Electronic endoscope system and processor for electronic endoscope

• US 8,102,415 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: Iriyama, Noriko
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): NANO, SARGON N
• Application Number:
  US12/019,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 348/45, 348/46, 348/61, 348/72, 348/77, 348/79, 600/36, 600/120, 600/126, 600/132, 600/156, 600/920, 396/17
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00011 characterised by signal transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An electronic endoscope system includes an electronic endoscope, a processor connected with the electronic endoscope, and a server that performs data communication with the processor via a network. The processor sends, to the server, update request data including an adjusted image and positional information of an adjusted area in the adjusted image. Further the processor receives, from the server, updating data created based on the update request data, and updates at least one of image processing tools used by the electronic endoscope and processor based on the updating data.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope system, comprising:

an electronic endoscope configured to process an image captured thereby so as to generate a first image with a first image processing tool;

a network;

a processor for the electronic endoscope connected with the electronic endoscope and network, the processor being configured to process the first image generated by the electronic endoscope; and

a server configured to perform data communication with the processor via the network,

wherein the processor for the electronic endoscope comprises;

an area specifying unit configured to specify an area to be adjusted in the first image generated by the electronic endoscope;

an image adjustment unit configured to provide image adjustment for the area in the first image that is specified by the area specifying unit so as to generate a second image with a second image processing tool;

a request creating unit configured to create update request data including the second image data and positional information representing a position of the specified area in the first image;

a request sending unit configured to send, to the server, the update request data created by the request creating unit;

an updating data receiving unit configured to receive, from the server, updating data for updating at least one of the first and second image processing tools; and

an updating unit configured to update at least one of the first and second image processing tools based on the updating data received by the updating data receiving unit, and

wherein the server comprises;

a request receiving unit configured to receive the update request data sent by the request sending unit; and

an updating data sending unit configured to send, to the processor, the updating data created based on the update request data received by the request receiving unit.

2. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein the processor further comprises:

a display unit;

a first display control unit configured to control the display unit to display thereon the first image generated by the electronic endoscope; and

a second display control unit configured to control the display unit to display thereon the second image generated by the image adjustment unit.

3. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein the processor further comprises an input unit configured to accept an external input, and

wherein the area specifying unit specifies the area to be adjusted in the first image based on the external input accepted by the input unit.

4. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein the processor further comprises an input unit configured to accept data inputted therethrough, and

wherein the image adjustment unit provides the image adjustment for the specified area in the first image based on the data inputted through the input unit.

5. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein the area specifying unit specifies a plurality of areas to be adjusted in the first image, and

wherein the image adjustment unit provides different image adjustments for the plurality of areas in the first image that are specified by the area specifying unit, respectively.

6. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein the first image processing tool includes a program and parameter employed in the program that are used by the electronic endoscope, and

wherein the second image processing tool includes a program and parameter employed in the program that are used by the image adjustment unit of the processor.

7. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein the processor further comprises a textual information input unit configured to accept an input of textual information, and

wherein the update request data includes the textual information accepted by the textual information input unit.

8. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein the network includes an Internet.

9. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1,

wherein the processor further comprises:

a certification information input unit configured to accept an input of certification information;

a certificate information sending unit configured to send the certification information accepted by the certification information input unit, before the request sending unit sends the update request data; and

a success notification receiving unit configured to receive, from the server, a successful certification notification issued when certification with the certification information sent by the certification information sending unit is successful,

wherein the server further comprises;

a certification information receiving unit configured to receive the certificate information sent by the certificate information sending unit of the processor;

a certificating unit configured to implement the certification with the certification information received by the certification information receiving unit; and

a success notification issuing unit configured to issue, to the processor, the successful certification notification when the certification with the certification information received by the certification information receiving unit is successful, and

wherein the request sending unit of the processor sends the update request data to the server in response to receiving the successful certification notification.

10. A processor for an electronic endoscope, which is connectable with the electronic endoscope and configured to perform data communication with an external device via a network, comprising:

an area specifying unit configured to specify an area to be adjusted in a first image generated with a first image processing tool by the electronic endoscope;

an image adjustment unit configured to provide image adjustment for the area in the first image that is specified by the area specifying unit so as to generate a second image with a second image processing tool;

a request creating unit configured to create update request data including the second image data and positional information representing a position of the specified area in the first image;

a request sending unit configured to send, to the external device, the update request data created by the request creating unit;

an updating data receiving unit configured to receive, from the external device, updating data for updating at least one of the first and second image processing tools; and

an updating unit configured to update at least one of the first and second image processing tools based on the updating data received by the updating data receiving unit.

11. The processor according to claim 10, further comprising:

a display unit;

a first display control unit configured to control the display unit to display thereon the first image generated by the electronic endoscope; and

a second display control unit configured to control the display unit to display thereon the second image generated by the image adjustment unit.

12. The processor according to claim 10, further comprising an input unit configured to accept an external input,

wherein the area specifying unit specifies the area to be adjusted in the first image based on the external input accepted by the input unit.

13. The processor according to claim 10, further comprising an input unit configured to accept data inputted therethrough,

wherein the image adjustment unit provides the image adjustments for the specified area in the first image based on the data inputted through the input unit.

14. The processor according to claim 10,

wherein the area specifying unit specifies a plurality of areas to be adjusted in the first image, and

wherein the image adjustment unit provides different image adjustments for the plurality of areas in the first image that are specified by the area specifying unit, respectively.

15. The processor according to claim 10,

wherein the first image processing tool includes a program and parameter employed in the program that are used by the electronic endoscope, and

wherein the second image processing tool includes a program and parameter employed in the program that are used by the image adjustment unit of the processor.

16. The processor according to claim 10, further comprising a textual information input unit configured to accept an input of textual information,

wherein the update request data includes the textual information accepted by the textual information input unit.

17. The processor according to claim 10, further comprising:

a certification information input unit configured to accept an input of certification information;

a certificate information sending unit configured to send, to the external device, the certification information accepted by the certification information input unit, before the request sending unit sends the update request data; and

a success notification receiving unit configured to receive a successful certification notification issued by the external device when certification with the certification information sent by the certification information sending unit is successful,

wherein the request sending unit sends the update request data to the external device in response to receiving the successful certification notification.