Endoscope Image Capture for Aligned Multi-Light Still Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems face challenges in storing multiple types of still images with minimal blur and positional deviation, while avoiding issues like light flicker and photosensitivity, especially when switching between different illumination light beams for enhanced diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with multiple semiconductor light sources emitting light beams of different wavelength bands, controlled to switch between illumination light beams with varying intensity ratios, allowing for the acquisition and storage of images that meet preset selection conditions, such as minimal blur and positional alignment, through a single instruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the switching cycle between illumination light beams is extended to reduce light flicker and photosensitivity, then observation comfort is improved, but the time difference between stored images increases causing positional deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary selection of images with minimal positional deviation from multiple candidate images captured during the observation period, before final storage. This allows using longer switching cycles for patient comfort while still selecting appropriately aligned images for comparison.
Solution Approach 2:
The system evaluates positional deviation between images and uses this feedback to select only those image pairs that meet alignment criteria, enabling the use of extended switching cycles while maintaining image quality for comparison.
2Manufacturing precision
If the switching cycle between illumination light beams is reduced to minimize time difference between images, then image alignment is improved, but light flicker and photosensitivity occur
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple candidate images are captured in advance during the observation period, allowing the system to select the best-aligned pair without requiring frequent switching, thus avoiding light flicker and photosensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects from multiple captured images based on alignment quality metrics, adapting the effective switching cycle to be longer than the actual capture interval, reducing harmful effects while maintaining alignment.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple illumination light beams are automatically switched in predetermined order, then various still images are stored for comparison, but the frame rate decreases to half or less making diagnosis difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple types of images under different illumination light beams are captured in advance during the observation period, allowing subsequent selection and display without requiring rapid automatic switching, thereby maintaining frame rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures copies of images under multiple illumination conditions during normal observation, then selects and displays appropriate copies without interrupting the observation flow, preserving frame rate while providing multi-type image storage.
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
Enables the storage of multiple types of still images suitable for comparison or superimposition, reducing positional deviation and minimizing image blur, while maintaining optimal illumination conditions for enhanced diagnostic accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of semiconductor light sources 20a to 20d that emit light beams having wavelength bands different from each other
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an endoscope system that stores a plurality of types of still images in a state suitable for comparison or superimposition, through a single instruction, and a method of operating the endoscope system. A first illumination light beam is switched to a second illumination light beam and the second illumination light beam is emitted for a period of at least one frame, during a period in which the first illumination light beam is emitted. A first image (96) or a second image (95) obtained by imaging an observation target illuminated with the first illumination light beam or the second illumination light beam is acquired for each frame. At least one first image (96) and at least one second image (95) that satisfy a preset selection condition are selected and stored from a plurality of the first images (96) and a plurality of the second images (95) acquired in a preset period prior to a time of a processing start operation of image storage processing.