Side-scan infrared imaging devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ingestible cameras that use reflective light are limited in capturing images or detecting conditions below the surface of the gastrointestinal tract tissue, as they rely on external illumination and cannot image or detect abnormalities such as tumors or cysts that exist beneath the tissue surface.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ingestible imaging device equipped with a thermal infrared ring-array imager that utilizes side-scan infrared imaging, featuring a ring-shaped detector element and a focusing element with pinholes to capture thermal infrared radiation, allowing for imaging below the tissue surface by detecting emissive radiation, which is heat emitted by biological activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ingestible cameras use reflective light imaging with external illumination sources, then images of surface conditions (e.g., polyps on inner colon wall) can be captured, but conditions below the tissue surface (e.g., tumors or cysts) cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the imaging parameter from visible/reflective light to thermal infrared radiation detection. The ingestible camera incorporates thermal infrared detectors that sense heat emitted by biological activity, enabling detection of subsurface conditions by measuring temperature variations rather than reflected light. This parameter change allows penetration through tissue to detect abnormalities below the surface.
2Measurement precision
If thermal infrared radiation detection is used to image below tissue surface, then subsurface conditions can be detected, but the device complexity increases due to specialized infrared detectors and focusing elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detector array into multiple discrete thermal infrared detectors arranged in a specific pattern. Each detector element is independently positioned to correspond with pinholes in the focusing element, creating a modular detection system that can be integrated into the ingestible device while maintaining thermal imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pinhole focusing element as an intermediary component between the thermal infrared radiation source and the detector array. This pinhole mask selectively transmits thermal radiation from specific directions to corresponding detectors, enabling spatial resolution and image formation without requiring complex lens systems, thus reducing overall device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If a ring-shaped detector array with pinhole focusing is used for side-scan infrared imaging, then high-resolution thermal images can be captured, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase for aligning detectors with pinholes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric ring-shaped detector array configuration where detectors are positioned at specific angular intervals around the ingestible device. This asymmetric arrangement, combined with corresponding pinhole positions, creates a side-scan imaging geometry that is optimized for detecting thermal radiation from the GI tract wall while simplifying the alignment requirements compared to a symmetric full-360度 arrangement.
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
Enables early detection of abnormal conditions beneath the GI tract tissue surface, such as tumors or cysts, by capturing high-resolution images of thermal infrared radiation, improving diagnostic capabilities beyond what is possible with visible light imaging.
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.