Faint Fluorescence Surgical Imaging With False-Color Overlays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluorescence-guided surgery technologies are ineffective for visualizing faint fluorescence sources such as the autofluorescence of the parathyroid gland or fluorescent probes, as these signals are overwhelmed by excitation light and ambient light.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for visualizing faint fluorescence in surgery by emitting excitation light onto an operation area containing faint fluorescence sources, capturing fluorescence and white light images, performing image processing to create a virtual region of interest, and generating composite images with false color fluorescence overlay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If excitation light is shone on fluorescent dye infused tissue to generate fluorescence light, then fluorescence emission can be detected, but the reflected excitation light is orders of magnitude more intense and overwhelms the fluorescence signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful reflected excitation light component from the captured image through digital image processing. By separating the fluorescence signal from the overwhelming excitation light background, the system isolates the useful fluorescence information for visualization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter by capturing images at multiple wavelengths and processing them to isolate the fluorescence emission spectrum from the excitation light. This spectral parameter manipulation allows the faint fluorescence signal to be distinguished from the intense excitation light.
2Measurement precision
If standard fluorescence imaging is used for faint fluorescence sources such as parathyroid autofluorescence, then the fluorescence signal can be captured, but it is orders of magnitude weaker than fluorescent dyes and easily outshone by excitation light or ambient light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic modulation of the excitation light source and synchronizes the camera exposure accordingly. This temporal modulation allows the system to distinguish the modulated fluorescence signal from ambient light and other noise sources, significantly improving detection sensitivity for faint signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback through real-time image processing that continuously adjusts to enhance the faint fluorescence signal. By processing captured images to suppress background light and amplify the weak fluorescence component, the system adaptively improves measurement precision for autofluorescence detection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wavelength filtering is used to block reflected excitation light, then fluorescence light can pass through to the camera, but the filtering process may also attenuate the already weak fluorescence signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces digital image processing as an intermediary between the optical components and the final image. Instead of relying solely on physical wavelength filters that may attenuate the signal, the system uses computational methods to separate fluorescence from excitation light, preserving more of the weak fluorescence signal while still achieving effective filtering.
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
Enhances the visibility of faint fluorescence sources by suppressing external light interference, allowing for clearer identification and localization of these sources during surgery.
Implementation Method 1
Fluorescent dyes such as indocyanine green (ICG) or others are injected into tissue to be examined or operated on and, once the fluorescent dye has infiltrated the tissue, fluorescence excitation light is shone on the dye infused tissue, causing the fluorescent dye to emit fluorescence emission light
Implementation Method 2
capturing one or more fluorescence images of the operation area at a wavelength range of fluorescence light emitted by the faint fluorescence source
Data Source
AI summary
A method for visualization of faint fluorescence in surgery. The method including: emitting excitation light from an excitation light source onto an operation area containing a faint fluorescence source and white light from a white light source, capturing one or more fluorescence images of the operation area at a wavelength range of fluorescence light emitted by the faint fluorescence source and one or more white light images, performing image processing on the captured images by creating a virtual region of interest in the white light image and/or the fluorescence image, wherein the fluorescence image is cut off outside the region of interest, creating one or more false color fluorescence images visible in the visible light spectrum from the one or more fluoresecence images, and creating one or more composite images by overlaying the one or more false color fluorescence images over the one or more white light images.