Lens Opacity Binarization via Illumination Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining lens opacity in cataract examinations rely on subjective assessments, leading to variability based on the examiner's experience, which can result in inconsistent results.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device, method, and program that acquire a transillumination image of a lens, extract the lens area, correct for illumination unevenness, and binarize pixel values to facilitate objective opacity determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If subjective assessment by a doctor is used for lens opacity determination, then the examination can be performed with current medical knowledge, but the assessment varies depending on the assessment person's experience leading to inconsistent results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of subjective human assessment with an automated image processing system. The system automatically extracts the lens area, corrects illumination unevenness, and binarizes the image to determine opacity, eliminating the variability introduced by different assessors' experiences while maintaining medical examination standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing system performs self-service by automatically completing the entire opacity determination process without requiring human intervention. The system extracts features, corrects illumination issues, and generates opacity determinations independently, ensuring consistent and reproducible results across different examinations.
2Measurement precision
If transillumination image is used for lens examination, then the lens opacity can be visualized, but illumination unevenness exists in the image making opacity determination difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the lens area from the surrounding tissue using image processing techniques. By separating the lens region of interest from the rest of the image, the system can then apply illumination correction specifically to the lens area, removing the harmful effect of illumination unevenness while preserving the diagnostic information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the luminance parameter distribution by correcting illumination unevenness. Through algorithms that adjust pixel values based on their positions and the overall image characteristics, the system transforms the image to have more uniform illumination, making opacity determination more precise and reliable.
3Measurement precision
If lens area is extracted from transillumination image, then the focus can be on the lens for opacity determination, but the extracted image still contains illumination unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality correction by treating different regions of the extracted lens image differently based on their specific illumination characteristics. The system analyzes the luminance distribution within the extracted lens area and applies targeted corrections to specific regions, ensuring uniform illumination quality throughout the lens while preserving local anatomical details.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image processing device, an image processing method, or a program that can obtain an image for lens opacity determination that facilitates opacity determination for a lens. An image processing device acquires a transillumination image of a lens captured by a capturing device, and performs a flat correction process to reduce illumination unevenness in the transillumination image. In the flat correction process, an average filter is generated on the basis of an original image of the transillumination image, the original image is divided by the average filter, and values after division are multiplied by an average luminance of the original image. The transillumination image after the flat correction process is converted to a binarized image composed of white and black. Determination for lens opacity is performed on the basis of the binarized image.