Capsule endoscopy system and method of controlling operation of capsule endoscope

Abstract

A capsule endoscope captures an image from an imaging field as it travels through a tract of a patient and, at the same time, measures subject distances to multiple points in the imaging field. The capsule endoscope sends the captured image and information on the multi-point distances wirelessly to a data transceiver that the patient carries about. With reference to the multi-point distance information, a check zone of a limited distance range is determined in the imaging field, and the check zone is divided into small blocks. Image characteristic values are extracted from image data of each individual small block, and compared with the image characteristic values of other small blocks, to examine similarity between the small blocks. Those small blocks which are less similar to other small blocks are considered to constitute an area of concern, such as a lesion.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a capsule endoscope inspection system for medical diagnosis through a method of acquiring endoscopic images through a capsule endoscope. The invention also relates to a method of controlling the operation of a capsule endoscope. Background technique [0002] Capsule endoscopes have recently been used in practical use for endoscopy. Capsule endoscopes have components integrated in microcapsules, including imaging devices and illumination sources. First, the patient swallows the capsule endoscope so that the imaging device can acquire images from inside the patient, the inner surfaces of the patient's digestive tract, while a light source illuminates these surfaces. The image data acquired by the imaging device is transmitted in the form of radio signals to a receiver, which is carried by the patient. Image data is continuously recorded on a storage medium such as a flash memory, which is provided in the receiver. At or after...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Even if there is diagnostic information or routine case information, if the information is obtained through a different type of endoscope from the currently used endoscope, the difference between endoscopes can cause a problem that and other types of endoscopes acquire images of the same part with different characteristics from each other

If so, it can be difficult to pinpoint areas of concern precisely

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