Endoscope Image Processing Landing Zone Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic procedures face challenges in accurately guiding medical devices to their intended destinations, particularly in procedures like ERCP, where precise orientation is crucial for success.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device connected to an endoscope's image capturing unit estimates the landing zone of a medical device by processing sensor data and overlaying a visual indication on the image stream, assisting the operator in achieving precise placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual guidance is provided to assist medical device placement, then procedure accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image processing device as an intermediary system that receives sensor data from the endoscope, processes this data to estimate the landing zone, and displays visual guidance to the operator. This intermediary layer provides the complex processing functionality without directly modifying the endoscope or medical device, thus improving accuracy while managing complexity through system architecture separation.
2Productivity
If real-time visual feedback is provided during the procedure, then procedure efficiency is improved, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for landing zone estimation from the sensor data, rather than processing all available data in real-time. The image processing device selectively processes sensor data to generate visual guidance indicators, reducing the information processing load while maintaining real-time feedback capability and procedure efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated into the endoscope, then measurement capability is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the image processing device automatically process sensor data and generate visual guidance indicators without requiring manual intervention from the operator. The system autonomously estimates the landing zone and provides real-time visual feedback, improving measurement capability while maintaining ease of operation as the operator simply follows the visual guidance.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an image processing device for estimating a landing zone of a medical device extendable from a tip of an endoscope, the endoscope comprising one or more sensors including an image capturing device, the image processing device comprising a processing unit operationally connectable to the one or more sensors of the endoscope. The processing unit is configured to: obtain a stream of images captured by the image capturing device of the endoscope; process first sensor data recorded by the one or more sensors to estimate the landing zone of the medical device; and provide the stream of images with a visual indication, indicating the estimated landing zone.