Multi-Camera Endoscope Tip for 360-Degree Polyp Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes often miss pathological objects located on the inner sides of body cavity folds due to limited field of view, leading to false negatives and potential late cancer detection.
Innovation Solution
A multi-camera endoscope with a tip section featuring two or more side-pointing cameras and discrete illuminators, along with a working channel and fluid injectors, providing a broader field of view that covers front and side views, allowing for 360-degree detection and surgical access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional single-camera endoscope is used, then the device complexity is low, but the field of view is limited and pathological objects on inner sides of body cavity folds are missed
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope divides the detection function into multiple independent cameras positioned at different locations and orientations. Each camera captures a specific sector of the body cavity, with side-pointing cameras detecting pathological objects on inner sides of folds that a single front-facing camera would miss.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point front-facing view to a multi-dimensional viewing system. Side-pointing cameras add lateral detection dimensions, enabling 360-degree coverage around the endoscope tip and detecting objects hidden from the front view within body cavity folds.
2Reliability
If multiple cameras are added to provide broader field of view, then the detection rate of pathological objects improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cameras, illuminators, and fluid injectors are merged into an integrated tip section assembly. This consolidation allows the complex multi-functional tip to operate as a unified unit, managing the complexity through systematic integration rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip section is designed as a multi-functional unit where side-pointing cameras serve dual purposes: detecting pathological objects on fold inner sides and providing panoramic views. The same structural platform supports multiple cameras, illuminators, and fluid injectors, reducing overall system complexity through functional convergence.
3Reliability
If side-pointing cameras are positioned to cover front and side views, then the field of view expands to detect hidden polyps, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each camera is positioned with specific local orientation optimized for its detection sector. Side-pointing cameras are angled to capture light reflected from fold inner surfaces, while front-facing cameras maintain direct forward view. This localized optimization allows effective detection without requiring ultra-precise alignment across all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscope incorporates a bending section that allows dynamic adjustment of the tip section orientation. This dynamic capability compensates for variations in camera positioning and enables the side-pointing cameras to maintain optimal viewing angles across different insertion configurations, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements.
4Illumination intensity
If discrete illuminators are associated with each camera, then the illumination quality for each view improves, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each camera has its own discrete illuminator positioned to provide localized illumination for its specific field of view. This ensures optimal lighting conditions for each detection sector without requiring a single high-power illuminator to cover all areas, distributing energy consumption across multiple lower-power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can activate illuminators periodically or on-demand based on detection needs rather than continuous operation. When side-pointing cameras detect potential pathological objects, their associated illuminators are activated to enhance visibility, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope includes a front-pointing camera on a planar surface of a distal end of the tip section and two side-pointing cameras positioned on a cylindrical surface in proximity to the planar surface such that the side field of view provided by the two side-pointing cameras partially overlaps with the front field of view provided by the front-pointing camera. The tip section further includes a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.