Multispectral Endoscope Imaging for Bile-Obscured Lesions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems struggle to effectively visualize blood vessels and lesions beneath a bile pigment-covered surface in living tissue, as conventional narrow-band lighting methods are inadequate for deep tissue observation.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system utilizing a light source that generates lights with center wavelengths in the red, green, and blue regions, combined with advanced image processing to generate and display specific color components, allowing for enhanced visualization of tissue structures beneath bile pigment coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If narrow-band light is used to visualize blood vessels, then blood vessel contrast is improved, but deep tissue observation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the observation into multiple wavelength bands (blue, green, red regions) and processes each band separately to extract different tissue depth information. By dividing the broad spectrum into distinct segments, the system can selectively analyze reflections from different depths while maintaining blood vessel contrast.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spectral dimension to traditional endoscopic imaging by capturing images across multiple wavelength regions and processing them to generate depth-resolved information. This transforms conventional 2D surface imaging into a method that provides 3D-like depth perception of tissue structures.
2Length of stationary object
If multiple wavelength lights are used for deep tissue observation, then observation depth is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single broadband light source that emits across multiple wavelength regions (blue, green, red) simultaneously, making one device perform the function of multiple specialized light sources. This multi-functional approach achieves deep tissue observation without requiring separate light sources for each wavelength band.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple wavelength bands from a single light source into one illumination system, and merges the processing of blue, green, and red component images into a unified image processing workflow. This consolidation reduces device complexity while maintaining the capabilities needed for deep tissue observation.
3Measurement precision
If conventional narrow-band lighting is used, then blood vessel visualization is improved, but lesion detection beneath bile pigment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strategies to different wavelength components: blue light for surface blood vessel visualization, and red light for deep tissue lesion detection beneath bile pigment. By optimizing each wavelength band for its specific function, the system recovers lesion information that would otherwise be hidden while maintaining blood vessel visualization quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses image processing algorithms as intermediaries to extract and separate tissue information from the multi-wavelength images. These processing methods act as mediators that recover lesion information obscured by bile pigment while preserving the blood vessel contrast obtained from narrow-band lighting.
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 enables clear visualization of underlying tissue structures, reducing the burden on surgeons by facilitating accurate diagnosis and treatment of lesions even when the surface is obscured by bile pigment.
Implementation Method 1
a light source apparatus configured to generate a light including a first light having a center wavelength within a wavelength range from a red region to a near infrared region, a second light having a center wavelength in a green region, and a third light having a center wavelength in a blue region, as an illumination light
Implementation Method 2
an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of an object irradiated with the illumination light and output an image pickup signal
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system includes a light source apparatus to generate an illumination light including a first light in a red to near infrared region, a second light in a green region, and a third light in a blue region, an image pickup device to pick up an image of an object and output an image pickup signal, and a processor to generate a first to third color components corresponding to the first to third lights based on an image generated according to the image pickup signal. The processor generates two of three color components that are blue, green, and red included in an observation image by using a second color component, and generates one remaining color component by using a first color component, and generates respective color components of red, green, and blue included in a white light observation image by using the first to third color components.