Endoscope system and phototherapy method having a correction operation when an observation mode is set to a thermal suppression mode
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Publication Number
US-12337190-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
An endoscope system includes: a light source configured to emit white light having wavelength distribution of white color; an optical element configured to block at least light emitted from the light source, the at least light having wavelength band corresponding to a light absorption band with a highest peak from among light absorption bands of a medicinal substance used in phototherapy; an imaging element configured to perform imaging based on a light component which has passed through the optical element; and an image processor configured to process imaging signal obtained as a result of imaging performed by the imaging element, and generate an image.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an endoscope system for phototherapy/photoimmunotherapy in which a light source emits white light. An optical element blocks at least light whose wavelength band corresponds to a light absorption band with a highest peak from among light absorption bands of a medicinal substance used in phototherapy, and imaging is performed by an imaging element based on a light component that has passed through the optical element.
The image processor processes an imaging signal to generate an image and performs a correction operation to correct a light component that is blocked by the optical element. As an observation mode, either a normal observation mode is set in which a subject is irradiated with the white light, or a thermal invasion suppression mode is set in which the subject is irradiated with illumination light that has passed through the optical element.
In the thermal invasion suppression observation mode, filters are inserted or alternative switch/filter arrangements are used to reduce thermal invasion/burn-side effects while maintaining observation brightness/color balance. A correction operation such as a white balance adjustment compensates for blocked RGB components so that the observation remains visually consistent even though wavelength bands aligned with the medicinal substance’s highest-peak absorption band are blocked.
Claims Coverage
The partial document provides two independent claims. Both claims include an optical element that blocks a wavelength band aligned with a medicinal substance’s highest peak absorption and require an image-generating correction operation, particularly when a thermal invasion suppression mode is selected.
Optical blocking aligned with medicinal substance absorption peak
An endoscope system includes an optical element configured to block at least light having a wavelength band corresponding to a light absorption band with a highest peak from among light absorption bands of a medicinal substance used in phototherapy.
Imaging based on transmitted light through optical element
An endoscope system includes an imaging element configured to perform imaging based on a light component which has passed through the optical element, and an image processor configured to process an imaging signal to generate an image.
Correction operation for blocked light component in thermal invasion suppression mode
The image processor is configured to perform a correction operation to correct a light component that is blocked by the optical element, and when the thermal invasion suppression mode is set, the image processor performs the correction operation.
Observation mode selection with normal vs thermal invasion suppression
The endoscope system sets either a normal observation mode in which a subject is irradiated with the white light, or a thermal invasion suppression mode in which a subject is irradiated with illumination light that has passed through the optical element.
Method selecting normal vs thermal invasion suppression while imaging and performing phototherapy
A phototherapy method includes setting an observation mode to either a normal observation mode in which a subject is irradiated with the white light, or a thermal invasion suppression mode in which illumination light is emitted with at least a wavelength band corresponding to a light absorption band with a highest peak from among light absorption bands of the medicinal substance blocked.
Performing correction operation during thermal invasion suppression mode
A phototherapy method further includes performing a correction operation to correct a light component that is blocked when the thermal invasion suppression mode is set.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the combination of blocking illumination wavelength bands tied to the medicinal substance’s highest-peak absorption, imaging based on the transmitted light, and performing a correction operation to compensate for the blocked light component, particularly when a thermal invasion suppression mode is selected.
Stated Advantages
Reduce thermal invasion/burn-side effects in a thermal invasion suppression observation mode while maintaining observation brightness/color balance.
Maintain observation brightness/color balance despite blocking wavelength bands aligned with the medicinal substance’s highest-peak absorption, using a correction operation such as white balance adjustment.
Documented Applications
Endoscope-based phototherapy/photoimmunotherapy where white-light illumination is filtered to block wavelength bands corresponding to the medicinal substance’s highest-peak absorption and a thermal invasion suppression mode is used to reduce thermal burn/side effects while preserving observation.
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