Fluorescence Imaging System for Specular Reflection Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluorescence-based imaging is hindered by areas of high specular reflection which can saturate sensors and obscure fluorescent areas, limiting the effectiveness of fluorescence imaging in medical applications.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system with separate illuminators and detectors for general illumination and fluorescence, coupled with a processing unit to detect and mask out regions of high specular reflection, and provide geometry adjustment hints to minimize specular reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If visible light is used to illuminate the patient's anatomy, then anatomical structures can be visualized, but areas of high specular reflection are created that saturate sensors and obscure fluorescence
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple illuminators positioned at different angles, allowing the system to use one illuminator for fluorescence excitation while another provides visible light without creating specular reflection in the detector's field of view
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds the spatial dimension of illuminator positioning by placing illuminators at multiple locations around the region of interest, enabling the selection of illumination angles that minimize specular reflection while maintaining adequate visible light illumination
2Loss of information
If the imaging system detects both visible light and fluorescence, then comprehensive anatomical information is obtained, but specular reflection areas saturate the sensors and mask fluorescence signals
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into multiple detectors positioned at different angles, with each detector capturing images from its specific viewpoint. This allows the system to combine information from multiple sources while avoiding saturation from specular reflection in any single detector's field of view
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit acts as an intermediary that receives images from multiple detectors, identifies regions with specular reflection, and synthesizes a composite image that eliminates saturated areas while preserving fluorescence information from multiple viewing angles
3Measurement precision
If multiple illuminators and detectors are added to resolve specular reflection, then fluorescence detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is designed with multi-functional components that can operate in different modes: illuminators can provide both fluorescence excitation and visible light illumination, while detectors can capture both fluorescence and reflected visible light, reducing the need for entirely separate dedicated components
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 the generation of composite images that retain both visible detail and fluorescence information by effectively reducing specular reflection, enhancing the utility of fluorescence imaging in medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
one or more first illuminators for providing illumination of a region of interest, one or more first detectors for detecting reflections of the illumination
Implementation Method 2
one or more second illuminators for triggering fluorescing of one or more fluorescent materials in the region of interest, and one or more second detectors for detecting the fluorescing of the fluorescent materials
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of specular reflection detection and reduction includes a processing unit including one or more processors and an imaging unit coupled to the processing unit. The imaging unit includes one or more first illuminators for providing illumination of a region of interest, one or more first detectors for detecting reflections of the illumination, one or more second illuminators for triggering fluorescing of one or more fluorescent materials in the region of interest, and one or more second detectors for detecting the fluorescing of the fluorescent materials. The processing unit is configured to receive a first image from the first detectors, determine one or more regions of high specular reflection in the first image, mask out the regions of high specular reflection in the first image, and generate a composite image based on the masked first image and the detected fluorescence. The first image includes the detected reflections.