Real-Time Surgical Imaging With Fluorescence And Red-Light Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluorescent navigation endoscopes face issues with complex light source management and inadequate tissue differentiation due to the inability to simultaneously capture and process white and fluorescence signals, leading to confusion or incomplete imaging.
Innovation Solution
A visualization system with a real-time imaging function, utilizing a first light source for fluorescence excitation and a second light source for red light, combined with a camera group and controller for image enhancement, to generate clear and complete images by filtering and superposing signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If time division multiplexing is added to alternately turn on/off white light source and fluorescence excitation light source at high synchronous frequency, then fluorescence image quality is improved, but light source management system becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process into distinct time slots: one for fluorescence imaging (with excitation light on, white light off) and one for white light imaging (with excitation light off, white light on). This temporal segmentation allows simple sequential control of light sources without complex management systems, resolving the contradiction between image quality and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic switching between fluorescence excitation light and white light sources at a synchronous frequency (e.g., 50 Hz or 60 Hz). This periodic action enables the capture of both fluorescence and white light images in alternating cycles, achieving high-quality fluorescence imaging while maintaining simple light source management through regular on/off patterns.
2Device complexity
If red light is turned off at all times in 3-Chip RGB system, then light source switching frequency is reduced, but tissue differentiation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent preliminarily allocates specific wavelength bands to specific imaging purposes: red light (600-700nm) is preliminarily designated for white light imaging to provide anatomical background information, while blue light (450-480nm) is designated for fluorescence excitation. This preliminary assignment eliminates the need for frequent red light switching and ensures both tissue differentiation and simplified control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the light sources by using the red light source exclusively for white light imaging mode and the blue light source for fluorescence excitation mode. This parameter allocation allows the system to maintain simple light source management while preserving full tissue differentiation capability through appropriate wavelength selection.
3Measurement precision
If 1-Chip RGB system is used with time division multiplexing, then fluorescence signal capture is enabled, but simultaneous capture of white light and fluorescence signals is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a temporal copy of the imaging process by capturing fluorescence signals in one time slot and white light signals in another time slot. Although not simultaneous in physical time, the sequential copying of both signal types allows the system to preserve all necessary information while using simple sequential rather than simultaneous capture methodology.
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
Provides sufficient background information and clear real-time images with a simplified structure, convenient control, and low maintenance costs, enhancing surgical visibility and applicability.
Implementation Method 1
a first light source emitting fluorescence excitation light
Implementation Method 2
a second light source emitting red light
Implementation Method 3
the fluorescence image sensor comprises a fluorescence filter for filtering all the other light of the light reflected from the imaging light except a wavelength band of fluorescence corresponding to the fluorescence excitation light
Implementation Method 4
the red light image sensor comprises a red light filter for filtering all the other light reflected from the imaging light except a wavelength band corresponding to the red light
Implementation Method 5
acquire a fluorescence imaging signal and a red imaging signal, respectively, according to a light reflected from the imaging light source
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a visualization system with a real-time imaging function, comprising: a receiving end, a light source, an imaging system, and a display device. The light source comprises a red light source and a fluorescence excitation light source; the imaging system comprises a red light image sensor and a fluorescence image sensor to process a signal to output a real-time visualization signal to the display device. Through the technical scheme, the visualization system can provide sufficient background information and obtain a clear and complete real-time image for a surgeon only by using a specific band of red light to illuminate a surgical scene, the visualization system is simple in whole structure, is convenient in a control method, is simple and highly effective in the imaging process procedure, has a good use experience while the manufacturing and maintenance costs are low, and has a very high applicability and popularization.