Endoscope Image Processing Yellow-Component Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope systems face challenges in generating high-resolution spectral images due to the presence of a yellow component in green data, which affects the resolution and accuracy of blood vessel images, especially when using Bayer arrays with red, green, and blue pixels.

Innovation Solution

An image generating device and method that detect and eliminate the yellow component from green data, allowing the generation of spectral images using only blue and yellow-eliminated green data, thereby enhancing the contrast information for blue and green components, improving image resolution and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If yellow component is included in green data for normal color imaging, then color accuracy is maintained, but spectral image resolution and contrast deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral image resolutionVSAvoidcolor information completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the green data into two distinct components: yellow component and pure green component. By separating these components through computational processing, the system can allocate yellow data to normal color imaging and pure green data to spectral imaging, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining color information completeness and achieving spectral image resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the yellow component from the green data through computational separation. This extraction allows the spectral imaging function to use only the pure green component, eliminating the yellow contamination that degrades spectral resolution, while the yellow component remains available for normal color imaging to maintain color accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If Bayer array with red, green, and blue pixels is used for normal color imaging, then color image quality is maintained, but spectral image contrast and resolution deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral image contrastVSAvoidimaging system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces computational processing as an intermediary between the standard Bayer array and the final spectral image output. This intermediary performs yellow component elimination and spectral reconstruction, enabling spectral imaging capabilities without requiring complex hardware modifications to the basic Bayer array structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter composition of the green data by removing the yellow component through computational processing. This parameter change transforms the green data from a mixed yellow-green signal to a pure green signal, thereby enhancing spectral contrast and resolution while maintaining compatibility with standard Bayer arrays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If yellow component is present in green data, then normal color image accuracy is maintained, but blood vessel image clarity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood vessel image clarityVSAvoidnormal color image accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the green data channel into yellow and pure green components, allowing differential usage: yellow component for normal color imaging (maintaining color accuracy) and pure green component for blood vessel spectral imaging (improving clarity by eliminating yellow interference).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful yellow component contamination into a beneficial separation process. By identifying and removing the yellow component, the system transforms what was previously degrading spectral contrast into an opportunity to enhance blood vessel visibility while preserving normal color imaging using the extracted yellow information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9443321B2Imaging device, endoscope system and imaging method using yellow-eliminated green data

Publication Date: 2016.09.13 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

An image generating device includes a first image-information generating unit that generates first image information based on a plurality of pieces of acquired color element information, a color-component detecting unit that detects a predetermined color component based on each piece of color element information, a color-component eliminating unit that eliminates the predetermined color component detected by the color-component detecting unit from a predetermined piece of color element information among the plurality of pieces of color element information, and a second image-information generating unit that generates second color information based on a piece of color element information obtained by eliminating the predetermined color component by the color-component eliminating unit and another piece of color element information.