Capsule Endoscope Partial Image Synthesis for Wide Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capsule endoscopes face challenges in acquiring overall images of areas like the esophagus due to high movement velocity, requiring complex optical systems and increased data processing and power consumption when trying to accelerate imaging rates.
Innovation Solution
An in-vivo image acquiring system that includes a partial-image acquiring unit, a position-related-data acquiring unit, and an overall-image generator, which acquires and synthesizes partial image data with position-related data to generate overall images, reducing the need for a wide imaging field and minimizing data and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the imaging rate is accelerated to acquire overall image data on the esophagus, then the coverage area is improved, but the data amount to be processed and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging task into segments by capturing multiple partial images at lower frame rates and synthesizing them into an overall image. Instead of continuously capturing high-resolution images at high speed, the system captures partial images at intervals and reconstructs the complete view through image synthesis, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from temporal dimension (high-speed continuous imaging) to spatial dimension (multiple partial images synthesized). By capturing images at different positions and synthesizing them based on position information, the system achieves wide-area coverage without requiring high imaging rates, thus reducing power consumption.
2Area of stationary object
If the imaging rate is accelerated to acquire overall image data on the esophagus, then the coverage area is improved, but the data amount to be processed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overall image into multiple partial images that are captured at lower resolution and lower frame rates. By processing and synthesizing these smaller data segments rather than capturing one large high-resolution image continuously, the total data amount is reduced while still achieving comprehensive area coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary partial image data and position information needed for synthesis, discarding redundant data. By selectively capturing and processing only the essential information required for overall image reconstruction, the data processing burden is minimized while maintaining coverage area.
3Area of stationary object
If a wide imaging field is provided to acquire overall images, then the coverage area is improved, but the optical system becomes complicated and device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simple imaging mechanism to capture multiple partial images of limited fields of view. Instead of requiring a single complex wide-angle optical system, the system segments the imaging task into multiple simpler captures that are later synthesized computationally, thereby reducing optical system complexity and device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image synthesis as an intermediary process between simple partial image capture and overall image generation. This computational intermediary allows the system to achieve wide-area coverage using simple optical components, avoiding the need for complex wide-angle lenses or multiple overlapping optical systems.
4Area of stationary object
If a wide imaging field is provided to acquire overall images, then the coverage area is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a compact imaging mechanism with limited field of view that can be housed in a small capsule. By segmenting the imaging task into multiple partial captures and synthesizing them computationally, the system achieves wide-area coverage without requiring large optical components, thus keeping the device size small for swallowable capsule application.
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule endoscope 2 includes a partial-image acquiring unit that has a field of vision of 360° around a central axis in a longitudinal direction (moving direction), and acquires a plurality of partial image data on inner circumferential areas 28a, 28b and the like according to a movement of the capsule endoscope 2. On the other hand, the capsule endoscope 2 is configured to acquire position related data based on which positions Z(t1) and Z(t2) at which the respective partial image data is acquired can be calculated, and enables a receiving apparatus or the like to constitute overall image data based on the partial image data and the position related data, whereby an overall image of a predetermined imaging target in a body of a subject is acquired with simple constitution while suppressing an increase in data amount.