Monocular Endoscope Depth Cues for Accurate Object Sizing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current monocular endoscopy systems, particularly in ureteroscopy, struggle to accurately determine the physical size of objects due to variable magnification and unknown depth variables, impacting procedural efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a monocular endoscope system with a fixed light source and processor that analyzes shadow effects, structured lighting, multi-point illumination, time-of-flight, and lateral color aberrations to determine object size, using techniques like shadow analysis, structured lighting, and time-of-flight sensors to enhance depth estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical calibration is used to determine object size, then the measurement is simple and quick, but the measurement is inaccurate in 3D scenes with significant depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light source as an intermediary element positioned at a known location relative to the objective lens. This light source casts shadows and creates structured lighting patterns that serve as reference markers for depth estimation. By using this intermediary light source, the system can infer three-dimensional information from two-dimensional images without requiring complex additional sensors or cameras.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the illumination parameters by positioning the light source at a specific distance from the objective lens and using structured lighting patterns. This parameter change enables the system to encode depth information into the lighting patterns, allowing the processor to extract size and depth information by analyzing how these patterns are distorted by objects at different depths in the scene.
2Measurement precision
If a single objective lens with fixed focal length is used, then the device design is simple, but variable magnification makes size determination impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the analyzed lighting patterns and shadows to determine object depth and size. The processor analyzes the distortion of structured lighting patterns and shadow positions, uses this feedback information to calculate depth estimates, and then uses these depth estimates to correct size measurements. This feedback loop enables accurate size determination despite variable magnification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional image analysis to three-dimensional understanding by introducing depth estimation through lighting pattern analysis. By analyzing how structured lighting patterns and shadows change with depth, the system recovers three-dimensional information from two-dimensional images, enabling accurate size measurement even with fixed focal length optics.
3Measurement precision
If depth information is not available, then the imaging system is simple, but accurate size determination is impossible in 3D scenes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the light source at a known location and pre-defining structured lighting patterns before imaging begins. This preliminary setup creates a known reference framework that allows the processor to later calculate depth information by comparing the expected lighting patterns with the actual patterns observed in the image, thereby recovering depth information that would otherwise be lost.
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
Provides accurate size determination of objects in monocular endoscopy systems, improving procedural efficiency and safety by overcoming depth uncertainties and variable magnification challenges.
Implementation Method 1
analyzing the image with a processor configured to perform one or more of shadow effect analysis, structured light analysis, multi-point illumination analysis, time-of-flight analysis, and later color aberration analysis
Implementation Method 2
time-of-flight involving light pulses from the light source
Implementation Method 3
shadow effect from the light source
Implementation Method 4
lateral color aberrations from the light source
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system and methods are presented for determining a size of a viewed object through a monocular endoscope. The system includes an imaging device mounted on the endoscope, at least one light source disposed in a fixed position relative to the imaging device, and a processor configured to receive input from the imaging device and analyze at least one of shadow effect from the light source, structured lighting provided by the light source, multi-point illumination including the light source, time-of-flight involving light pulses from the light source, and lateral color aberrations from the light source to determine the size of the viewed object.