Concurrent White Light and Fluorescence Visualization via Beam Splitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging systems struggle to simultaneously visualize white light and visible fluorescent light effectively, particularly in medical procedures, as existing methods require complex light modulation and synchronization with CMOS sensors, leading to reduced frame rates and challenges in separating fluorescence signals from white light signals.
Innovation Solution
The proposed imaging system employs a videoscope with independently adjustable zoom features, filters, and a prism to separate white light and fluorescent light signals using notch filters and beam splitters, allowing for simultaneous visualization without the need for temporal separation, thereby maintaining high frame rates and clear image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temporal separation of white light and fluorescence signals is used, then the fluorescence signal can be separated from white light, but the frame rate is reduced and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging system into two separate optical channels: a white light channel and a fluorescence channel. Each channel has its own camera and processing path, allowing simultaneous capture of both signals without temporal separation. This segmentation enables independent optimization of each channel while maintaining high frame rates for both modalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a beam splitter as an intermediary component that divides the incoming light into separate white light and fluorescence components. This mediator allows both signals to be captured simultaneously by different cameras without requiring temporal modulation or complex synchronization, thereby maintaining high frame rates while achieving effective signal separation.
2Measurement precision
If temporal separation with light modulation is used, then fluorescence and white light can be distinguished, but the system complexity increases due to synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the optical paths into distinct white light and fluorescence channels using beam splitters and wavelength-specific filters. Each channel is processed independently by dedicated cameras, eliminating the need for complex light modulation and synchronization mechanisms while achieving clean signal separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses beam splitters and optical filters as intermediary components that passively separate the light signals based on wavelength. This approach replaces active modulation systems with passive optical elements, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining effective fluorescence and white light distinction.
3Device complexity
If single-channel imaging is used, then the system is simpler, but stereoscopic video images are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional imaging system where a single microscope platform can simultaneously perform white light imaging, fluorescence imaging, and stereoscopic 3D imaging. The system uses multiple cameras and optical channels that can be configured for different imaging modes, providing versatile functionality without requiring separate dedicated systems for each modality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple imaging modalities (white light, fluorescence, and stereoscopic vision) into a single integrated system. By merging the optical paths and processing channels, the system achieves comprehensive imaging capabilities while maintaining a unified platform, avoiding the need for multiple separate imaging systems.
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
This solution enables effective simultaneous visualization of white light and fluorescent light, improving image quality and frame rates during medical procedures by wavelength separation, which is simpler and more efficient than temporal separation methods.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination notch filter configured to remove light having peak fluorescence excitation wavelengths, from the illumination light
Implementation Method 2
A beam splitter (BS) divides the collected light into two beams, one beam for white light visualization and the other beam for fluorescent light visualization
Implementation Method 3
The fluorescence arm would have opposite rejection filter (notch pass) that only passed the light that was rejected from the illumination beam and has the excited fluorescence signal
Data Source
AI summary
A visualization system and methods for simultaneously visualizing white light and visible fluorescent light, the visualization involving an illumination system and an imaging system operable with the illumination system. The illumination system has a light source produces illumination light (white light and fluorescence excitation light), an optical notch rejection filter to remove light having peak fluorescence excitation wavelengths from the illumination light, and illumination optics to at least one of deliver and condense the filtered illumination light. The imaging system has imaging optics, a fluorescence excitation light removal filter to remove excitation light from the imaged light, a beam splitter to split the filtered images light into a first beam (white light), and a second beam (fluorescent imaging light), an optical notch rejection filter to ensure that light, having peak fluorescence emission wavelengths of a fluorophore, does not reach a white light camera, an optical notch pass filter to pass only the fluorescent imaging light component, a camera to image the white light; and another camera to image the fluorescent light.