Fluorescence-Guided Incision Line Overlay for Thermally Denatured Tissue
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Solution Overview
Problem
In minimally invasive medical procedures like Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD), existing technologies struggle to accurately identify and mark incision lines on thermally denatured tissue using fluorescence imaging, leading to challenges in precise excision of lesion sites.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that acquires both white light and fluorescence images, sets thresholds based on energy device output, estimates incision lines, and superimposes these lines on white light images for clear visualization, utilizing machine learning for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If fluorescence imaging is used to identify incision lines on thermally denatured tissue, then the visibility of markings is improved, but the measurement precision of incision lines deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image processing apparatus as an intermediary between the fluorescence imaging system and the surgeon. This apparatus processes the fluorescence images to enhance the visibility and precision of incision line identification, effectively mediating the contradiction between visibility improvement and measurement precision maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple imaging modalities (fluorescence imaging and white light imaging) to create a composite imaging system. By integrating the advantages of both imaging types through image processing, the system achieves both high visibility of markings and precise incision line identification simultaneously
2Measurement precision
If multiple imaging modalities are combined to improve incision line identification, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing apparatus is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a fluorescence image processor and a white light image processor. This universal device handles multiple imaging modalities within a single system, reducing the need for separate dedicated devices and thereby managing complexity while maintaining measurement precision
3Device complexity
If manual identification of incision lines is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity of surgical procedure decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing apparatus performs automatic identification and processing of incision lines from the captured images. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual analysis by surgeons, significantly improving surgical efficiency and productivity while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through automated algorithms
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
Facilitates precise and intuitive guidance for surgeons by overlaying incision lines on white light images, improving the accuracy and efficiency of lesion excision in minimally invasive surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
The living tissue that is thermally denatured by the markings contains advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and emits fluorescence when being applied with excitation light
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes: a processor including hardware. The processor is configured to acquire a white light image and a fluorescence image for a living tissue, acquire output information of an energy device, set a first threshold in accordance with the output information, estimate an auxiliary line for incising the living tissue based on first positional information corresponding to a pixel in the fluorescence image having a luminance value equal to or larger than the first threshold, and generate information in which the auxiliary line is superimposed on the white light image.