Liquid Light Guide Polarimetry for Compact Lesion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes face challenges in accurately detecting cancerous or precancerous lesions due to insufficient contrast and issues with sterilization and compactness of Mueller polarimetric systems, leading to potential misdiagnosis and increased surgical complications.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a liquid light guide (LLG) for polarized light transmission, combined with a Polarization State Generator (PSG) and Analyzer (PSA), enables rapid Mueller polarimetric characterization by modulating and analyzing light to determine the Mueller matrix, providing enhanced contrast and compactness without depolarization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional fiber optic bundles are used for light delivery, then the system can be flexible and minimally invasive, but the fiber bundle causes depolarization of light and loses polarimetric information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid light guide as an intermediary medium between the light source and the target. This liquid light guide preserves the polarization state of light while enabling flexible delivery, thus mediating between the need for flexibility and the need to maintain polarimetric information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical fiber optic bundle system with a liquid light guide system. This substitution eliminates the depolarization effect inherent in fiber bundles while maintaining the flexibility and minimal invasiveness required for endoscopic applications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If PSG and PSA are integrated at the distal tip of the endoscope, then polarimetric measurement is possible, but the system becomes non-sterile and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the endoscope system into distinct functional zones: the proximal end contains the PSG and PSA for polarimetric measurement, while the distal end maintains a sterile, reusable structure. This segmentation allows the sensitive optical components to be positioned proximally while preserving the ability to perform polarimetric measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid light guide acts as an intermediary that transmits polarized light from the proximal PSG through the sterile barrier to the distal measurement zone, enabling polarimetric capability without requiring non-sterile components at the tip.
3Device complexity
If conventional white light is used for illumination, then the system is simple and widely applicable, but contrast for detecting cancerous areas is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polarization parameter of the incident light using the PSG, transforming conventional white light into polarized light with controlled state. This parameter change enables enhanced contrast for cancer detection while maintaining the simplicity of the overall system architecture.
4Loss of information
If sequential acquisition of 16 intensity images is performed to extract complete Mueller matrix, then polarimetric information is obtained, but acquisition time exceeds 2 seconds causing movement artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous polarimetric measurement by simultaneously acquiring multiple intensity images at different polarization states without interruption. This continuous action eliminates the time delays between sequential acquisitions, preventing movement artifacts while obtaining complete Mueller matrix information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calibration and characterization of the liquid light guide and optical path to enable rapid, accurate polarimetric measurements. This preliminary preparation allows for fast sequential acquisition of the 16 intensity images required for complete Mueller matrix extraction.
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 rapid, high-intensity, and wide-field polarimetric imaging with minimal invasiveness, allowing accurate identification of pathological tissues and reducing acquisition time to less than 2 seconds, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
A system utilizing a liquid light guide (LLG) for polarized light transmission, combined with a Polarization State Generator (PSG) and Analyzer (PSA), enables rapid Mueller polarimetric characterization by modulating and analyzing light to determine the Mueller matrix
Implementation Method 2
a Polarization State Generator (PSG) for modulating the polarization of the light injected into the LLG
Implementation Method 3
at least one of: a Polarization State Analyzer (PSA) serving to analyze the polarization of the light having propagated into the LLG and that has been reflected by the target
Implementation Method 4
an optical detector for detection the light backscattered by the target that has been illuminated by the LLG
Data Source
AI summary
A system for polarimetric characterization of a target that includes a liquid light guide (LLG) for propagating light from a light source to the target (S) at least one of a Polarization State Analyzer (PSA) serving to analyze polarization of light having propagated into the LLG and that has been reflected by the target, and a Polarized State Generator (PSG) for modulating the polarization of light injected into the LLG, an optical detector for detecting light backscattered by the target (S) that has been illuminated by the LLG.