Electronic Shutter Offset for Medical Imaging Pulse Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

The intense energy pulses used in medical procedures, such as lithotripsy, disrupt the operation of imaging sensors in endoscopes, leading to reduced video output quality, which hinders the ability of medical practitioners to accurately locate and treat stones.

Innovation Solution

An imaging system with an imager configured to generate frames at a frequency higher than the energy pulse frequency of medical devices, utilizing an electronic shutter module to offset row start times and an image processing module to generate valid frames with a lower frame frequency, thereby reducing the impact of energy pulses on video quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an imaging sensor is used in the medical device during energy pulse treatment, then the medical practitioner can locate and monitor the treatment area, but the intense energy pulses disrupt the imaging sensor operation and reduce video output quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo output qualityVSAvoidenergy pulse interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic shutter module preemptively blocks the imaging sensor from capturing frames during the expected duration of energy pulse emission. By predicting pulse timing and pre-closing the shutter, the system prevents sensor saturation and circuit disruption before they occur, thereby maintaining video quality despite the presence of harmful energy pulses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic shutter module acts as an intermediary between the energy pulse emission system and the imaging sensor. It mediates the interaction by selectively blocking the sensor during pulse emission and allowing normal operation during intervals, thus protecting the sensor from harmful effects while maintaining imaging capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the imaging sensor captures frames at a high frame frequency, then the video output provides smooth real-time monitoring, but the energy pulses saturate more sensing elements and disrupt circuitry more frequently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe capture rateVSAvoidvideo quality degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic shutter module operates periodically, opening and closing in synchronization with the energy pulse emission cycles. It closes during each pulse emission period and opens during intervals, creating a periodic gating effect that allows high frame rate capture during safe intervals while blocking during harmful periods, thus maintaining both productivity and information quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system predicts the timing of energy pulses and preemptively closes the electronic shutter before each pulse arrives. This preliminary action prevents saturation and circuit disruption before they can occur, allowing the sensor to recover and capture high-quality frames during the intervals between pulses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution enhances video output quality by increasing the number of valid rows in frames, allowing for more effective monitoring and targeting during medical procedures, despite the disruptive effects of energy pulses.

Implementation Method 1

an imager configured to generate a plurality of frames at a frame frequency greater than an electromagnetic energy emission pulse frequency of a medical device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

an electronic shutter module configured to offset a start time of each row of the first plurality of rows in each frame from the plurality of frames from a start time of an adjacent row in that same frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectronic timing offset:

Implementation Method 3

an image processing module configured to generate a plurality of valid frames based on at least a portion of the plurality of frames, wherein the plurality of valid frames may include a frame frequency lower than the frame frequency of the plurality of frames

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage signal processing:

Data Source

PatentUS9265408B2System and method for imaging during a medical procedure

Publication Date: 2016.02.23 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an imager configured to generate a plurality of frames at a frame frequency greater than an electromagnetic energy emission pulse frequency of a medical device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames may include a first plurality of rows. The apparatus may also include an electronic shutter module configured to offset a start time of each row of the first plurality of rows in each frame from the plurality of frames from a start time of an adjacent row in that same frame. The apparatus may further include an image processing module configured to generate a plurality of valid frames based on at least a portion of the plurality of frames, wherein the plurality of valid frames may include a frame frequency lower than the frame frequency of the plurality of frames.