System and method for displaying an image stream

• US 7,486,981 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Davidson, Tal
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramirez; John F
• Application Number:
  US10/986,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/408, 324/306, 324/318
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging

Abstract

A system and method may allow displaying a plurality of image streams, where the image streams may be divided, for example into a number of selected subset couplet images which follow predetermined criteria. According to some embodiments, each couplet may be displayed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. A workstation may accept the images acquired by, for example a capsule and may display the images on a monitor as a moving image.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a display of in vivo images from at least two image streams captured by an in vivo imaging device, the method comprising:

accepting sequentially numbered images acquired by an in-vivo device disposed within a GI tract, the images forming at least a first image stream obtained by a first imager and a second image stream obtained by a second imager;

selecting a sequential image pair from the first and second image streams respectively, a first of said sequential pair being selected from the first image stream and a second of said sequential image pair being selected from the second image stream;

if a difference in times of capture between the first image and the second image is less than or equal to a pre-set time constant, then displaying substantially simultaneously the sequential image pair; and

if the difference in time of capture between the first image and the second image is greater than the pre-set time constant, then displaying only one image of said sequential image pair.

2. The method according to claim 1 comprising selecting an additional image from the first image stream, such that the first and additional images are in chronological order.

3. The method according to claim 1 comprising selecting at least two additional sequential images from said first and second image streams, respectively;

if a difference in time of capture between the first additional image and the second additional image is less than or equal to said pre-set time constant, then displaying substantially simultaneously the additional sequential image pair; and

if the difference in times of capture between the first additional image and the second additional image is greater than the pre-set time constant, then displaying only one image of said additional sequential image pair.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said in-vivo device is an autonomous in vivo imaging device.

5. A system for displaying in synchronization at least two in vivo image streams captured by an in vivo imaging device, the system comprising:

an image storage configured to accept sequentially numbered images acquired by an in-vivo device disposed within a GI tract, the images forming at least a first image stream obtained by a first imager and a second image stream obtained by a second imager, and to store the in vivo images;

a processor programmed to select a sequential image pair, a first image selected from the first image stream and a second image selected from the second image stream sequential to said first image; and

a display configured to display at least one image, wherein said processor is to provide to said display for substantially simultaneous display the first image from the first image stream and the second image from the second image stream if a difference between times of capture of the first image from the first image stream and the second image from the second image stream is less than or equal to a pre-set time constant, and wherein said processor is to provide to said display only one image of said first and second images if the difference in times of capture between the first image and the second image is greater than the pre-set time constant.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein the in vivo images are images transmitted from an autonomous in vivo imaging device.

7. The system according to claim 5 wherein the display comprises a plurality of image windows, each image window displaying an image stream.

8. A method for selecting in vivo images from an image stream, the method comprising:

accepting sequentially numbered images acquired by an in-vivo device disposed within a body lumen, the images forming at least a first image stream obtained by a first imager and a second image stream obtained by a second imager;

selecting first and second consecutive images from the first image stream and an image from the second image stream;

displaying substantially simultaneously the first image from the first image stream and the image from the second image stream if a capture time difference between the first image from the first image stream and the image from the second image stream is less or equal to a pre-set standard time constant; and

displaying a single image if a difference in times of capture between the first image from the first image stream and the image from the second image stream is larger than the pre-set time constant.