Wearable Optical Imaging With Multi-Wavelength Light Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical examination devices, such as smart microscopes, are large, stationary, and expensive, requiring skilled technical support, limiting their use for real-time image capturing and displaying during dental or medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A user-wearable device with telescopic lenses and image capturing devices that allows for real-time viewing and capturing of magnified images under different lighting conditions, incorporating a display system for immediate image representation, and a lighting system that emits light in various wavelength ranges, including ultra-violet to infra-red.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If smart microscopes are used for real-time image capturing during procedures, then image capturing capability is improved, but device size and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the examination setup into separate components: a portable wearable device for the practitioner and a stationary base unit for image processing and storage. This segmentation allows the practitioner to have a simple lightweight device while the complex functionality resides in the base unit, resolving the contradiction between real-time capturing capability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication system between the wearable device and the base unit. The wearable device captures images and transmits them wirelessly to the base unit for processing, allowing the wearable device to remain simple while still providing real-time capturing functionality through the intermediary system.
2Productivity
If smart microscopes are deployed for real-time viewing, then image viewing capability is improved, but portability and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy processing and storage components from the practitioner's wearable device and places them in the stationary base unit. The wearable device retains only the essential viewing and capturing functions, making it portable and easy to operate while still providing real-time viewing capability through wireless connection to the base unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-device architecture to a distributed two-dimensional architecture (wearable device + base unit). This dimensional change allows the practitioner to have a simple portable interface while the complex functionality exists in a separate dimension (the base unit), simultaneously achieving portability and real-time viewing capability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple wavelength ranges are used for illumination, then diagnostic precision is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base unit is designed as a universal platform that can handle multiple wavelength ranges (visible, UV, IR) through a single integrated system. The base unit receives and processes images from different wavelength sources, providing multi-wavelength diagnostic capability without requiring separate complex systems for each wavelength range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses digital copying and processing of images from different wavelength ranges at the base unit rather than requiring complex optical switching mechanisms in the wearable device. The base unit creates and processes digital copies of the multi-wavelength images, reducing the optical complexity in the portable component while maintaining diagnostic 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
Enables real-time, cost-effective, and user-friendly image capturing and displaying of magnified views during procedures, providing enhanced precision and convenience for practitioners.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of lighting elements arranged in a concentric pattern about a central axis, each lighting element oriented at a different angle with respect to the central axis
Implementation Method 2
an objective lens positioned at a known distance from the lighting assembly and configured to receive light from an object within a field of view
Implementation Method 3
a beam splitter positioned between the objective lens and the eyepiece, the beam splitter configured to reflect light in a first direction and transmit light in a second direction
Implementation Method 4
an image capture device positioned to capture images of the magnified view of the object
Data Source
AI summary
A user-wearable examination/visualization/collection system with light enhancement comprising a carrier suitable for the retention of a lighting assembly and a viewing and collection system is presented wherein images or video of objects may be collected under natural (i.e., white) light and/or colored light (e.g., IR) conditions, processed and presented to a user on a local display. Further disclosed are lighting assemblies that provide for the light necessary to collect images different lighting conditions and optical filtering that allows for a limitation of the light viewable and collected.