Endoscope Measurement Markers with Auxiliary Light for 3D Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope apparatuses struggle to accurately measure the size of objects with three-dimensional shapes due to errors caused by forming measurement spots on uneven surfaces, leading to inaccuracies in scale display during detailed observation.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope apparatus employs a measurement marker with a shape of straight line segments or combinations, superimposed on the image to align with the center of the object, and uses auxiliary measurement light trajectories distinct from the optical axis to correct for three-dimensional surface variations, ensuring accurate scale display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spot is formed on a three-dimensional shape to enable detailed observation, then the object can be observed in detail, but measurement error increases due to depth direction distance differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second light source positioned at a different location than the optical axis to illuminate the measurement target from another dimension. This allows the measurement spot to be formed at the same position as the optical axis spot despite three-dimensional surface variations, enabling both detailed observation and accurate measurement by compensating for depth direction distance differences through multi-dimensional illumination geometry
2Productivity
If a measurement marker is displayed based on spot position on a three-dimensional shape, then measurement can be performed, but the displayed scale becomes inaccurate due to surface unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a second light source as an intermediary to create a measurement spot that serves as a reference point. By positioning this spot using light from a different direction, the system creates a mediator reference that accounts for three-dimensional surface variations, allowing accurate scale calculation and measurement marker display even on uneven surfaces
3Device complexity
If auxiliary measurement light trajectory coincides with optical axis, then system complexity is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates on three-dimensional surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination function into two distinct light sources: one for general observation and one specifically for measurement. This segmentation allows each light source to perform its specialized function optimally, with the measurement light source positioned to compensate for three-dimensional surface effects, thereby achieving high measurement accuracy without excessive system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
There are provided an endoscope apparatus (10) that displays a more accurate scale on an object to be observed, a method of operating the endoscope apparatus (10), and a program for an endoscope apparatus. The endoscope apparatus (10) includes a processor, and the processor specifies the position of a specific region in a picked-up image obtained from the image pickup of a subject on which the specific region is formed by auxiliary measurement light, sets a measurement marker that shows an actual size of the subject according to the position of the specific region and includes gradations of which an end portion serves as a base point, and creates a specific image in which the measurement marker is superimposed on the picked-up image so that the position of the specific region and the base point of the gradations of the measurement marker overlap with each other.