Special-Light Surgical Imaging for Reliable 3D Deep-Structure Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical observation systems using endoscopes and microscopes face challenges in discerning blood vessels or lesions at deep parts that are not visible in visible light images, requiring special light sources like infrared light to enhance visibility.

Innovation Solution

A medical imaging system that irradiates the surgical field with observation light of a specific wavelength band, captures a special light image, and generates three-dimensional information using SLAM to provide reliable three-dimensional coordinate information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If visible light is used for imaging, then the imaging system is simple and easy to operate, but deep structures such as blood vessels cannot be discerned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of deep structuresVSAvoidimaging system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the light source from visible light to infrared light. This parameter change enables penetration through superficial tissues to visualize deep structures such as blood vessels and lesions that are invisible in the visible spectrum, thereby improving diagnostic reliability without fundamentally altering the imaging system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The imaging system is designed to handle multiple wavelength bands (visible and infrared) using a unified platform. The same optical path, image capture device, and processing circuitry can process both visible light images and infrared special light images, making the system multi-functional and reducing overall complexity despite the added capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If special light imaging is used to enhance visibility of deep structures, then diagnostic reliability improves, but the imaging system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethree-dimensional information reliabilityVSAvoidlight source and processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines visible light imaging and infrared special light imaging into a single integrated system. The light source unit, image capture device, and control processing circuit are designed to handle both imaging modes simultaneously or alternately, merging their functions into one cohesive platform that generates three-dimensional information with high reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a three-dimensional coordinate representation (virtual copy) of the surgical field based on infrared special light images. This digital three-dimensional model preserves and enhances the visibility of deep structures without requiring physical modification of the imaging apparatus, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If three-dimensional information is generated from special light images, then surgical precision is enhanced, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethree-dimensional coordinate accuracyVSAvoidcontrol processing circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical three-dimensional measurement systems with a computational approach. The control processing circuit generates three-dimensional coordinate information by processing two-dimensional infrared image data through algorithms, substituting mechanical complexity with computational processing that achieves high measurement precision more efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The system provides highly reliable three-dimensional information by emphasizing structures at deep parts, such as blood vessels, through special light imaging, enhancing surgical precision and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

special light such as infrared (IR) light of a wavelength band different from the wavelength band of the visible light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

reflected special light that is the special light reflected from at least a portion of the surgical field and received by the image capture device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS12569125B2Medical imaging system, medical imaging processing method, and medical information processing apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A medical imaging system includes a light source configured to irradiate a surgical field with observation light of a first wavelength band or special light of a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; an image capture device configured to generate a special light image based on reflected special light that is the special light reflected from at least a portion of the surgical field and received by the image capture device; and a control processing circuit configured to generate three-dimensional information including three-dimensional coordinate information about the surgical field based on the special light image.