Side-scan infrared imaging devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ingestible cameras are limited in capturing images below the surface of gastrointestinal tract tissue due to their reliance on reflective light, which cannot detect conditions such as tumors or cysts until they grow and become visible, missing early-stage abnormalities.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ingestible imaging device equipped with a thermal infrared ring-array imager that uses side-scan infrared imaging to detect thermal radiation, allowing for imaging below the tissue surface by employing a ring-shaped detector element and focusing elements like pinholes to focus incident infrared energy, enabling early detection of subsurface abnormalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ingestible cameras use reflective light imaging, then they can capture images of surface conditions, but they cannot detect subsurface abnormalities such as tumors or cysts below the tissue surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the imaging parameter from reflective light (visible spectrum) to thermal infrared radiation detection. This parameter change enables the system to detect subsurface abnormalities by capturing thermal emissions that penetrate deeper into tissue, transitioning from surface-level reflective imaging to subsurface thermal imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical light illumination and reflection detection system with a thermal infrared detection system. Instead of using light sources and reflective imaging, the system uses passive thermal infrared detectors to sense heat emissions from subsurface tissues, eliminating the need for external light sources and enabling deeper tissue penetration
2Illumination intensity
If conventional ingestible cameras illuminate tissue with light sources, then they can capture surface images, but they require internal light sources increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the tissue itself provide the imaging signal through its natural thermal emissions. The body's own heat becomes the imaging source, eliminating the need for external or internal illumination sources. The infrared detectors passively receive thermal radiation emitted by the tissue, making the system self-sufficient without requiring additional light source components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the internal light source requirement from the device architecture. By transitioning to passive thermal infrared detection, the system eliminates the need for LEDs or other illumination components, simplifying the device structure while maintaining imaging capability through thermal radiation detection
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 allows for the early detection of subsurface abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract, such as tumors or cysts, by utilizing thermal infrared imaging, which is not possible with conventional cameras, thereby improving diagnostic capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a ring-shaped detector element comprising a circular array of infrared detectors configured to detect thermal infrared radiation
Implementation Method 2
a focusing element configured to focus incident infrared radiation towards the circular array of infrared detectors
Implementation Method 3
The ring-shaped focusing element comprises a plurality of pinholes to focus incident infrared energy towards the infrared detectors
Data Source
AI summary
Infrared imaging devices are provided which are configured to implement side-scan infrared imaging for, e.g., medical applications. For example, an imaging device includes a ring-shaped detector element comprising a circular array of infrared detectors configured to detect thermal infrared radiation, and a focusing element configured to focus incident infrared radiation towards the circular array of infrared detectors. The imaging device can be an ingestible imaging device (e.g., swallowable camera) or the imaging device can be implemented as part of an endoscope device, for example.