Endoscopic Image Distortion Correction via Dynamic Clipping Area Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgeons face difficulties in recognizing the position of a clipping area within a wide-angle image displayed during surgery, as the image is often distorted near the edges, making it hard to determine when the clipping area is approaching the edge of the image.
Innovation Solution
A medical observation system that includes a correction processing unit for distortion correction, a clipping processing unit to move and manage the clipping area, and a correction control unit to adjust processing based on the relative state of the clipping area, ensuring clear display and preventing the clipping area from moving further when near the image edge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a wide-angle lens is used to ensure a viewing angle, then the viewing angle is improved, but image distortion increases near the edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wide-angle image into multiple regions with different correction priorities. The clipping area (center region) receives higher correction priority to maintain surgical precision, while peripheral regions accept more distortion. This segmentation allows the system to preserve the wide viewing angle while minimizing distortion in the clinically relevant central area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies non-uniform distortion correction across the image, with stronger correction applied to the clipping area and progressively weaker correction toward the edges. This local quality approach ensures that the surgical field of view maintains geometric accuracy while the periphery retains the benefits of the wide-angle lens for contextual awareness.
2Ease of operation
If a clipping area is used to display a specific region, then the focus on surgical area is improved, but the surgeon cannot recognize the position of the clipping area in the entire wide-angle image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that dynamically adjusts the distortion correction level based on the clipping area's position within the wide-angle image. When the clipping area approaches the image edge, the system increases correction to maintain position recognizability. This feedback loop ensures that the surgeon always has contextual orientation information while maintaining focus on the surgical area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the distortion correction level dynamic rather than static. The correction amount adapts in real-time based on the clipping area's relative position to the wide-angle image boundaries. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize both focus and position recognition depending on the current viewing state.
3Manufacturing precision
If distortion correction is applied to the entire wide-angle image, then image accuracy is improved, but the edges become overly corrected and lose natural appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels of distortion correction to different regions of the image. The clipping area receives full correction for maximum accuracy, while peripheral regions receive progressive or no correction to preserve natural appearance. This local quality differentiation eliminates over-correction artifacts at the edges while maintaining accuracy where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial correction to the peripheral regions rather than full correction. This partial action approach prevents the excessive correction that would create unnatural appearance at the edges, while still providing sufficient correction in the central clipping area for surgical accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a medical observation system, an image processing method, and a program capable of providing image display more helpful for a surgeon. A correction processing unit performs correction processing on a wide-angle image which is a captured image of a medical treatment target, a clipping processing unit moves a clipping area for a display image clipped from the wide-angle image, and a correction control unit controls the correction processing according to a relative state of the clipping area to the wide-angle image. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an endoscopic surgery system.