While the success of minimally invasive surgery ultimately depends on the skill of the surgeon, a large part of the procedure’s outcome is determined by the quality of perception — in other words, the images displayed on the monitors. Aelismed is a company that specializes in developing solutions for medical endoscopic video imaging. In this article, we are pleased to present our medical endoscopic camera module solutions that incorporate cutting-edge technologies and offer state-of-the-art performance.
While the success of minimally invasive surgery ultimately depends on the skill of the surgeon, a large part of the procedure’s outcome is determined by the quality of perception — in other words, the images displayed on the monitors. Aelismed is a company that specializes in developing solutions for medical endoscopic video imaging. In this article, we are pleased to present our medical endoscopic camera module solutions that incorporate cutting-edge technologies and offer state-of-the-art performance.
Camera Modules: Total Imaging Stack Optimization
Aelismed takes a comprehensive approach to designing endoscopic video imaging solutions. We believe that to achieve top-quality results in terms of image perception, it is necessary to optimize the entire imaging stack, from cameras to displays.
4K AI ISP Main Board: Next Generation Image Processing Power
Our 4K AI ISP Main Board is a true innovation in endoscopic imaging that employs modern artificial intelligence algorithms to provide an exceptional level of image quality and introduce new productivity features to the endoscopy workflow.
The ISP Main Board’s powerful dual-core NPU (Neural Processing Unit) and VPU (Vision Processing Unit) enable advanced real-time AI image processing. In particular, the algorithms allow for accelerating weak-light areas by up to 4x, thus significantly increasing image brightness and definition. Moreover, the ISP Main Board features cutting-edge computer vision algorithms that enable such advanced functionalities as pixel-level fusion and IR (infrared) enhancement.
Additionally, the board was engineered to ensure maximum reliability and performance by featuring gold-finger coaxial transmission technology.
The 4K AI ISP Main Board was specifically designed to be paired with our ECM-H-4K-ICG camera module, which allows for achieving the absolute maximum performance.
ICG Fluorescence Light Module: Seeing the Unseen
To see the fluorescent effect produced by ICG dye, one needs a light source capable of emitting laser beams in the near-infrared spectrum. The ICG Fluorescence Light Module is a medical-grade LED driver circuit with advanced features that enable both standard white-light and laser fluorescence modes.
Engineered for Performance and Precision
The ICG Fluorescence Light Module offers a range of innovative solutions that ensure exceptional image quality and operational performance while supporting the demanding requirements of modern endoscopy procedures.
The driver’s advanced circuit design enables seamless switching between standard LED white-light mode and laser fluorescence mode. To achieve optimal performance in both modes, the ICG Fluorescence Light Module utilizes a high-performance PWM (pulse-width modulation) controller that allows for adjusting the light output intensity with great precision. This prevents excessive brightness while ensuring sufficient image brightness for 4K60 video capture.
Furthermore, the circuitry was designed with thermal management and fiber detection capabilities in mind, thus enabling fiber protection and preventing the light engine from overheating. Finally, the ICG Fluorescence Light Module features high-performance optical coupling that ensures high luminous intensity while minimizing the occurrence of dim spots on the imaged surface.
From Research to Reality: State-of-the-Art Endoscopic Imaging Solutions
Thanks to the combined performance of the 4K AI Main Board and the ICG Fluorescence Light Module, Aelismed is now able to offer an endoscopic imaging solution that can be considered “system ready.” By introducing camera modules that offer a significant degree of optimization, we strive to make it easier for manufacturers to design medical video imaging devices while delivering top-level quality to their clients.
Aelismed’s camera modules can be applied in a variety of settings, ranging from advanced interventional endoscopy to general diagnostic procedures.
How an engagement runs
Working with a module partner should be a defined process, not a leap of faith. A typical engagement with AelisMed runs in five moves. First, definition: the speciality, the working distances, the light sources and the display the system must serve — the requirements that actually drive optical and electronic choices. Second, architecture: sensor selection against those requirements, the ISP pipeline configuration, and the mechanical envelope the module must live in. Third, integration: how the module meets the customer’s existing platform, from connector and cable decisions to firmware interfaces. Fourth, engineering samples with the measurement data to back them — resolution, colour, latency and thermal numbers measured through the assembled scope, not on a bench fixture. Fifth, design freeze and the road to registration, with the documentation a regulatory team needs already structured.
Each step has a deliverable and an exit criterion. That discipline is what keeps a custom imaging project from becoming a research project.
Where to go deeper
Three of our engineering notes expand on the ideas above: the anatomy of a 4K endoscopic imaging chain, the case for single-cable camera links, and a practical guide to ICG fluorescence imaging. For the processing backend in particular, see why we build on SoC rather than FPGA.
We welcome you to contact us to discuss how Aelismed’s technologies can be integrated into your medical video imaging devices.