CCU Processing Allocation for Endoscopic Image Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical therapeutic equipment, such as endoscope systems, face limitations in image processing due to redundancy constraints, where emergency signal processing devices can only perform the same tasks as normal devices, hindering advanced image-quality enhancement processing that could improve surgical efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Adaptive distribution of processing tasks across multiple arithmetic processing sections within the Camera Control Unit (CCU) allows for higher-performance image processing, enabling advanced image-quality enhancement and surgical assistance by allocating specific tasks to resources based on their capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If signal processing devices for emergency use perform only the same processing as normal use devices, then system reliability is improved through redundancy, but image processing capability and surgical efficiency are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidsurgical efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling signal processing devices to perform different types of processing based on their capability level. Normal use devices execute both basic processing and advanced image-quality enhancement processing, while emergency use devices perform basic processing. This allows the system to maintain reliability through redundancy while improving surgical efficiency by utilizing advanced processing capabilities when available.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If advanced image-quality enhancement processing is implemented, then surgical efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments image processing into two distinct levels: basic processing and advanced image-quality enhancement processing. This segmentation allows the system to implement advanced processing selectively through software control rather than requiring all devices to have complex hardware, thereby improving surgical efficiency while managing device complexity through modular processing architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic processing capability assignment where the type of processing performed by each device can change based on system state. Normal use devices can dynamically switch between basic and advanced processing modes, while emergency use devices perform basic processing. This dynamic allocation allows the system to optimize surgical efficiency without requiring permanent complex hardware in all devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If multiple high-performance CCUs are deployed, then image processing capability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage processing capabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuous useful action by assigning basic processing to emergency use devices that remain active and ready for immediate operation, while advanced processing is continuously performed by normal use devices when available. This continuous utilization of processing resources at appropriate levels maximizes resource utilization efficiency while maintaining image processing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service through automatic processing assignment where the control unit automatically determines which devices perform basic versus advanced processing based on their operational status and capability. This eliminates the need for manual resource allocation and ensures optimal resource utilization efficiency while maintaining high image processing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3646335B1Medical image processing apparatus, medical image processing method, and computing device
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3646335B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3646335B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3646335B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A medical image processing apparatus for allocating at least two medical imaging processes to a plurality of assignable processing resources is provided. The plurality of assignable processing resources is allocated by the medical image processing apparatus based on resource information of the plurality of assignable processing resources. The medical image processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to acquire medical image processing content, from medical equipment, to be processed according to the at least two medical imaging processes prior to display on a display device connected to a surgical operating room network. The circuitry is configured to acquire the resource information of the plurality of assignable processing resources, and allocate each of the at least two medical imaging processes to a different one of the plurality of assignable processing resources based on the resource information of the plurality processing resources and the medical image processing content.