Endoscope image processing apparatus

• US 5,515,449 A
• Filed: 03/02/1992
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazunari, Tsuruoka, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US07/842,769
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 382/6, 382/1, 382/128, 382/133, 382/134, 358/98, 128/6, 364/413.13, 364/413.15, 364/413.22, 348/45
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0646 with illumination filters
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10068 Endoscopic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/136 involving thresholding
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The endoscope image processing apparatus includes a processing apparatus for image-processing as predetermined at least one image signal and a discriminating apparatus for discriminating regions ineffective to image-processing by the processing apparatus or to the result of the image-processing from other effective regions. The image processing apparatus further includes an outputting apparatus for outputting the results of processing images by the processing apparatus only on the effective regions discriminated by the discriminating apparatus and an image forming apparatus forming images based on the results of processing images by the processing apparatus only on the effective regions.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:

a light source for illuminating an interior portion of a biological body under medical examination;

filter means selectively interposed between the light source and illuminated interior portion of the biological body for filtering out light having a preselected transmission wavelength, and for projecting said filtered light to the interior portion thereof;

image sensor means for imaging the illuminated interior portion by receiving the filtered light therefrom to thereby produce a functional information image signal;

means for processing said functional information image signal so as to detect a region having an exposure level exceeding over an allowable maximum exposure level, and for superimposing said region having the over-exposure level on said functional information image signal; and

means for displaying both a functional information image of the biological body and said over-exposure region superimposed thereon based upon said functional information image signal and said over-exposure region.

2. An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing/superimposing means includes:

a calculation unit for calculating functional information data from said functional information image signal;

a detection unit for detecting said over-exposure region from said functional information image data; and

a superimposing unit for superimposing said over-exposure region on said functional image.

3. An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detecting unit includes a comparator for value so as to detect whether or not said exposure level of the area exceeds over said allowable maximum exposure level, whereby said over-exposure region is detected.

4. An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said superimposing unit includes:

an address memory for storing said over-exposure region; and

a superimposing circuit for superimposing said overexposure region on said functional information image signal based upon said stored address.

5. An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filter means includes a disk and at least a first interference filter having a first transmission wavelength and a second interference filter having a second transmission wavelength.

6. An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said functional image represents one of hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin.