The present application relates to an
image processor and a computer-implemented
image processing method for calculating a digital fluorescent output
color image (160) in a medical fluorescent viewing device (100), the medical fluorescent viewing device has a
white light color camera (110) for recording one or more digital
white light color images (114) and a fluorescent color camera (111) for recording one or more digital fluorescent color images (112). The method and processor (170) are configured to retrieve a digital
white light color image in which one or more fluorescent fluorophores (116, 118) are represented in a first imaged spectrum (202). The digital white
color image comprises a plurality of first pixels (150a), and each first pixel (150a) comprises a first set ({R1, B1, G1}) of
color space coordinates (R1, B1, G1). The first imaged spectrum (202) overlaps a
fluorescence emission spectrum (226) of at least one
fluorophore (116) of the one or more fluorescing fluorophores (116, 118). Further, a digital fluorescent color image (112) is retrieved in which one or more fluorescent fluorophores are represented in a second imaged spectrum (222) different from the first imaged spectrum. The digital fluorescent color image comprises a plurality of second pixels (150b), and each second pixel (150b) comprises a second set ({R2, B2, G2}) of
color space coordinates (R2, G2, B2). The second imaged spectrum (222) overlaps a
fluorescence emission spectrum of the at least one
fluorophore. The digital fluorescent output color image is generated from a digital white light color image and a digital fluorescent color image, and includes a plurality of output pixels (150c). A color (R *, G *, B *) of an output pixel (150c) is calculated by applying a color
conversion function (140) to an input union set (846, {R1, R2, G1, G2, B1, B2}) of a first set of
color space coordinates of a first pixel (150a) and a second set of color space coordinates of a second pixel (150a). The use of union sets at each pixel allows for more reliable detection and enhancement of
fluorescence-related
image content, such as excitation fluorescence,
autofluorescence, and / or reflections of objects illuminated with fluorescence excitation spectrums.