Endoscope Gravity Data Integration in Single AVI File
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscope apparatuses lack the ability to effectively integrate and display gravity information alongside endoscope images, making it difficult for inspectors to accurately recognize and record inspection data, especially when re-examining sites during detailed inspections.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope apparatus incorporates a gravity direction detecting portion, image processing, and recording medium management to combine endoscope images with gravity information into a single moving image file, allowing for precise recording and display of both image and gravity direction data, enabling easier inspection and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gravity information is integrated with endoscope images into a single file, then inspection data recognition and recording accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional gravity sensing and processing components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines endoscope image data and gravity sensor data into a single moving image file format, integrating multiple data types that were previously stored separately. This merging approach improves inspection data recognition accuracy by ensuring synchronized and correlated presentation of visual and gravity information, while the standardized file format manages the complexity of handling multiple data streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The moving image file structure is designed to universally accommodate both endoscope image data and gravity sensor data within a single standardized format. This multi-functional file structure allows the system to handle diverse inspection data types without requiring separate processing pipelines for each data type, thereby improving recognition accuracy while controlling overall system complexity.
2Loss of information
If gravity direction detecting portion is added to the endoscope, then inspection data completeness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gravity direction detecting portion is implemented as a separate, modular sensor component that can be independently manufactured and then integrated with the endoscope system. This segmentation allows the gravity sensing function to be added without redesigning the entire endoscope, thereby improving inspection data completeness while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated gravity signal processing portion that acts as an intermediary between the gravity sensor and the main image processing system. This intermediary component handles the specific requirements of gravity data processing and integration into the moving image file, simplifying the overall manufacturing process by creating a clear interface between different functional modules.
3Device complexity
If separate files are used for image and gravity data, then device complexity is reduced, but information loss occurs due to data separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges endoscope image data and gravity sensor data into a single integrated moving image file, eliminating the information loss that occurs when data is stored separately. The unified file structure ensures that both data types are preserved with their temporal and spatial relationships intact, while the standardized format manages the complexity of handling combined data streams.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the inspectors' ability to accurately record and reproduce inspection data by integrating gravity information with endoscope images, improving recognition and management of inspection data, and facilitating detailed inspections by ensuring gravity direction is consistently displayed and recorded.
Implementation Method 1
an image pickup device provided at a distal end portion of an endoscope insertion portion
Implementation Method 2
a gravity direction detecting portion that detects information about a gravity direction of the distal end portion
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope apparatus includes: an image processing portion that performs image processing on a signal of an image picked up by an image pickup device provided at a distal end portion of an endoscope insertion portion to generate an endoscope image; a gravity direction detecting portion that detects information about a gravity direction of the distal end portion; a gravity signal processing portion that performs predetermined signal processing on a signal of the information about the gravity direction detected by the gravity direction detecting portion to detect gravity information. The recording medium reading/writing portion of the endoscope apparatus stores data of the endoscope image generated by the image processing portion and data of the gravity information detected by the gravity signal processing portion in two AVI files and records the files on a recording medium.