Endoscope apparatus and program

• US 8,200,042 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evident Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Doi, Takahiro, Hori, Fumio
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanore, David A
• Assistant Examiner(s): IPPOLITO, NICOLE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/011,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20090092278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/129, 382/130, 382/131, 382/132, 382/173, 382/181, 382/276, 382/278, 702/128, 702/155, 702/168, 702/189
• US Class Current: 382/286
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00022 removable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00048 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus includes an electronic endoscope that picks up a measurement object and produces a picked-up-image signal; an image-processing unit that produces a image signal based on the picked-up-image signal; and an measurement processing unit that undertakes measurement processing to the measurement object based on the image signal. The measurement processing unit includes: a reference point-designating unit that designates two reference points on the measurement object; an approximate-outline—calculating unit that calculates an approximate outline by approximating the outline of the measurement object based on the reference points; and a loss-composing points-calculating unit that calculates loss-composing points that constitute a loss outline formed on the measurement object based on the reference points and the approximate outline. This enables loss size measurement upon designating two reference points, thereby reducing complex operations and improving operability.

Claims

1. A measurement method using an endoscope apparatus, the endoscope apparatus comprising an electronic endoscope that picks up a measurement object and produces a picked-up-image signal, an image-processing unit that produces an image signal based on the picked-up-image signal, and a measurement processing unit that measures the measurement object based on the image signal, the method being implemented by the endoscope apparatus to perform functions comprising:

designating two reference points on the measurement object;

calculating an approximate outline by approximating an outline of the measurement object based on the two reference points; and

calculating loss-composing points that constitute the outline of a loss formed on the measurement object based on the two reference points and the approximate outline;

wherein the two reference points are designated such that the loss formed on the measurement object is interposed between the two reference points.

2. The measurement method according to claim 1, further comprising measuring a size of the loss formed on the measurement object based on the loss-composing points.

3. The measurement method according to claim 1, wherein the approximate outline is calculated after having undergone distortion compensation to correct distortion associated with an image-pickup optical system provided to a distal end of the electronic endoscope.

4. The measurement method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a loss type, the loss type indicating a type of the loss formed on the measurement object based on an angle defined by two approximate outlines corresponding to the two reference points; and

calculating at least two characteristic points on the outline of the measurement object around the two reference points;

wherein the two approximate outlines are calculated based on at least the two characteristic points.

5. The measurement method according to claim 4, further comprising calculating a parameter indicative of a loss size corresponding to the loss type.

6. The measurement method according to claim 5, further comprising calculating at least two parameters indicative of the loss size corresponding to the loss type.

7. The measurement method according to claim 1, further comprising:

calculating one of the loss-composing points based on a cross-point of two approximate outlines corresponding to the two reference points; and

calculating at least two characteristic points on the outline of the measurement object around a respective one of the two reference points;

wherein the approximate outline is calculated based on at least the two characteristic points; and

wherein the approximate outline includes the two approximate outlines.

8. The measurement method according to claim 1, further comprising designating at least one of the two reference points based on an end point positioned where the outline of the measurement object around the loss crosses with the outline of the loss.

9. The measurement method according to claim 1, further comprising reducing a contrast of an image based on the image signal to generate a contrast-reduced image.

10. The measurement method according to claim 9, further comprising switching a displaying status between a first state and a second state, wherein at least the contrast-reduced image is displayed in the first state, and the image before undergoing the contrast reduction is displayed in the second state without displaying the contrast-reduced image.

11. The measurement method according to claim 10, further comprising inputting a timing at which to switch the displaying status, wherein the displaying status is switched at a previously input timing.

12. The measurement method according to claim 11, further comprising:

measuring a predetermined time length; and

switching the displaying status after the predetermined time length has been measured.

13. The measurement method according to claim 9, wherein the contrast-reduced image in a previous contrast reduction is displayed in at least one of a first image-displaying area and a second image-displaying area.

14. The measurement method according to claim 1, further comprising converting an image based on the image signal into a binary image obtained by binarizing a signal level.

