Endoscope Image Processing Boundary Region Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic diagnosis faces challenges in accurately detecting lesions within body cavities due to limitations in the field of view, particularly with wide-angle optical systems where the backside of internal organ folds may not be visible, and shading issues in the boundary regions between the front and side fields of view can be misinterpreted as shadows.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope image processing device and method that acquires and processes images from both the front and side fields of view as a single image, with a boundary region correction section that overlaps the images to eliminate shading and prevent misinterpretation of boundary regions as shadows, using a catoptric and dioptric optical system combination and image processing techniques like magnification and demagnification to enhance visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a wide-angle optical system with angle of view of 170° or more is used to expand the field of view, then the observation area is improved, but distortion in the peripheral region increases and the back side of folds cannot be observed
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into two separate optical systems: a front observation optical system for capturing the front field of view and a side observation optical system for capturing the side field of view. Each optical system is optimized independently to minimize distortion in its respective field, while together they provide comprehensive coverage including areas behind folds that a single wide-angle system cannot capture.
2Area of stationary object
If a fish-eye lens with angle of view equal to or more than 180° is used to observe areas on the back side of folds, then the observation area is improved, but severe distortion in the peripheral region occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single fish-eye lens that captures the entire wide field, the system segments the field of view into front and side portions captured by separate optical systems. This allows each system to use optimized optics for its specific angular range, avoiding the severe peripheral distortion that would result from a single 180°+ lens while still achieving comprehensive observation coverage.
3Device complexity
If the boundary region between front and side fields of view is clearly defined, then the optical design is simplified, but shading occurs in the boundary region causing misinterpretation as shadows
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality correction by performing boundary region correction specifically in the overlapping area between front and side field images. The image processing section detects the boundary region and applies correction processing to eliminate shading artifacts, while leaving other regions unchanged. This targeted approach removes information loss in the critical boundary area without complicating the overall optical design.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope image processing device includes an image acquisition section and a boundary region correction section. The image acquisition section acquires image signals that form a front image corresponding to a front field of view and a side image corresponding to a side field of view as a single acquired image. A region within the acquired image that corresponds to the front field of view is referred to as a front region, and a region within the acquired image that corresponds to the side field of view is referred to as a side region. The boundary area correction section performs a process that causes at least one of an image of the front region and an image of the side region to overlap a boundary region that is a region that defines a boundary between the front region and the side region.