Eye Image Color-Space Enhancement for Local Contrast Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging modalities in ophthalmic surgery often fail to provide sufficient visibility or contrast, particularly in small and delicate structures of the eye, leading to challenges in visualizing structures like the retina, macula, lens, and vitreous body, and can result in decreased contrast in one portion of the image when increasing contrast in another.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes a visualization module and controller to convert images from a first pixel cloud in an RGB color space to a second pixel cloud in a CIELAB color space, allowing for selective visual enhancement of specific zones in the eye by moving pixels along color axes, enhancing contrast without affecting other parts of the image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If contrast is increased in one portion of the image, then visibility of that specific structure is improved, but contrast in other parts of the image decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transforming the image to LAB color space and selectively modifying only the L (lightness) channel for specific pixel regions corresponding to structures of interest. This allows contrast enhancement in selected zones without affecting other parts of the image, resolving the contradiction between localized contrast improvement and overall image quality preservation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dye exposure is minimized to reduce harm, then patient safety is improved, but visualization duration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the image in LAB color space and applies enhancement algorithms to this copy rather than modifying the original image or requiring prolonged dye exposure. This virtual enhancement through color space transformation allows extended visualization duration without additional physical dye exposure, resolving the contradiction between patient safety and procedure duration.
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 real-time, selective visual enhancement of specific areas in the eye, such as blood vessels, pale regions, and particles, while minimizing dye exposure and extending dye duration, thereby improving visualization during surgeries like vitreoretinal and cataract procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The system includes a visualization module configured to obtain the original image, the visualization module including a photosensor
Implementation Method 2
the controller to convert an output of the visualization module to a first pixel cloud in a first color space. The controller is configured to map the first pixel cloud to a second pixel cloud in a second color space
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for visually enhancing an original image of an eye includes a visualization module. A controller is configured to convert an output of the visualization module to a first pixel cloud in a first color space and map the first pixel cloud to a second pixel cloud in a second color space. The method includes identifying at least one selected zone in the second color space. The controller is configured to move the selected zone from an original location to a modified location in the second color space. The second pixel cloud is updated to obtain a modified second pixel cloud, which is transformed into a third pixel cloud in the first color space. An enhanced image is formed based in part on the modified second pixel cloud and provides selective visual enhancement in the selected zone without affecting contrast in a remainder of the original image.