System and method for displaying an image stream

• US 8,022,980 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Davidson, Tal
• Primary Examiner(s): Philippe; Gims S
• Application Number:
  US11/321,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 348/77, 348/217.1, 348/565, 709/231, 715/838, 345/7, 358/451
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A system and method may display an image stream, where an original image stream may be divided into two or more subset images streams, each subset image stream being displayed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. Post processing may be used to fuse images shown simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. The images may be collected from an ingestible capsule traversing the GI tract.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an image stream, the method comprising:

capturing a stream of image frames with an in-vivo imager system, and

a processor displaying during a time slot a plurality of image frames from the stream of image frames on a display, wherein;

the plurality of image frames includes a peripheral image frame and a central image frame,

the central image frame has an area that is relatively smaller than the area of peripheral image frame, and

the plurality of image frames are displayed as a grid.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the shape of the peripheral image frame displayed is a distorted rectangle.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the shape of the central image frame displayed is a distorted rectangle.

4. The method according to claim 1 comprising displaying 9 image frames in the time slot.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a fade-out in intensity is performed on the edges of each of the plurality of images.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the image frames are images of the GI tract.

7. A method for displaying an image stream, the method comprising:

capturing a stream of image frames with an in-vivo imager system; and

a processor displaying on a display during a time slot a plurality of image frames as a grid of images wherein the plurality of image frames is from the stream of images and wherein the plurality of image frames includes a peripheral image frame and a central image frame; and

distorting the grid of image frames so that the central image frame when distorted is smaller in size than the peripheral image frame when distorted.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the central image frame is substantially rectangular.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the peripheral image frame is substantially rectangular.

10. The method according to claim 7 comprising displaying 9 image frames in the time slot.

11. The method according to claim 7 wherein the image frames are images of the GI tract.

12. A system for displaying an image stream, the system comprising:

an image database; and

a controller to;

receive a stream of image frames captured with an in-vivo imager system;

display during a time slot a plurality of image frames from the stream of images wherein;

the plurality of image frames includes a peripheral image frame and a central image frame,

the central image frame has an area that is relatively smaller than the area of the peripheral image frame, and

the plurality of image frames are displayed as a grid.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the shape of the peripheral image frame displayed is a distorted rectangle.

14. The system according to claim 12 wherein the shape of the central image frame displayed is a distorted rectangle.

15. The system according to claim 12 wherein 9 image frames are displayed in the time slot.

16. The system according to claim 12 wherein the edges of each of the plurality of images are smoothed.

17. The system according to claim 12 comprising an in-vivo imager system.

18. The system according to claim 12 wherein the image frames are images of the GI tract.