Endoscope Image Processing Unit for Automatic Blood Vessel Observation Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems face increased processing and operational loads when switching between multiple observation images, particularly when emphasizing blood vessels of different thicknesses and depths, and require synchronization with various illumination lights, leading to increased processor load.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system comprising an image acquisition unit, an observation-image-for-display processing unit, and a display control unit that generates and switches between first and second observation images by assigning color signals to brightness signals through arithmetic processing, reducing the load by automatically displaying these images with minimized processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple observation images with different blood vessel emphasis are switched and displayed, then diagnostic capability is improved, but image processing load is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs image processing in advance to create multiple observation images with different blood vessel emphasis levels. By preparing these processed images beforehand, the system avoids performing complex processing during real-time switching, thus reducing the processing load during operation while maintaining enhanced diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates multiple copies of the same observation image with different processing applied (different blood vessel emphasis levels). Instead of processing different source images in real-time, the system generates and switches between pre-processed copies, significantly reducing the computational burden during switching operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple kinds of illumination light are switched, then observation flexibility is improved, but processor synchronization load is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control of multiple illumination lights and the switching of multiple observation images into a unified processing framework. By coordinating the illumination light switching with the observation image switching in a synchronized manner, the system reduces the overall synchronization load on the processor while maintaining observation flexibility.
3Loss of information
If image processing is performed to emphasize blood vessels of different thicknesses and depths, then diagnostic information is improved, but processing time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the computationally intensive image processing to emphasize blood vessels of different thicknesses and depths in advance, before real-time observation is needed. This preliminary processing ensures that all diagnostic information is extracted beforehand, allowing for rapid switching between different observation images during actual use without incurring processing delays.
Data Source
AI summary
A special observation image is obtained by performing an image pickup of an object to be observed illuminated with special light. Bs-image signals of the special observation image are assigned to brightness signals Y to generate a first observation image for display. Gs-image signals of the special observation image are assigned to brightness signals Y to generate a second observation image for display. The first observation image for display and the second observation image for display are automatically switched and displayed on a monitor.