Surgical Image Processing Apparatus Software Update Comparison

Solution Overview

Problem

Software updates in endoscopic surgery systems can lead to variations in image quality, making it difficult for doctors to compare pre-update and post-update images, which may affect diagnosis and surgical operations.

Innovation Solution

A surgical image processing apparatus that produces pre-update and post-update processed images and controls their display, allowing for easy comparison, with optional features like difference computation, scene detection, feature extraction, and learning to optimize image selection based on user preferences and historical data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If software is updated to improve image processing capabilities, then image quality can be enhanced, but image quality consistency between pre-update and post-update images deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidimage quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by generating and storing pre-update processed images using the old software version before the software update is applied. This allows the system to preserve the original image processing characteristics and enable later comparison with post-update images, resolving the contradiction between improving image quality through updates and maintaining image quality consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If software is updated to add new image processes, then functionality is improved, but comparison capability between pre-update and post-update images deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage process functionalityVSAvoidimage comparison capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by generating pre-update processed images using the old software version before the software update is applied. This allows the system to preserve the original image processing characteristics and enable later comparison with post-update images, resolving the contradiction between improving image quality through updates and maintaining image quality consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the pre-update processed images and stores them for later retrieval and comparison. This copying mechanism allows the system to maintain both the old and new image processing capabilities simultaneously, enabling easy comparison between pre-update and post-update images while benefiting from the enhanced functionality of the updated software.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If only post-update processed images are displayed, then the latest image processing capabilities are utilized, but the ability to compare with pre-update images is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing efficiencyVSAvoidpre-update image information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by generating and storing pre-update processed images using the old software version before the software update is applied. This allows the system to preserve the original image processing characteristics and enable later comparison with post-update images, resolving the contradiction between improving image quality through updates and maintaining image quality consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the pre-update processed images and stores them for later retrieval and comparison. This copying mechanism allows the system to maintain both the old and new image processing capabilities simultaneously, enabling easy comparison between pre-update and post-update images while benefiting from the enhanced functionality of the updated software.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11483473B2Surgical image processing apparatus, image processing method, and surgery system

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

An image processing part applies an image process by software to a surgical region image, and a display control part controls a display of the surgical region image to which the image process is applied. The image processing part produces a pre-update processed image acquired by applying the image process established before updating the software to the surgical region image and a post-update processed image acquired by applying the image process established after updating the software to the surgical region image, and the display control part controls a display of at least a portion of at least either one of the pre-update processed image or the post-update processed image. The present technique is applicable to a CCU of an endoscopic surgery system.