Infrared Observing System for Lesion Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic surgical operations face challenges in identifying lesion portions, particularly in recognizing blood flow information and evaluating blood flow rates due to the lack of tactile sensation and lower image resolution compared to open surgery, making it difficult to accurately determine ischemic disease areas.
Innovation Solution
An infrared observing system is developed that includes a light source emitting wavelengths of 805 nm and longer, an image pickup device, and a display system allocating these wavelengths to red, green, and blue components, with the administration of an infrared-absorbing pigment to enhance visualization of blood flow information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional visible light endoscopy is used, then the surgical operation can be performed with minimal invasiveness, but the blood flow information and lesion portions cannot be accurately identified due to lack of tactile sensation and lower image resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the observing light from visible light to infrared light (specifically 805 nm and longer wavelengths). This parameter change enables the system to penetrate deeper into tissues and visualize blood flow information that is not detectable with conventional visible light endoscopy, thereby improving lesion portion identification accuracy while maintaining the minimal invasiveness of endoscopic surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an infrared-absorbing pigment as an intermediary substance that is administered to the patient. This pigment selectively absorbs infrared light and provides enhanced contrast for visualizing blood flow and lesion portions. The pigment acts as a mediator between the infrared light and the target tissue, enabling accurate identification of ischemic areas that would otherwise be undetectable
2Measurement precision
If infrared light with wavelength of 805 nm and longer is used, then blood flow deep within tissues can be visualized with high contrast, but the device complexity increases due to specialized light sources and image processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dual-wavelength light source system that can operate in both infrared mode (805 nm and longer wavelengths) and visible light mode. This multi-functionality allows the same endoscopic system to perform both conventional endoscopy and infrared blood flow visualization, reducing the need for separate specialized equipment and thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high visualization quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time image processing that analyzes the infrared images to identify blood flow patterns and lesion portions. The system processes the captured infrared images to enhance contrast and highlight areas of interest, providing feedback to the surgeon during the procedure. This feedback mechanism enables accurate blood flow visualization while managing complexity through automated image analysis rather than manual interpretation
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
The system effectively visualizes blood flow deep within tissues, improving the identification of lesion portions and facilitating accurate surgical treatments by providing high-contrast images of blood vessels, thereby enhancing surgical precision and reducing the risk of incomplete removals in procedures like thoracoscopic operations.
Implementation Method 1
administration of an infrared-absorbing pigment to enhance visualization of blood flow information
Data Source
AI summary
A lesion portion determining method of an infrared observing system includes at least an observing apparatus. The observing apparatus includes a light source device which radiates light of a first wavelength band including a wavelength of 805 nm and light of a second wavelength band including a wavelength longer than 805 nm, an image pick-up device which picks up an image of the first wavelength band and an image of the second wavelength band of an object irradiated by the light radiated from the light source device, display means which displays, as any color component of red, green, and blue, the image of the first wavelength band and the image of the second wavelength band that are picked-up by the image pick-up device. The lesion portion determining method includes a step of administering an infrared absorbing pigment to a patient, and a step of observing a visible range of the infrared absorbing pigment by the observing apparatus.