Structured Light Depth Cues for Endoscopic Anatomical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical scopes, such as endoscopes and laparoscopes, lack effective 3-dimensional visual cues, making it difficult to position the distal end and instruments accurately within a patient's body, prolonging procedures and increasing mental fatigue.
Innovation Solution
A system that projects a spatial light pattern onto an anatomical target, captures the reflected pattern, and analyzes the differences to enhance a 2-dimensional image with 3-dimensional cues, using techniques like interference patterns and polarized light to provide depth and contour information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a 2-dimensional image is displayed from the medical scope, then the image is simple and easy to process, but depth and contour information is lost making accurate positioning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent projects a structured light pattern (typically a grid or array of lines) onto the anatomical target and captures the reflected pattern with a 2D sensor. By analyzing the distortion of this projected pattern, the system reconstructs 3D surface geometry and depth information from 2D image data, effectively adding a dimensional component to compensate for the inherent 2D limitation of medical scope imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a structured light pattern as an intermediary element between the light source and the anatomical target. This projected pattern serves as a mediator that encodes spatial information onto the target surface, allowing the imaging system to extract depth and contour data that would otherwise be invisible in standard 2D imaging.
2Productivity
If the distal end and instruments are positioned accurately without 3D cues, then the procedure time is reduced, but the operator experiences mental fatigue due to lack of depth perception
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary 3D surface mapping by projecting the light pattern and capturing the reflected pattern before the operator needs to perform precise positioning tasks. This pre-acquired depth and contour information is then integrated into the displayed image, providing the operator with enhanced spatial awareness before critical positioning decisions are made, thereby reducing mental fatigue and improving accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If multiple directional looks are performed to assess the anatomical target, then accurate positioning is achieved, but the procedure time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The structured light projection technique captures depth and contour information in a single 2D image capture, effectively providing multi-directional spatial information simultaneously rather than requiring multiple sequential directional looks. This dimensional enhancement allows the operator to assess the complete 3D geometry of the anatomical target from one viewpoint, dramatically reducing the time needed for accurate positioning while maintaining measurement precision.
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
Enhances 2-dimensional images with 3-dimensional cues, allowing for more precise positioning of the medical scope and instruments, reducing the need for multiple directional looks and shortening procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor, such as a camera for imaging an area at a distal end of the scope
Implementation Method 2
The captured light pattern can be analyzed and used to help enhance a 2-dimensional image of the anatomical target
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for detecting depth contours of an anatomical target and for enhancing imaging of the anatomical target are provided. In an example, a reference pattern of light can be projected across an anatomical target and an image of the reflected light pattern upon the anatomical target can be captured. The captured light pattern can be analyzed to determine contour information, which can then be used to provide 3D cues to enhance a 2-dimensional image of the anatomical target.