Fluorescence Imaging Sensor Unwanted Near-Infrared Signal Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluorescence imaging systems often suffer from unwanted non-visible light interference, which can result in degraded image quality due to the emission of non-visible light from sources other than the excitation source, leading to images that are too pronounced, too light, too diffuse, or discolored.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a dual-image sensor setup with one sensor capturing visible light and another capturing non-visible light, along with data processing to determine and reduce the intensity of unwanted non-visible light based on the intensity of visible light received, using a lookup table or neural network models to correct for unwanted non-visible light emission from sources other than the excitation source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If visible light intensity is increased to improve illumination, then image brightness is improved, but unwanted non-visible light emission increases causing image degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging system into two separate image sensors: one dedicated to capturing visible light and another dedicated to capturing non-visible light. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each sensor's function and enables separate processing of unwanted non-visible light from the visible light image, resolving the contradiction by isolating the harmful effect processing from the main imaging function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lookup table or neural network model as an intermediary component that maps visible light intensity to unwanted non-visible light intensity. This intermediary enables indirect measurement and compensation of unwanted non-visible light based on visible light data, allowing the system to correct image degradation without reducing illumination intensity.
2Illumination intensity
If non-visible light intensity is increased to improve fluorescence excitation, then fluorescence signal strength is improved, but unwanted non-visible light from other sources increases causing image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the intensity of unwanted non-visible light is determined based on visible light intensity measurements, and this information is used to adjust or compensate the non-visible light image data. The feedback loop continuously monitors and corrects image quality degradation, allowing high non-visible light intensity for fluorescence excitation while maintaining measurement precision through active compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical optical filtering mechanisms with computational methods using lookup tables or neural networks to remove unwanted non-visible light. This substitution allows more flexible and precise control of unwanted light removal compared to fixed mechanical filters, enabling better preservation of desired fluorescence signal while eliminating harmful interference.
3Measurement precision
If dual image sensor setup is implemented to capture both visible and non-visible light, then image data accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the dual image sensor system where each sensor serves multiple purposes: the visible light sensor captures both illumination information and unwanted non-visible light information, while the non-visible light sensor captures both desired fluorescence and unwanted non-visible light. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by maximizing the utility of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a correspondence between pixels of the visible light image sensor and pixels of the non-visible light image sensor, establishing a pixel-to-pixel mapping relationship. This copying approach simplifies the processing of dual sensor data by maintaining spatial alignment, reducing the complexity of image registration and fusion operations.
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
This approach provides accurate and enhanced image data by effectively suppressing unwanted non-visible light, resulting in clearer and more reliable fluorescence imaging.
Implementation Method 1
a first light source for emitting visible light
Implementation Method 2
a second light source for emitting non-visible light
Implementation Method 3
the non-visible light may be used to irradiate a fluorescent substance (e.g., dye) administered to a patient or certain tissues and/or fluids of the body, which in turn causes the fluorescent substance or tissues and/or fluids to emit fluorescence light
Data Source
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AI summary
An enhanced fluorescence imaging system includes a light source for emitting non-visible and visible light and a visible light image sensor and a non-visible light image sensor. Each pixel of the visible light image sensor corresponds to a pixel of the non-visible light image sensor. Data processing hardware performs operations that include, for each pixel in the visible light image sensor, determining an intensity of visible light received by the pixel. The operations also include determining, based on the intensity, an amount of unwanted non-visible light captured by the corresponding pixel of the non-visible light image sensor. The unwanted non-visible light originates from sources other than the non-visible light source. The operations also include reducing an intensity of non-visible light in non-visible image data captured by the corresponding pixel based on the determined amount of unwanted non-visible light.