Observation Image Acquiring System Dual-Light Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current observation image acquiring systems face challenges in effectively emphasizing target substances within biological tissues, particularly hemoglobin in blood vessels, due to limitations in wavelength selection and image processing techniques, which result in suboptimal contrast and image noise.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a dual-light approach, using a light source that emits blue and blue-violet laser lights, which are converted to white and special lights respectively, to irradiate the target, and an image acquiring circuit that processes these images to generate emphasized image information with increased contrast by selecting and combining pixel information from both light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single light source is used for observation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to emphasize target substances and improve image contrast deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources (white light source and blue-violet laser light source) into a single integrated light emitting apparatus. The white light source and blue-violet laser are merged through optical fibers to illuminate the observation target simultaneously, enabling both general observation and target substance emphasis without requiring separate complex systems
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitting apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: it can emit white light for general observation and blue-violet laser light for emphasizing specific target substances like hemoglobin. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate instruments
2Measurement precision
If multiple wavelength lights are used to emphasize target substances, then the image contrast and diagnostic accuracy are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image acquiring circuit as an intermediary that performs arithmetic operations on image data. This circuit processes the captured images by combining information from different wavelength illuminations, extracting enhanced contrast information without requiring complex hardware modifications to the light source or imaging components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or optical image processing systems with computational image processing. Instead of using complex optical filters or multiple imaging systems, the invention uses arithmetic operations on digital image data to achieve the same effect of emphasizing target substances
3Measurement precision
If blue-violet laser light is used to emphasize hemoglobin, then the target substance visibility is improved, but the image noise and loss of natural hue information increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges images acquired under different illumination conditions (white light and blue-violet laser light) through arithmetic operations in the image acquiring circuit. This combination preserves the natural hue information from white light imaging while incorporating the enhanced contrast information from blue-violet laser imaging, eliminating the need to choose between the two
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of light illumination by using multiple wavelengths (white light and blue-violet laser) and processes the resulting images through arithmetic operations. This allows optimization of image contrast for specific targets while maintaining other image quality parameters through computational processing
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
This method enhances the contrast of blood vessels within biological tissues, allowing for better visualization of hemoglobin and other substances, while maintaining the hue and reducing noise, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a light source that emits blue and blue-violet laser lights, which are converted to white and special lights respectively
Implementation Method 2
an imaging apparatus which images the observation target to acquire image information
Data Source
AI summary
A light source apparatus irradiates an observation target with first light in a wavelength region which does not include a wavelength region where an absorption peak of a target substance included in the observation target is present and second light in a wavelength region where the absorption peak is present. An image acquiring circuit includes an emphasized image information generating circuit which generates emphasized image information on the basis of first image information acquired by an imaging apparatus when the observation target is irradiated with the first light and second image information acquired by the imaging apparatus when the observation target is irradiated with the second light.