Endoscope Image Processing Region of Interest Flicker Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical image processing systems experience flicker and imprecise display of region of interest (ROI) during changes in ROI position or size, affecting medical professionals' observation accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A medical image processing apparatus with a region-of-interest detecting unit and a display control unit that sets an emphasized region larger than the ROI, adjusting its display settings based on ROI variations, including resetting and resizing the emphasized region to maintain clear visibility and minimize flicker.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the emphasized display position or size changes according to the region of interest changes, then the region of interest can be accurately indicated, but flicker occurs in the display screen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracy of region of interestVSAvoiddisplay stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the emphasized display adaptable to region of interest changes through threshold-based conditional updates. The display control unit dynamically adjusts the emphasized display position and size only when region of interest variations exceed predetermined thresholds, combining adaptability with stability to prevent flicker while maintaining accurate indication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If a display frame is shown around the screen to prevent flicker, then display stability is improved, but the exact position of the region of interest becomes unclear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay stabilityVSAvoidposition accuracy of region of interest
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing differentiated display strategies for different regions. The emphasized display with distinct visual characteristics (such as colored overlays or highlighted boundaries) is applied locally to the region of interest area, while the rest of the display maintains stability. This allows exact position identification without requiring a global display frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the emphasized region is frequently updated to track region of interest changes, then position accuracy is maintained, but computational load and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracy of region of interestVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing threshold-based conditional updates. Instead of continuously updating the emphasized display for every region of interest change, the system only triggers updates when variations exceed predetermined thresholds. This reduces unnecessary processing operations while maintaining accurate position indication, thereby decreasing computational load and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3858223B1Medical image processing device, endoscope system, and operation method for medical image processing device
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3858223B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3858223B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3858223B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided are a medical image processing apparatus, an endoscope system, and a method for operating the medical image processing apparatus that enable an exact position of a region of interest to be recognized and that are capable of preventing flicker in a display screen. A processor device (16) includes an image signal acquiring unit (50), an image processing unit (56), and a display control unit (58). The image signal acquiring unit (50) acquires a digital image signal corresponding to an observation mode from an endoscope (12). The image processing unit (56) includes a region-of-interest-detection-mode image processing unit (64). The display control unit (58) sets an emphasized region having a larger area than a region of interest and including the region of interest, displays the emphasized region in a manner of emphasized display, and determines whether or not to change setting of the emphasized region in accordance with an amount of variation of the region of interest.