Endoscopic Image Processing HSV Lesion Overlay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current endoscopic image processing devices struggle to accurately and objectively identify lesion portions, particularly in cases where color differences between normal and lesion tissues are subtle, leading to subjective operator judgments and lack of reproducibility.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device that converts endoscopic images into the HSV color space, applies tone enhancement to broaden the dynamic range near lesion boundaries, and overlays lesion pixels with specific colors, enabling more precise and reproducible identification of lesions through effective pixel judgment and overlay image display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If color conversion process is applied to highlight color difference, then ease of lesion identification is improved, but objectivity and reproducibility of diagnosis deteriorates due to reliance on operator's subjective color perception

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of lesion identificationVSAvoidobjectivity and reproducibility of diagnosis
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the endoscopic image data from RGB color space to HSV color space, changing the parameter representation of colors. By doing so, it enables objective numerical comparison of hue values between lesion and normal portions, eliminating reliance on subjective human color perception while maintaining ease of lesion identification through clear numerical differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If color endoscope device performance is enhanced, then ability to detect subtle color differences is improved, but operator training time and expertise requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to detect subtle color differencesVSAvoidoperator training time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of relying on operator expertise and prolonged training with an automated computational system. The HSV color space conversion and automatic lesion detection algorithm substitute for human expert judgment, achieving high measurement precision without requiring extensive operator training time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If judgment is made based on continuous color change at boundaries, then natural representation of tissue transition is improved, but identification accuracy of lesion portions deteriorates due to very small color differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenatural representation of tissue transitionVSAvoididentification accuracy of lesion portions
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter transformation by converting to HSV color space and specifically utilizing the hue parameter. This transformation enhances the differentiation capability at tissue boundaries by representing color information in a way that maximizes the separation between lesion and normal portions, improving identification accuracy while preserving the continuous nature of tissue transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2875776B1Image processing device and endoscopic instrument
Publication Date: 2018.11.07 HOYA CORPORATION
  • EP2875776B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2875776B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2875776B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An image processing device, comprising an obtaining means that obtains color endoscopic image data, a color space conversion means that converts a color space of the color endoscopic image data to an HSI color space based on hue, saturation and intensity or an HSV color space based hue, saturation and a value, a lesion pixel judgment means that judges, for each of pixels constituting a color endoscopic image, whether or not each pixel is a lesion portion based on the hue and the saturation, an overlay processing means that executes an overlay process which changes a color of the pixel judged to be the lesion portion by the lesion pixel judgment means, and an overlay image display means that displays an overlay image obtained by subjecting the color endoscopic image to the overlay process.