Fluorescence Endoscopy for Off-Time Thermal Denaturation Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical endoscopes lack effective methods to visualize thermal denaturation regions caused by cauterization, leading to potential underestimation of treatment effects due to the production of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) that emit fluorescence.

Innovation Solution

A medical device and system that generates a fluorescence image based on excitation light to detect off-time generated fluorescent regions during the off-state of energy device output, utilizing a processor to determine and notify the presence of such regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fluorescence imaging is used to detect thermal denaturation regions, then measurement precision of treatment effects is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional excitation light source and imaging system

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracy of thermal denaturation regionVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the excitation light source, fluorescence imaging system, and energy device control into an integrated medical device system. The processor unit consolidates the functions of generating fluorescence images, analyzing thermal denaturation regions, and determining energy device output states, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The medical device system performs multiple functions: it serves as both an energy delivery device for cauterization and a diagnostic imaging device for detecting thermal denaturation regions. The same device structure supports both treatment and visualization functions, eliminating the need for separate independent systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If real-time fluorescence imaging is implemented to monitor thermal denaturation, then reliability of treatment assessment is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous excitation light emission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment assessment accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption of excitation light source

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous excitation light emission, the system uses periodic or intermittent imaging cycles. The processor determines the output state of the energy device and triggers fluorescence imaging at appropriate intervals to detect thermal denaturation regions, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable treatment monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control where the processor analyzes fluorescence images to determine thermal denaturation regions and uses this information to assess treatment effectiveness. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust imaging frequency and energy delivery based on real-time treatment status, optimizing energy usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If the system detects off-time generated fluorescent regions, then loss of information about treatment effects is reduced, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to timing synchronization requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completeness of thermal denaturationVSAvoidtiming synchronization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The processor receives feedback signals from the energy device indicating its output state (on/off timing). This feedback is used to synchronize the fluorescence imaging and analysis process, allowing the system to identify and detect thermal denaturation regions that formed during off-periods of energy delivery by comparing timing information with fluorescence image data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 accurate visualization of thermal denaturation regions, enhancing the surgeon's ability to assess treatment effectiveness by detecting AGEs through fluorescence imaging, thereby improving surgical precision.

Implementation Method 1

Light of specific wavelengths causes these AGEs to emit fluorescence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS20250359741A1Medical device, medical system, medical device operation method, and computer-readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYST CORP

AI summary

A medical device includes: a processor including hardware, the processor being configured to generate a fluorescence image based on fluorescence generated by excitation light that excites a substance produced by cauterization using an energy device, determine, based on output information on the energy device and on the fluorescence image, an off-time generated fluorescent region that has been generated during an off-state of output of the energy device, and when it is determined to be the off-time generated fluorescent region, execute a notification process of notifying that a fluorescent region has been generated during the off-state of output of the energy device.