15. The measurement method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting whether or not a loss outline constituted by line segments joining the calculated loss-composing points has a twisted shape.

16. The measurement method according to claim 15, further comprising correcting the loss-composing points when the detecting detects that the loss outline has the twisted shape.

17. An endoscope apparatus comprising:

an electronic endoscope that picks up a measurement object and produces a picked-up-image signal;

an image-processing unit that produces an image signal based on the picked-up-image signal; and

a measurement processing unit that measures the measurement object based on the image signal;

wherein the measurement processing unit includes;

a reference point-designating unit that designates two reference points on the measurement object;

an approximate-outline calculating unit that calculates an approximate outline by approximating an outline of the measurement object based on the two reference points; and

a loss-composing points-calculating unit that calculates loss-composing points that constitute a loss outline formed on the measurement object based on the two reference points and the approximate outline; and

wherein the two reference points are designated such that the loss formed on the measurement object is interposed between the two reference points.

18. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a loss-measurement unit that measures a size of the loss based on the loss-composing points.

19. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a twisted-detection unit that detects whether or not the loss outline formed by line segments joining the calculated loss-composing points has a twisted shape.

20. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a loss-composing-point-correcting unit that corrects the loss-composing points when the twisted-detection unit detects that the loss outline has the twisted shape.

21. A loss-displaying method using an endoscope apparatus, the endoscope apparatus comprising an electronic endoscope that picks up a measurement object and produces a picked-up-image signal, an image-processing unit that produces an image signal based on the picked-up-image signal, and a measurement processing unit that measures the measurement object based on the image signal, the method being implemented by the endoscope apparatus to perform functions comprising:

displaying two reference points on the designated measurement object;

displaying an approximate outline by approximating an outline of the measurement object; and

displaying a loss formed on the measurement object and calculated based on the two reference points and the approximate outline;

wherein the two reference points are designated such that the loss formed on the measurement object is interposed between the two reference points.

22. The loss-displaying method according to claim 21, further comprising displaying loss-composing points that constitute the loss outline.

23. The loss-displaying method according to claim 22, further comprising displaying the loss outline constituted by line segments joining the loss-composing points.

24. The loss-displaying method according to claim 23, further comprising displaying a size of the loss, the size of the loss being measured based on the loss-composing points.

25. The loss-displaying method according to claim 23, further comprising displaying a result of a determination as to whether or not the loss outline has a twisted shape.

26. The loss-displaying method according to claim 23, further comprising displaying corrected loss-composing points when it is determined that the loss outline has a twisted shape.

27. The loss-displaying method according to claim 21, further comprising displaying a type of the loss, the type of the loss being determined based on an angle defined by two approximate outlines corresponding to the two reference points.

28. The loss-displaying method according to claim 21, further comprising displaying cross-points of two approximate outlines, the cross-points corresponding to the two reference points.

29. The loss-displaying method according to claim 21, further comprising displaying at least one of the two reference points based on an end point positioned where the outline of the measurement object around the loss crosses with the loss outline.

30. The loss-displaying method according to claim 21, further comprising reducing image contrast based on the image signal to generate a contrast-reduced image.

31. The loss-displaying method according to claim 30, further comprising switching a displaying status between a first state and a second state, wherein the contrast-reduced image is displayed in the first state, and the image prior to undergoing the contrast reduction is displayed in the second state instead of displaying the contrast-reduced image.

32. The loss-displaying method according to claim 31, further comprising switching the displaying status at a timing input by a user.

33. The loss-displaying method according to claim 31, further comprising displaying the displaying status that has been switched at a second timing obtained after measuring a lapse of time from a point at which the displaying status was previously switched.

34. The loss-displaying method according to claim 30, further comprising displaying the contrast-reduced image in at least one of a first image-displaying area and a second image-displaying area.

35. The loss-displaying method according to claim 21, further comprising displaying a signal level obtained by binarizing the image based on the image signal.