Image Projection Apparatus for Surgical Fluorescence Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image projection systems for surgical operations lack high visibility when projecting visible-light images onto regions emitting non-visible light, such as infrared fluorescent light, making it difficult for surgeons to accurately identify and visualize affected areas during procedures.
Innovation Solution
An image projection apparatus comprising a detector for non-visible light emission, a projector for visible-light image projection, and a controller that varies pixel colors stepwise based on the emission intensities of non-visible light, enabling high-visibility projections by distinguishing different emission intensity distributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a visible-light image is projected onto a region emitting non-visible light (infrared fluorescent light), then the affected area can be displayed on the actual affected area, but the visibility of the projected image is insufficient making it difficult for surgeons to accurately identify affected areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the color of projected pixels based on their corresponding infrared emission intensity. Different regions of the projected image have different colors (e.g., red for high intensity, green for medium intensity, blue for low intensity), allowing surgeons to distinguish different intensities of non-visible light emission through visible color differences, thereby improving both visibility and identification accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes to encode information about infrared emission intensity. The controller varies the color of each pixel in the visible-light image according to the emission intensity at the corresponding position, transforming invisible intensity variations into visible color variations that enhance surgical visualization and decision-making
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 enhances visibility by projecting multicolored images based on infrared fluorescence intensity, allowing surgeons to easily recognize affected areas and their depth within organs, improving surgical precision and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a detector that detects a first region emitting non-visible light
Implementation Method 2
a projector that projects a visible-light image onto a second region including the first region detected by the detector
Data Source
AI summary
An image projection apparatus includes a detector that detects a first region emitting non-visible light; a projector that projects a visible-light image onto a second region including the first region detected by the detector; and a controller configured to generate the visible-light image. The controller varies colors of pixels of the visible-light image in a stepwise manner depending on emission intensities of the non-visible light at positions corresponding to the pixels within the first region.