Endoscope Processor Color Correlation Symptom Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic endoscope systems struggle to objectively and reproducibly evaluate the symptom level of lesion sites, as the color changes due to symptoms are subtle and dependent on operator skill and experience.
Innovation Solution
An electronic endoscope processor that converts pixel data from multiple color components into a smaller set, calculates correlation values based on angles formed by reference axes in a color plane, and integrates these values to provide an objective evaluation of symptom levels, using a system that includes color conversion, correlation value calculation, and evaluation value integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If color conversion processing is performed to emphasize color differences, then ease of identifying lesion sites is improved, but measurement precision of symptom level is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the evaluation process into two distinct parts: (1) color conversion processing that emphasizes color differences for easy lesion site identification, and (2) a separate symptom level evaluation process that uses original or differently processed image data to maintain measurement precision. This segmentation allows each process to optimize for its specific purpose without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary evaluation process that mediates between the color-emphasized images and accurate symptom level measurement. This intermediary uses correlation value calculation based on color components to objectively evaluate symptom levels, bridging the gap between visual enhancement and measurement accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If evaluation depends on operator skill and experience, then adaptability to different cases is improved, but reliability and reproducibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an objective evaluation system that provides feedback through calculated correlation values and symptom level assessments. This feedback mechanism replaces subjective operator judgment with quantifiable metrics, ensuring consistent and reproducible evaluations across different operators and cases while maintaining adaptability through flexible evaluation criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the evaluation parameters from subjective operator assessments to objective color component correlations. By measuring specific color component relationships (correlation values) rather than relying on operator experience, the system achieves both reliability through consistent measurement and adaptability through adjustable evaluation thresholds and criteria.
3Device complexity
If color components are reduced from n to m types, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential color component relationships needed for symptom level evaluation, rather than processing all n color components. By identifying and extracting the specific color correlations that indicate symptom severity, the system reduces computational complexity to m component types while maintaining measurement precision for the relevant evaluation parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic endoscope processor includes: a converting means for converting each of a plurality of pieces of pixel data that are made up of n (n≥3) types of color components and constitute a color image of a biological tissue in a body cavity into a piece of pixel data that is made up of m (m≥2) types of color components, m being smaller than n; a correlation value calculating means for setting a reference axis that is related to a target illness and, for each pixel of the color image, calculating a correlation value with a predetermined reference that is related to the target illness; and an evaluation value calculating means for integrating the correlation values calculated for the pixels and setting a sum of the correlation value obtained by the integrating as an evaluation value that is related to the target illness.