Fluorescence White-Light Image Fusion for Medical Observation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical observation devices struggle to accurately capture and represent fluorescence images due to low intensity compared to white-light reflectance, and pseudocolor representations do not accurately mimic human eye perception.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented image processing method that combines digital white-light color images and digital fluorescence-light color images, both recorded within overlapping visible spectra, to generate a true-color digital output image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single camera is used to record both fluorescence and white-light images, then device complexity is reduced, but fluorescence detection precision deteriorates because fluorescence intensity is much lower than white-light reflectance and gets drowned out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging function into two separate cameras: a first color camera for white-light imaging and a second gray-scale camera for fluorescence imaging. This segmentation allows each camera to be optimized for its specific function, with the gray-scale camera providing higher sensitivity for low-intensity fluorescence detection while the color camera captures true-color white-light images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image processing unit that acts as an intermediary to digitally combine the white-light color image and fluorescence image. This intermediary processing step allows the system to maintain separate optimized capture paths while producing a unified output that displays fluorescence overlaid on the true-color white-light image background.
2Measurement precision
If a gray-scale camera is used to record fluorescence and a color camera to record white-light image, then fluorescence detection precision is improved, but color accuracy of fluorescence representation deteriorates because pseudocolor does not accurately represent human eye perception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging system into two specialized cameras: a gray-scale camera optimized for detecting low-intensity fluorescence signals with high precision, and a color camera that captures true-color white-light images. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each sensor type to perform its optimal function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the white-light color image and combines it with the fluorescence image data. By processing and overlaying the fluorescence signal onto the true-color white-light image background, the system preserves accurate color representation while maintaining high fluorescence detection precision through the gray-scale camera's superior sensitivity.
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 a natural-looking, true-color image that accurately represents both reflected white-light and fluorescence spectra, improving color accuracy and fidelity compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a fluorescence emission spectrum of a fluorophore. The second imaged spectrum overlaps with the fluorescence emission spectrum
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented image processing method for generating a digital output color image of an object includes retrieving a digital white-light color image of the object recorded in a first imaged spectrum, and retrieving a digital fluorescence-light color image of the object recorded in a second imaged spectrum. The second imaged spectrum overlaps a fluorescence emission spectrum of at least one fluorophore. The second imaged spectrum is different from the first imaged spectrum. Both the first imaged spectrum and the second imaged spectrum overlap a visible spectrum. The method further includes generating the digital output color image by combining the digital fluorescence-light color image and the digital white-light color image.