Endoscope Image Processing Enhancing Mucosa Color Gradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image processing technologies for endoscopes fail to effectively enhance color gradation of mucosa colors in a predetermined color space, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between normal and abnormal mucosa tissues.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that divide an imaging signal into base and detail components, perform color enhancement processes by converting RGB components into Lab color space, and then back to RGB, enhancing the color distribution range of the 'a' and 'b' components to improve color gradation, thereby enhancing the visibility of mucosa colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional image processing is used for endoscope images, then the processing is simple and fast, but the color gradation of mucosa colors cannot be effectively enhanced, making it difficult to distinguish normal and abnormal tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging signal is divided into base component (illumination component) and detail component (reflectance component). This segmentation allows independent processing of each component, enabling color enhancement on the base component without affecting the detail information, thus resolving the contradiction between enhancement precision and processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The Lab color space is used as an intermediary representation between the input RGB signal and the output enhanced image. By converting to Lab color space, enhancing the a and b components, and converting back, the patent achieves color gradation enhancement while maintaining a systematic and manageable processing framework
2Measurement precision
If color enhancement process is applied to the entire imaging signal, then color gradation is improved, but the natural appearance and detail information may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the imaging signal into base component and detail component, the patent applies color enhancement only to the base component (illumination component). This selective processing enhances color distribution range while preserving the detail component that contains natural appearance and texture information, thus resolving the contradiction between color enhancement and image naturalness
Solution Approach 2:
The enhancement process is applied locally to specific components (base component in Lab color space) rather than uniformly to the entire image. The a and b components are enhanced to extend color distribution, while the detail component remains unchanged to preserve local natural appearance and fine details
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus including a processor comprising hardware. The processor being configured to: divide an imaging signal that is obtained by capturing an image of an inside of a subject into a first base component and a detail component, the first base component corresponding to an illumination component of an object, the detail component corresponding to a reflectance component of the object; generate a second base component by performing a color enhancement process on the first base component for increasing color gradation in a predetermined color space; and synthesize the second base component and the detail component to output a synthesized signal. Where the color enhancement process is an enhancement processing on the first base component for extending a color distribution range of at least one component of an L component, an a component, and a b component in a Lab color space.