Endoscope Lesion Image Comparison for Missed Region Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems fail to effectively alert users to missed lesion candidate regions during retraction of the endoscope, as attention to additional cues like symbol assignments or sounds may be overlooked, leading to missed detections.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with an image control processor that automatically captures and compares lesion candidate images at different observation stages, displaying a subscreen or switching the main screen to highlight missed regions, using positional information and image processing to ensure detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If symbol assignment or sound alerts are used to report missing lesion candidate regions, then the information about missed lesions can be conveyed to the user, but the user may not notice these alerts because attention is focused on the observation image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from using auditory or symbolic alerts (1D/2D information) to displaying the actual missed lesion image directly on the display screen (2D visual information). This dimensional change ensures the alert is noticed by converting abstract notification into concrete visual evidence that competes for the user's visual attention effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the missed lesion candidate image and displays it on the screen. This copy serves as direct visual evidence of the missed lesion, allowing the user to see exactly what was overlooked without relying on symbolic representation or auditory notification that may be ignored.
2Measurement precision
If the endoscope insertion part moves from the insertion opening to the end position for observation, then the lesion candidate regions can be detected, but some lesion candidate regions may be missed during retraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs automatic capture of lesion candidate images during the forward movement phase. By capturing images preliminarily during insertion and then comparing them with images taken during retraction, the system ensures that no lesions are missed regardless of the observation direction, thereby improving detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by comparing images captured during forward movement with images captured during retraction. When a lesion candidate is detected in one direction but not in the other, the system provides feedback by displaying the missed lesion image, allowing the user to review and confirm the finding, thus improving overall detection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Image comparison processing between a first lesion candidate image obtained at a time of first observation and a second lesion candidate image obtained at a time of second observation is performed. In a case where a determination that a lesion candidate region is missing is made as a result of the image comparison processing, a subscreen is automatically newly displayed on a display. The first lesion candidate image stored in a captured image storage memory is automatically displayed on the subscreen.