Endoscope System Hybrid Digital Physical Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscope systems face challenges in achieving high tracking responsiveness and maintaining image quality during surgical procedures, as they rely solely on physical movement of the endoscope's visual field, which is slow and may result in low responsiveness and image distortion, especially when the region of interest moves away from the central area.
Innovation Solution
The system combines digital tracking processing, which adjusts the display area within the captured image, and physical tracking processing, which moves the endoscope's visual field, allowing the observation image to cooperatively track the region of interest by initially using digital tracking to quickly align the display area and then switching to physical tracking to maintain focus and improve image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If only physical tracking processing is used to move the endoscope's visual field, then the system structure remains simple, but tracking responsiveness becomes slow and image distortion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines digital tracking processing (software-based image selection) with physical tracking processing (hardware-based endoscope movement) into a unified tracking system. The processor coordinates both methods, using digital tracking to quickly adjust the display area within the captured image and physical tracking to move the endoscope's visual field, thereby achieving high tracking responsiveness without excessive system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical physical tracking with a hybrid approach that incorporates digital image processing. By using digital tracking to adjust the display area position within the captured image, the system achieves rapid response without the mechanical delays and distortions associated with solely physical endoscope movement
2Speed
If digital tracking processing is used to adjust the display area, then tracking responsiveness improves, but image quality may deteriorate when the region of interest moves away from the central area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between digital tracking and physical tracking based on real-time conditions. When the region of interest is within an acceptable range of the display area center, digital tracking is used for rapid response. When the region of interest moves away from the central area, the system transitions to physical tracking to maintain image quality, creating a dynamic adaptation mechanism that optimizes both responsiveness and image quality
3Loss of time
If the display area is quickly adjusted to track the region of interest, then tracking speed improves, but image distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tracking process into two distinct phases: digital tracking processing that adjusts the display area position within the captured image, and physical tracking processing that moves the endoscope's visual field. This segmentation allows the system to use digital tracking for quick initial alignment and then transition to physical tracking for stable, distortion-free tracking of the region of interest
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system includes: an endoscope acquiring a captured image; and a processor configured to: detect a region of interest in the captured image; select a portion of the captured image as a display area and generate an observation image from the display area; and cooperatively execute digital tracking processing and physical tracking processing. The digital tracking processing is processing in which a first target region in the display area is made to track the region of interest by changing a position of the display area in the captured image. The physical tracking processing is processing in which a second target region in the captured image is made to track the region of interest by moving a visual field of the endoscope. The processor is configured to stop the digital tracking processing when the first target region reaches the region of interest, and execute only the physical tracking processing thereafter.