Device, system, and method for reducing image data captured in-vivo

• US 7,336,833 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Horn, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Amir
• Application Number:
  US10/879,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20060034514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/173, 382/232, 382/233, 382/299, 348/65, 348/76, 348/92, 600/109
• US Class Current: 382/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/115 Selection of the code volume for a coding unit prior to coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/17 the unit being an image region, e.g. an object
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/59 involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/60 using transform coding

Abstract

A device, system, and method for reducing image data using spatially varying reduction are described. Images may be captured from an in-vivo device, while the reduced images may be transmitted via wireless communications. Reduction may be achieved by selecting a spatial area of interest on an image frame, dividing the spatial area of interest into one or more sub-regions, reducing each sub-region by a defined reduction ratio according to the spatial properties of said sub-region, and transmitting image data from spatial area of interest.

Claims

1. A method for reducing image data, the method comprising:

selecting image data from a preset spatial region on an image frame; and

reducing data in said preset spatial region by;

selecting a first sub-region in said preset spatial region;

reducing data in the first sub-region by applying a first reduction ratio;

selecting a second sub-region in said preset region; and

reducing data in the second sub-region by applying a second reduction ratio.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the reducing is according to a dilution pattern.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the dilution comprises selecting every fourth datum.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein dilution is by applying a constant reduction ratio.

5. The method according to claim 1 comprising compressing data in said preset spatial region.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein compressing is by JPEG compression.

7. The method according to claim 1 comprising:

transmitting the data from a preset spatial region; and

reconstructing the transmitted data.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the spatial data has a spatially varying resolution.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein image data is captured by a CMOS imager.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein image data is captured by an autonomous in-vivo imaging device.

11. A method for diluting an image frame having spatially varying resolution, the method comprising:

selecting a preset region in the image frame;

selecting a first sub-region in said region, said first sub-region having a first selected range of resolution;

selecting a second sub-region in said region, said second sub-region having a second selected range of resolution;

diluting data in said first sub-region by a first dilution ratio; and

diluting data in said second sub-region by a second dilution ratio.

12. The method according to claim 11 comprising transmitting data in said region.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein diluting is by a selected dilution pattern.

14. The method according to claim 11 comprising reconstructing the data in said region wherein the data is diluted data.

15. A method for reducing image data, the method comprising:

selecting a first sub-region in an image frame;

reducing data in the first sub-region by applying a first reduction ratio;

selecting a second sub-region in said image frame; and

reducing data in the second sub-region by applying a second reduction ratio.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said sub-region is selected from a preset spatial region in the image frame.

17. The method according to claim 16 comprising compressing data in said preset spatial region.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein compressing is by JPEG compression.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein the data in the spatial region has a spatially varying resolution.

20. The method according to claim 15 wherein the reducing is according to a dilution pattern.

21. The method according to claim 15 wherein dilution is by applying a constant reduction ratio.

22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the dilution comprises selecting every fourth datum.

23. The method according to claim 15 comprising:

transmitting the reduced data; and

reconstructing the transmitted data.

24. The method according to claim 15 wherein image data is captured by a CMOS imager.

25. The method according to claim 15 wherein image data is captured by an autonomous in-vivo imaging device.