Reference Still Image for Tissue Discrimination in Dual-Mode Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic imaging techniques face challenges in objectively distinguishing between healthy and diseased tissue due to subjective color tone adjustments and lack of fixed calibration standards, leading to confusion and inefficiency in therapeutic interventions.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system that displays a still image of tissue under one type of illumination concurrently with a video image under a different type of illumination, allowing for a reference still image to be captured and displayed immediately before switching between illumination modes, facilitating discrimination between healthy and diseased tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If white light imaging and excitation light imaging are switched alternately for tissue diagnosis, then both normal tissue appearance and diseased tissue fluorescence can be observed, but it becomes difficult to accurately identify the spatial correspondence between the two imaging modes
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures and stores the last video frame from white light imaging mode before switching to excitation light imaging mode. This pre-captured frame is then displayed as a still image alongside the live fluorescence video, providing a reference that helps operators accurately identify tissue locations and correspondence between the two imaging modes.
2Loss of information
If the last video frame is displayed as a still image reference, then spatial correspondence between imaging modes is maintained, but the display system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the last video frame from white light mode with the live video feed from excitation light mode by displaying them simultaneously on the same display device. The reference still image is positioned adjacent to or overlaid with the live video, allowing operators to view both imaging modes in a unified display interface without requiring separate monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the last video frame captured in white light mode and displays this copied image as a reference still image alongside the live fluorescence video. This copying approach allows the reference information to be preserved and displayed without interfering with the live imaging process.
3Ease of manufacture
If color tone adjustments are made to normalize tissue appearance in fluorescence images, then tissue differentiation becomes subjective, but fixed calibration standards are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures the last video frame from white light imaging mode, which provides an unadjusted reference image of the tissue's natural appearance. This reference frame is displayed alongside the fluorescence video, allowing operators to compare the normalized fluorescence image with the original white light image and objectively assess tissue characteristics without losing calibration standards.
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 approach enhances the clarity and objectivity of tissue differentiation, reducing the complexity of switching between white light and excitation light images, and improves the accuracy of therapeutic interventions by providing a fixed reference for comparison.
Implementation Method 1
the stimulated emission resulting from impingement of the excitation light onto a biological tissue
Implementation Method 2
In the case of autofluorescence, i.e., the stimulated emission resulting from impingement of the excitation light onto a biological tissue
Implementation Method 3
normal light images resulting from reflection of the irradiating visible light
Data Source
AI summary
Still image display of a recent video image of tissue as a reference still image prior to a switch in the mode of illumination of the tissue. The still image is displayed concurrently with live video of the tissue under a different mode of illumination, to facilitate discrimination between healthy and diseased tissue. When a practitioner switches a light source from a “first light” to a “second light”, the second light video may be frozen/captured and displayed as a reference still image as a PIP, and the second light live video is displayed concurrently. The second light can be infrared and/or near infrared light. The second light can include structured light to project a structured light pattern to facilitate structure measurements. The second light source is configured with a numerical aperture greater than the first light source.