Endoscope Image Selection Support Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image management systems for endoscopes face challenges in selecting appropriate images for reports, as manually acquired images may be blurry or missed, while automatically acquired images can include unnecessary images or miss critical ones.
Innovation Solution
An image selection support device and method that associate manually and automatically acquired images based on their imaging time points, allowing users to easily select the most appropriate image for reports by displaying both types of images in association with each other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manually acquired images are used for reports, then the operator can select images at their discretion, but the images may be blurry or missed due to delays in acquisition operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic image acquisition without requiring operator intervention. The image acquisition unit automatically captures images based on predetermined conditions, eliminating the need for manual operation while ensuring reliable image capture at appropriate moments during the endoscopic procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses evaluation units to assess captured images in real-time based on various criteria (blur, lesion detection, timing). This feedback mechanism allows the system to determine whether manual or automatic acquisition should occur, and to select the most appropriate images for reports, thereby improving reliability while reducing manual operational burden.
2Ease of operation
If automatically acquired images are used for reports, then the operator does not need to perform acquisition operations, but the images may include unnecessary images or miss critical ones
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic image acquisition without requiring operator intervention. The image acquisition unit automatically captures images based on predetermined conditions, eliminating the need for manual operation while ensuring reliable image capture at appropriate moments during the endoscopic procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses evaluation units to assess captured images in real-time based on various criteria (blur, lesion detection, timing). This feedback mechanism allows the system to determine whether manual or automatic acquisition should occur, and to select the most appropriate images for reports, thereby improving reliability while reducing manual operational burden.
3Quantity of substance
If both manually and automatically acquired images are stored, then more image options are available for reports, but it becomes difficult to select appropriate images due to the large number of images
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses evaluation units to assess captured images in real-time based on various criteria (blur, lesion detection, timing). This feedback mechanism allows the system to determine whether manual or automatic acquisition should occur, and to select the most appropriate images for reports, thereby improving reliability while reducing manual operational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The image selection unit extracts and presents only the most appropriate images from the large set of captured images for report purposes. By automatically evaluating and selecting relevant images based on multiple criteria, the system reduces the selection burden on operators while maintaining access to a comprehensive image library.
Data Source
AI summary
An image selection support device supports the selection of a still image based on captured image data obtained by an endoscope. By using a first still image acquired based on the captured image data at a time when an operator of the endoscope performs an acquisition operation of the still image, and one or more second still images acquired from the captured image data at a time different from the time when the acquisition operation is performed, the image selection support device extracts a third still image having an imaging time point that satisfies a predetermined condition with an imaging time point of the first still image from among the second still images, and associates the first still image with the third still image.