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EP-4734814-A2 - ENDOSCOPE CAMERA INTERFERENCE MITIGATION

EP4734814A2EP 4734814 A2EP4734814 A2EP 4734814A2EP-4734814-A2

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an endoscopic laser lithotripsy device and methods for such a device where image acquisition, lasing, illumination, and/or image processing is configured to mitigate distortions in the captured image resulting from the laser.

Inventors

  • WAISMAN, TAL

Assignees

  • Lumenis Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A method for an endoscope camera controller, comprising: receiving, at a processor of an endoscope console, an indication of a pulse start control signal and one or more laser pulse characteristics, the pulse start control signal to define an initiation of lasing by the lasing console and the one or more laser pulse characteristics to define the lasing; determining, by the processor, an integration timing period of a camera sensor of an endoscope based on the pulse start control signal and the one or more laser pulse characteristics; and generating, by the processor, an integration control signal, the integration control signal to cause the camera sensor to accumulate charge during integration timing period.
  2. 2. The method of claim 1, comprising sending the integration control signal to shutter gating circuitry of the endoscope, the shutter gating circuitry to control a shutter of the endoscope camera.
  3. 3. The method of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a frequency of pulses to be generated by the lasing console.
  4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a pulse width of the pulses.
  5. 5. The method of claim 4, determining the integration timing period of the camera sensor comprising: determining a maximum duration of integration of the camera sensor based on a frame rate of the camera; and determining the integration timing period as the difference of the maximum duration of integration of the camera and the pulse width.
  6. 6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the camera is a global shutter style camera or a rolling shutter style camera.
  7. 7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lasing console comprises a Thulium fiber laser source or a Holmium laser source.
  8. 8. A method for a laser console, comprising: receiving, at a processor of a laser console, an indication of settings of an endoscope camera; determining, by the processor, laser pulse characteristics and a pulse start time for a laser source of the laser console based on the settings; and causing the laser source to generate pulses of light based on the laser pulse characteristics and the pulse start time.
  9. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the settings comprise an indication of a frame rate and a vertical blanking period of the endoscope camera.
  10. 10. The method of claim 9, determining the pulse start time based on the vertical blanking period.
  11. 11. The method of any one of claims 8 to 10, determining the laser pulse characteristics comprises determining a frequency of the laser source based on a factor of the frame rate.
  12. 12. A method for an endoscope console, comprising: receiving, at a processor of an endoscope console, an indication of settings of an endoscope camera; receiving, at a processor of an endoscope console, an indication of a pulse start time and one or more laser pulse characteristics, the pulse start control signal to define an initiation of lasing by the lasing console and the one or more laser pulse characteristics to define the lasing; receiving, by the processor, a plurality of image frames from a camera of an endoscope coupled to the endoscope console; identifying, by the processor, at least a portion of a one of the plurality of image frames where lasing by the lasing console overlaps with integration by the camera based on the one or more laser pulse characteristics, the pulse start time, and the settings; identifying, by the processor, at least a portion of another one of the plurality of image frames where lasing by the lasing console does not overlap with integration by the camera based on the one or more laser pulse characteristics, the pulse start time, and the settings; and replacing at least the portion of the one of the plurality of image frames with at least the portion of the other one of the plurality of image frames, wherein the other one of the plurality of image frames is prior in time to the one of the plurality of image frames.
  13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the settings comprise an indication of a frame rate and a vertical blanking period of the endoscope camera.
  14. 14. The method of any one of claims 12 to 13, wherein the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a frequency of pulses to be generated by the lasing console.
  15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a pulse width of the pulses.

Description

ENDOSCOPE CAMERA INTERFERENCE MITIGATION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/510,751 filed on June 28, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present disclosure generally relates to endoscopes and particularly, but not exclusively, to mitigating interference with images capture by a camera of an endoscope when used in conjunction with a surgical laser system. BACKGROUND [0003] Endoscopes are used to obtain an internal view of a patient. To that end, endoscopes have one or more cameras. The purpose of the camera is to provide an image of the target (e.g., organ, stone, or the like) on which the medical procedure is being performed or an image in the vicinity of where the medical procedure is to be performed. For example, an endoscope can be used to view the interior of a kidney and/or assess kidney stones in the kidney. As another example, an endoscope can be used to view a ureter possibly having stones, tumors, or strictures. In yet another example, an endoscope can be used to view a bladder and its anatomy such as the ureter openings and possible treatment targets like stones or tumors. [0004] It will be appreciated that interference with image acquisition can cause image quality degradation and/or creation of image artifacts. In severe cases this can cause difficulty in recognizing the required tissue features and characteristics to the level that the safety of continued treatment can be impacted. This may force a physician to determine to stop or pause a treatment procedure until the image (or conditions affecting the image) improves. [0005] Thus, there is a need to improve image capture or rather to mitigate interference with camera operation and/or image capture by the camera. BRIEF SUMMARY [0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to necessarily identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0007] The present disclosure provides an endoscopic laser lithotripsy device and methods for such a device where image acquisition and/or processing is configured to mitigate interference from the laser. [0008] Some embodiments of the disclosure can be implemented as a method for an endoscope camera controller. The method can comprise receiving, at a processor of an endoscope console, an indication of a pulse start control signal and one or more laser pulse characteristics, the pulse start control signal to define an initiation of lasing by the lasing console and the one or more laser pulse characteristics to define the lasing; determining, by the processor, an integration timing period of a camera sensor of an endoscope based on the pulse start control signal and the one or more laser pulse characteristics; and generating, by the processor, an integration control signal, the integration control signal to cause the camera sensor to accumulate charge during integration timing period. [0009] In further embodiments, the method can comprise sending the integration control signal to shutter gating circuitry of the endoscope, the shutter gating circuitry to control a shutter of the endoscope camera. [0010] In further embodiments of the method, the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a frequency of pulses to be generated by the lasing console. [0011] In further embodiments of the method, the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a pulse width of the pulses. [0012] In further embodiments of the method, determining the integration timing period of the camera sensor comprises determining a maximum duration of integration of the camera sensor based on a frame rate of the camera; and determining the integration timing period as the difference of the maximum duration of integration of the camera and the pulse width. [0013] In further embodiments of the method, the camera is a global shutter style camera or a rolling shutter style camera. [0014] In further embodiments of the method, the lasing console comprises a Thulium fiber laser source or a Holmium laser source. [0015] Some embodiments of the disclosure can be implemented as a method for a laser console. The method can comprise receiving, at a processor of a laser console, an indication of settings of an endoscope camera; determining, by the processor, laser pulse characteristics and a pulse start time for a laser source of the laser console based on the settings; and causing the laser source to generate pulses of light based on the laser pulse characteristics and the pulse start time. [0016] In further embodiments of the method, the settings comprise an indication of a frame rate and a vertical blanking period of the endoscope camera. [0017] In fur