Endoscope Image Processing for Vessel Depth Differentiation
Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscope systems face challenges in effectively highlighting lesions and blood vessels during diagnosis, particularly in distinguishing between surface and deep blood vessels, which can lead to missed lesions and increased diagnostic burden.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device that acquires both white light and specific wavelength band images, determines the type of objects based on pixel features, and performs a highlight process on the white light image accordingly, using techniques like color conversion and wavelet transforms to differentiate between surface and deep blood vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If narrow-band light imaging is used to visualize lesions, then lesion detection capability is improved, but the ability to distinguish blood vessel depth is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines narrow-band light imaging (for lesion detection) with blue light imaging (for blood vessel depth discrimination) into a single comprehensive diagnostic system. The image processing section integrates both imaging modes to provide simultaneous visualization of lesions and vascular structures with depth information.
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscope system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate in narrow-band mode for lesion detection, in blue light mode for blood vessel imaging, and in combined mode for comprehensive diagnosis. The light source and imaging system are configured to support multiple imaging modalities through a single device.
2Measurement precision
If fluorescent imaging is used to identify lesion areas, then lesion visibility is improved, but structural and vascular context is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs white light imaging to capture structural context before switching to fluorescent imaging for lesion detection. The stored white light image serves as a reference that preserves anatomical and vascular information while the fluorescent image provides enhanced lesion visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing section acts as an intermediary that combines fluorescent image data with white light image data. It overlays or integrates the fluorescent lesion information with the structural context from white light imaging, allowing simultaneous visualization of both lesion specificity and anatomical context.
3Reliability
If multiple imaging modes are used to improve diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple imaging modes (white light, narrow-band, blue light, fluorescent) are merged into a single integrated endoscope system with a unified control interface. The operator can switch between modes or use them in combination through a single device rather than coordinating multiple separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing section automatically manages the integration and processing of multiple imaging modes without requiring complex manual coordination. The system performs automatic image synthesis, registration, and display management, reducing the operational burden on the user while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy.
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
This approach enhances the visibility of lesions and blood vessels, reducing the likelihood of missed diagnoses and decreasing the diagnostic burden by providing clear, differentiated images of surface and deep vascular structures.
Implementation Method 1
The image processing device performs a highlight process on the first image based on the type of the object image determined by the type determination section
Implementation Method 2
using techniques like color conversion and wavelet transforms to differentiate between surface and deep blood vessels
Data Source
AI summary
The image processing device includes a first image acquisition section that acquires a first image that includes an object image including information within a wavelength band of white light, a second image acquisition section that acquires a second image that includes an object image including information within a specific wavelength band, a type determination section that determines a type of the object image in the second image based on a feature quantity of each pixel included in the second image, and a highlight section that performs a highlight process on the first image based on the type of the object image determined by the type determination section.