Fluorescent Endoscope Multi-Wavelength Signal Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluorescent endoscope devices are unable to acquire and process multiple types of information simultaneously to accurately diagnose lesions, especially those with minimal structural changes, such as early-stage cancer, as they fail to effectively utilize auto-fluorescence and fluorescent probe data in a single observation.
Innovation Solution
A fluorescent endoscope device that irradiates excitation lights onto a living body to acquire both auto-fluorescent images and images from fluorescent probes, processing these images to distinguish lesions with high accuracy by using multiple wavelength ranges and optical filters to separate and analyze the different fluorescent signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional fluorescent endoscope devices use single wavelength detection, then device complexity is low, but measurement precision and diagnostic accuracy are insufficient for early-stage cancer detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluorescent signal detection into multiple wavelength bands (first wavelength range for collagen/elastin auto-fluorescence, second wavelength range for porphyrin fluorescence). This segmentation allows simultaneous acquisition of different tissue information, improving diagnostic accuracy for early-stage cancer while managing device complexity through modular optical filtering components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the wavelength dimension to the detection process by implementing multi-wavelength fluorescent image acquisition. Instead of single-wavelength detection, the system captures images across multiple wavelength ranges, transforming the detection from one-dimensional to multi-dimensional spectral analysis, thereby significantly improving measurement precision
2Loss of information
If multiple fluorescent signals are detected simultaneously, then information completeness improves, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to signal separation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical filters as intermediary components that selectively transmit specific wavelength ranges while blocking others. These filters act as mediators that automatically separate the overlapping fluorescent signals from different sources (collagen, elastin, porphyrin) based on their emission spectra, making simultaneous multi-signal detection feasible without complex signal processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from single-wavelength to multi-wavelength ranges. By detecting fluorescence across multiple wavelength bands simultaneously, the system captures comprehensive tissue information including both structural (collagen/elastin) and metabolic (porphyrin) markers, reducing information loss while the optical filtering system manages the complexity of signal separation
3Reliability
If early-stage cancer lesions with minimal structural changes are detected, then diagnostic reliability improves, but measurement precision challenges increase due to subtle differences from normal tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality analysis by examining fluorescent signal characteristics at different wavelength ranges. Early-stage cancer lesions exhibit subtle local changes in porphyrin accumulation and collagen/elastin structure that are detectable through multi-wavelength analysis. The system identifies these localized spectral variations to improve both reliability and measurement precision for subtle lesion detection
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 diagnosis of lesions with minimal structural changes by combining auto-fluorescence and fluorescent probe data, improving detection accuracy and reducing the likelihood of missing early-stage cancers.
Implementation Method 1
an etalon 63 having a first wavelength transmission range in which, even if the air gap spacing is changed, the transmittance is 50% or more, and a second wavelength transmission range in which, when the air gap spacing is increased, the wavelength region transmitted by the etalon changes to longer wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
irradiates excitation lights onto a living body to acquire both auto-fluorescent images and images from fluorescent probes
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope device includes a light source unit that creates multiple excitation lights having different peak wavelengths, an illumination unit, and an imaging unit that includes an objective optical system and an image pickup device. The imaging unit is capable of acquiring images of fluorescent lights having different peak wavelengths that are emitted by multiple fluorescent substances contained in a living organism. The illumination unit transmits the excitation lights to a tip of the endoscope device, and the multiple excitation lights are then directed so as to illuminate a living organism that contains multiple fluorescent substances. A variable transmittance optical element or an array of different type of filters may be placed before the image pickup device to separately detect the multiple fluorescent substances. Specified conditions and transmittances for the variable transmittance optical element and filters are disclosed to insure that the multiple fluorescent substances may be separately detected.