal efficiencyVSAvoidsecondary pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful metal sulfide powders into beneficial adsorbents for mercury removal. The S and As components, which could be considered harmful, are actually the active sites for mercury adsorption. After use, these same components are extracted through leaching, converting the spent adsorbent into a source of recoverable chemicals while eliminating secondary pollution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a discard and recover system where metal sulfide adsorbents are discarded after mercury removal, and the harmful components (S and As) are recovered through leaching processes. This allows the adsorbents to be replaced with fresh, inexpensive materials while recovering valuable chemicals, eliminating secondary pollution from accumulated contaminated carbon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Loss of energy

If metal sulfide adsorbents are used, then operational costs are reduced, but adsorbent performance must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational costsVSAvoidadsorbent performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite metal sulfide materials (FeS2, CuS, CuFeS2) that combine multiple elements to achieve superior mercury adsorption performance. These composite materials offer enhanced reactivity and selectivity compared to single-element sulfides, maintaining high adsorbent performance while using inexpensive raw materials that reduce operational costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Achieves efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly simultaneous removal of Hg0 from flue gas and Hg2+ from waste liquid, avoiding secondary pollution and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

metal sulfides (e.g., FeS2, CuS, CuFeS2) as mercury removal adsorbents, which contact with flue gas and waste liquid, adsorbing and converting Hg0 from flue gas and Hg2+ from waste liquid into stable mercury sulfide compounds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

adsorbing and converting Hg0 from flue gas and Hg2+ from waste liquid into stable mercury sulfide compounds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS20250366701A1Medical support device, endoscope, medical support method, and program

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A medical support device includes a processor. The processor is configured to recognize, using a medical image, an observation target region appearing in the medical image, measure a size corresponding to a characteristic of the observation target region, based on the medical image, and output the size.