Optical Fibre Localization in Scattering Tissue by Time-of-Flight Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the location of an optical fibre inside a scattering medium, such as human or animal tissue, are often inaccurate and may expose patients to radiation, and require bulky or expensive equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the transmission of pulsed light into the scattering medium, reception of photons, selection of signals based on time of arrival, and determination of the optical fibre location using ballistic and snake photons to form an image, allowing for precise location without radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If X-ray or electromagnetic technologies are used to determine the location of the endoscope tip, then the location can be viewed, but the patient is exposed to unwanted radiation and bulky/expensive apparatus is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces X-ray electromagnetic technology with optical photons to determine the location of the optical fibre. By transmitting light through the scattering medium and detecting the transmitted photons, the system achieves location determination without ionizing radiation exposure to the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses photons as an intermediary substance to transmit information about the optical fibre location. The photons travel through the scattering medium and carry spatial information that can be detected and used to determine the fibre's position, replacing the need for X-ray imaging.
2Device complexity
If conventional location approximation methods are used, then the equipment is simpler, but the location accuracy is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detected photons based on their time of arrival, separating ballistic photons (which travel directly) from scattered photons. This temporal segmentation allows the system to use only the most reliable photons for location determination, significantly improving accuracy while maintaining relatively simple equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pulsed light transmission instead of continuous illumination. By transmitting light in periodic pulses and measuring the time of arrival of transmitted photons, the system achieves precise location determination with improved signal-to-noise ratio and reduced background interference.
3Quantity of substance
If all received photons are used for location determination, then more signal data is available, but the location precision decreases due to scattered photons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and selects only ballistic photons from the total detected photons by applying a time-of-arrival threshold. This extraction process removes scattered photons that would degrade location precision, while retaining sufficient signal data from the selected ballistic photons to accurately determine the optical fibre location.
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 accurate and radiation-free determination of the optical fibre location within scattering media, providing high spatial resolution and enabling improved medical procedures by ensuring precise placement of medical instruments.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting pulsed light into the scattering medium
Implementation Method 2
photons of the pulsed light that have passed through the scattering medium; photons that have undergone no scattering or a very small amount of scattering
Implementation Method 3
selecting signals corresponding to some of the received photons, wherein the selecting is based on a time of arrival of the received photons
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining a location of an optical fibre positioned at least partially inside a scattering medium, the method comprises transmitting pulsed light into the scattering medium, receiving, by a detector, photons of the pulsed light that have passed through the scattering medium, selecting signals corresponding to some of the received photons, wherein the selecting is based on a time of arrival of the received photons; and determining a location of the optical fibre based on the selected signals.