Endoscopic Lesion Localization Using Heat Maps Without View Obstruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopic examination methods struggle to indicate the position and size of lesions without superimposing figures on the image, which can obscure the view.

Innovation Solution

An endoscopic examination support apparatus that includes a video acquisition means, lesion detection means, heat map generation means, and display control means to detect lesions, generate a heat map indicating lesion possibility by color, and display the lesion position and size on the endoscopic video frame without blocking the image.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If figures or markers are superimposed on the endoscopic image to indicate lesion position and size, then the lesion information becomes more visible, but the endoscopic image becomes difficult to see

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion position and size informationVSAvoidimage visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential lesion information (position and size) from the visual overlay and presents it in a separate data format (table with coordinates and dimensions). This removes the need for superimposed figures while preserving the critical medical information, thereby maintaining image visibility without sacrificing lesion detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Illumination intensity

If no figures are superimposed on the endoscopic image, then the image remains clear and visible, but the position and size of the lesion cannot be easily indicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage visibilityVSAvoidlesion position and size information

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary data structure (information table containing lesion coordinates, size dimensions, and confidence scores) that mediates between the clear endoscopic image and the need for lesion information. This intermediary presents all necessary diagnostic data in a structured format without requiring visual overlays on the image itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If markers are displayed to surround the peripheral portion of the observation image, then some lesion information is provided, but the central lesion area may still be obscured or difficult to locate precisely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion peripheral informationVSAvoidlesion position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments lesion information into distinct structured data fields (central coordinates, size dimensions, confidence score) rather than relying on continuous visual markers. This segmentation allows precise numerical representation of lesion position and size without requiring peripheral markers that could obscure the central lesion area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12533006B2Endoscopic examination support apparatus, endoscopic examination support method, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 NEC CORP

AI summary

In the endoscopic examination support apparatus, the image acquisition means acquires an endoscopic video captured by an endoscope. The lesion detection means detects a lesion candidate from the endoscopic video. The heat map generation means generates a heat map indicating a possibility of lesion of the lesion candidate in the endoscopic video by a color. The display control means displays a position of a lesion on a frame of the endoscopic video based on the lesion candidate and the heat map.