US 11,949,974 B2
Controlling integral energy of a laser pulse in a fluorescence imaging system
Joshua D. Talbert, Salt Lake City, UT (US); and Donald M. Wichern, Ogden, UT (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/656,694.
Application 17/656,694 is a continuation of application No. 16/797,772, filed on Feb. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,284,784.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/864,236, filed on Jun. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0218189 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 23/56 (2023.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/04 (2006.01); A61B 1/045 (2006.01); A61B 1/06 (2006.01); A61B 1/07 (2006.01); A61B 1/307 (2006.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01S 7/483 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06T 7/521 (2017.01); H04N 13/296 (2018.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/72 (2023.01); H04N 23/84 (2023.01); H04N 25/13 (2023.01); H04N 25/131 (2023.01); H04N 23/50 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/56 (2023.01) [A61B 1/00006 (2013.01); A61B 1/00009 (2013.01); A61B 1/00045 (2013.01); A61B 1/0005 (2013.01); A61B 1/00057 (2013.01); A61B 1/043 (2013.01); A61B 1/045 (2013.01); A61B 1/0638 (2013.01); A61B 1/0646 (2013.01); A61B 1/0655 (2022.02); A61B 1/07 (2013.01); A61B 1/307 (2013.01); G01N 21/6456 (2013.01); G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G06T 7/0012 (2013.01); G06T 7/521 (2017.01); H04N 13/296 (2018.05); H04N 23/72 (2023.01); H04N 23/84 (2023.01); H04N 25/131 (2023.01); H04N 25/135 (2023.01); G01S 7/483 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10064 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10068 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30024 (2013.01); H04N 23/555 (2023.01); H04N 2209/047 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
cycling an emitter to emit a plurality of emissions of electromagnetic radiation according to a variable emission cycle pattern that comprises:
a plurality of visible emissions each comprising a visible wavelength of electromagnetic radiation; and
a plurality of excitation emissions each comprising a fluorescence excitation wavelength of electromagnetic radiation; and
synchronizing an operational cycle of an image sensor with the variable emission cycle pattern of the emitter such that the image sensor outputs a plurality of exposure frames;
receiving the plurality of exposure frames output by the image sensor, wherein each of the plurality of exposure frames corresponds in time with at least one of the plurality of emissions emitted by the emitter;
receiving a plurality of energy intensity readings from a photo diode that measures an intensity of each of the plurality of emissions of electromagnetic radiation; and
determining whether to adjust one or more of an emission intensity or an emission duration of at least one of the plurality of emissions emitted by the emitter based on one or more of the plurality of energy intensity readings received from the photo diode;
wherein the plurality of exposure frames comprises:
a plurality of color exposure frames, wherein pixel data for each of the plurality of color exposure frames is accumulated by a pixel array of the image sensor when the emitter pulses one or more of the plurality of visible emissions; and
a plurality of fluorescence exposure frames, wherein pixel data for each of the plurality of fluorescence exposure frames is accumulated by the pixel array of the image sensor when the emitter pulses one or more of the plurality of excitation emissions.