Capsule Endoscope Variable Frame Rate Bubble Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Capsule endoscopes face inefficiencies in battery consumption and image capture due to continuous imaging in areas with excessive bubbles or residues, leading to non-useful observations.

Innovation Solution

A capsule endoscope with a variable imaging frame rate, controlled by a processor that determines if an image contains a bubble or residue, and adjusts the frame rate based on this determination to conserve battery life and reduce unnecessary image capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous imaging is performed in the digestive tract, then complete observation of the tract is achieved, but battery consumption increases and non-useful images (bubbles/residues) are captured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobservation completenessVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging frame rate is dynamically adjusted based on the imaging environment. When bubbles or residues are detected, the frame rate is reduced to conserve battery power. When the environment is clear, the frame rate returns to normal to ensure complete observation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between continuous observation and battery conservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors image quality by detecting bubbles and residues, and uses this feedback to adjust the imaging frame rate. The processor analyzes each captured image, determines the presence of obscuring elements, and automatically modifies the imaging parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that balances observation completeness with energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If imaging frame rate is maintained at high level, then complete visual coverage is ensured, but unnecessary images of bubbles or residues are captured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage capture efficiencyVSAvoiduseful observation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of maintaining full imaging capacity throughout the entire examination, the system applies partial imaging action by reducing the frame rate only when bubbles or residues are detected. This allows the system to capture sufficient images for complete observation while avoiding the excessive capture of non-useful images, thereby optimizing the ratio of useful to unnecessary images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If frame rate is reduced to save battery, then battery life is extended, but observation completeness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery conservationVSAvoidobservation completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different imaging qualities (frame rates) to different segments of the examination based on local conditions. In regions with bubbles or residues, the frame rate is reduced since these areas provide little diagnostic value. In clear regions, the frame rate is maintained to ensure complete observation. This localized quality adjustment preserves battery life while maintaining observation completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10939037B2Capsule endoscope, receiving device, operation method of capsule endoscope, and computer readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

A capsule endoscope includes: an image sensor configured to generate an image by capturing inside a subject at an imaging frame rate that is variable; and a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to determine whether the image is a first image whose feature amount related to a region having a bubble or a residue imaged is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and change the imaging frame rate based on a determination result.