Tethered Capsule Endoscopy Mosaicing for Barrett's Esophagus Screening
Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic screening methods for Barrett's esophagus are inadequate due to high costs, low patient acceptance of unsedated transnasal procedures, and the lack of a cost-effective, sensitive, and specific screening tool that does not require sedation, leading to inadequate detection of esophageal adenocarcinoma in its early stages.
Innovation Solution
A tethered capsule endoscope using a scanning fiber camera with laser illumination and a single optical fiber for imaging, coupled with mosaicing software to create a panoramic image of the esophageal surface, allowing for unsedated and cost-effective screening and surveillance of Barrett's esophagus and other body lumens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard endoscopy is used for Barrett's esophagus screening, then sensitivity and specificity are improved, but cost increases and patient acceptance decreases due to sedation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical endoscope system requiring sedation with a wireless capsule endoscope that patients can swallow. The capsule contains imaging sensors and transmits data wirelessly, eliminating the need for sedation and complex mechanical insertion while maintaining imaging capability for detecting Barrett's esophagus
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external receiver and processing system as an intermediary between the capsule and the physician. The receiver captures wireless transmissions from the capsule and reconstructs images, allowing the capsule itself to remain simple while achieving high detection accuracy through sophisticated external processing
2Measurement precision
If standard endoscopy with sedation is performed, then comprehensive esophageal examination is achieved, but cost and procedural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the endoscopy system into two independent parts: a simple swallowable capsule containing only imaging sensors and a separate external receiver handling all processing complexity. This segmentation allows the patient-side device to be extremely simple while maintaining comprehensive examination capability through the external system
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule performs self-navigation through the esophagus using natural swallowing and peristalsis, eliminating the need for complex mechanical control systems. The capsule autonomously captures images along its path while the external receiver automatically processes and reconstructs the data into comprehensive examinations
3Speed
If conventional endoscopy is used, then real-time imaging is obtained, but patient discomfort and procedural invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical insertion of a large endoscope through the mouth or nose with a small capsule that patients swallow naturally. This substitution eliminates the invasive mechanical insertion process while maintaining the ability to capture real-time images as the capsule travels through the esophagus
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 solution enables sensitive and specific imaging of the esophageal surface without sedation, reducing costs and improving patient acceptance, while providing a mosaic image that aids clinicians in identifying potential biopsy sites and monitoring disease progression efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
A tethered capsule endoscope using a scanning fiber camera with laser illumination
Implementation Method 2
single optical fiber for imaging
Implementation Method 3
scanning fiber camera with laser illumination
Data Source
AI summary
In connection with imaging an inner surface of a body lumen, a mosaiced image is created from discrete images or a video produced with a small camera, as the camera is moved through the lumen. In one embodiment, a tethered capsule with a scanning optical fiber provides the images, although other types of endoscopic cameras can instead be used. A surface model of the lumen and camera pose estimates for each image or frame are required for this task. Camera pose parameters, which define camera alignment, are determined for six degrees-of-freedom. The size of each frame projected as a strip on the surface model depends on the longitudinal movement of the camera. The projected frames are concatenated, and the cylinder is unrolled to produce the mosaic image. Further processing, such as applying surface domain blending, improves the quality of the mosaic image.