Optical Tomographic Imaging with Reference Mirror Artifact Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical tomographic imaging systems suffer from artifacts caused by reflections and scatterings at the boundary surfaces of optical parts, which degrade image clarity and hinder accurate diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
An optical tomographic imaging apparatus with a method that includes an optical distance adjustment unit to control the optical distance of reference light, an interference unit to combine reflected and reference light, a detection unit to convert interference light into electrical signals, a Fourier transform unit to analyze intensity distribution, an image processing unit to delete artifacts, and a control unit to manage these operations, ensuring artifacts do not overlap the biological tubular element image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical parts are incorporated in the optical probe to emit light toward the biological tubular element, then the imaging function is achieved, but artifacts are generated due to light reflection and scattering at boundary surfaces of the optical parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful artifact signals from the detected light signals through signal processing. The artifact removal unit specifically identifies and eliminates signals originating from reflections and scatterings at optical part boundary surfaces, while preserving the useful tissue imaging signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary artifact removal unit between the detection unit and the image generation process. This intermediary component processes the raw detection signals to separate and eliminate artifact contributions before generating the final tomographic image, thereby preventing artifacts from appearing in the output image.
2Productivity
If artifacts are present in the tomographic image, then the imaging process is complete, but image clarity is reduced and correct diagnosis becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of artifacts into a beneficial process by using the artifact removal unit to identify and eliminate artifact signals. The system leverages the presence of artifacts as identifiable signal patterns that can be detected and removed through specific processing techniques, thereby improving image clarity and diagnostic accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If the optical distance of reference light is adjusted to be equal to the optical distance of reflected light, then interference pattern is optimized, but artifacts may overlap with the biological tubular element image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capability through the artifact removal unit that can adaptively process signals based on the detected artifact characteristics. The system dynamically identifies and removes artifact signals while maintaining the optimized interference pattern, preventing artifact overlap with tissue images through real-time signal 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
The method effectively prevents artifacts from overlapping the biological tubular element image, enhancing image clarity and enabling accurate diagnosis.
Implementation Method 1
a splitter that splits light emitted from the light source into first light and second light
Implementation Method 2
an optical fiber having a proximal end optically coupled to the splitter, and an optical part provided at a distal end of the optical fiber, and that emits the first light guided by the optical fiber from the optical part toward an inner wall of the biological tubular element through the tube, and obtain reflected light of the first light returning from the biological tubular element
Implementation Method 3
an optical distance adjustment unit that includes a movable reference mirror, and is capable of obtaining reference light by reflecting the second light on the reference mirror, and adjusting an optical distance of the second light by moving the reference mirror
Implementation Method 4
an interference unit that causes the reflected light and the reference light to interfere with each other, and obtains interference light
Implementation Method 5
a detection unit that detects the interference light of the reflected light and the reference light
Implementation Method 6
a Fourier transform unit that performs Fourier transform on the electrical signal obtained by the conversion unit, and obtains a light intensity distribution with respect to an optical distance difference between an optical distance of the reflected light and an optical distance of the reference light
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A method for operating an optical tomographic imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes: an initial setting step of setting initial positions of a reference mirror and a distal end of an optical part; an imaging step of imaging a biological tubular element after the initial setting step; a reference mirror adjustment step of, after the imaging step, moving the reference mirror to enlarge the image portion of the reflected light from the biological tubular element and the image portion of the reflected light from the tube while reducing an image portion of an artifact caused by reflected light from the optical part, and adjusting the image portion of the artifact to an inside of the image portion of the reflected light from the tube; a magnification adjustment step of, after the reference mirror adjustment step, resetting the image portion of the reflected light from the biological tubular element and the image portion of the reflected light from the tube to a state before the enlargement; and a display step of, after the magnification adjustment step, causing an image display unit to display the image portion of the reflected light from the biological tubular element and the image portion of the reflected light from the tube reset to the state before enlargement.