Electronic endoscope system and processor unit thereof, and method for obtaining blood vessel information
First Claim
1. An electronic endoscope system comprising:
- a light applying section for applying at least three types of narrow band light having wavelengths within 400 nm to 600 nm as illumination light to an internal body part containing a blood vessel, two types of the illumination light out of the three types of the illumination light being narrow blue band light and narrow green band light;
an image sensor for capturing an image of the internal body part irradiated with the illumination light;
a blood vessel information obtaining section for obtaining blood vessel information based on a narrow band signal corresponding to the three types of the narrow band light, the blood vessel information including a depth of the blood vessel and a hemoglobin index,a brightness ratio calculating section for calculating a first brightness ratio between the first narrow blue band signal and the second narrow blue band signal, and a second brightness ratio between the third narrow green band signal and the second narrow blue band signal; and
a memory for storing in advance a correlation between the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index with respect to the first and second brightness ratios,wherein the three types of the illumination light includes first narrow blue band light, second narrow blue band light, and third narrow green band light; and
the narrow band signal corresponding to the three types of the narrow band light includes a first narrow blue band signal, a second narrow blue band signal, and a third narrow green band signal;
wherein, the blood vessel information obtaining section obtains based on the correlation stored in the memory the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index from the first and second brightness ratios.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a special light mode, first to fourth special images are captured under first to fourth special light being narrow band light. A brightness ratio calculator extracts a blood vessel area containing a blood vessel from each special image. The brightness ratio calculator calculates first to fourth brightness ratios from the special images on every pixel within the blood vessel area. A depth and hemoglobin index calculator calculates the depth of the blood vessel and a hemoglobin index corresponding to the first and second brightness ratios, based on a correlation between the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index stored in advance. A depth and oxygen saturation calculator calculates an oxygen saturation level corresponding to the third and fourth brightness ratios, based on a correlation between the depth of the blood vessel and the oxygen saturation level stored in advance.
13 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An electronic endoscope system comprising:
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a light applying section for applying at least three types of narrow band light having wavelengths within 400 nm to 600 nm as illumination light to an internal body part containing a blood vessel, two types of the illumination light out of the three types of the illumination light being narrow blue band light and narrow green band light; an image sensor for capturing an image of the internal body part irradiated with the illumination light; a blood vessel information obtaining section for obtaining blood vessel information based on a narrow band signal corresponding to the three types of the narrow band light, the blood vessel information including a depth of the blood vessel and a hemoglobin index, a brightness ratio calculating section for calculating a first brightness ratio between the first narrow blue band signal and the second narrow blue band signal, and a second brightness ratio between the third narrow green band signal and the second narrow blue band signal; and a memory for storing in advance a correlation between the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index with respect to the first and second brightness ratios, wherein the three types of the illumination light includes first narrow blue band light, second narrow blue band light, and third narrow green band light; and the narrow band signal corresponding to the three types of the narrow band light includes a first narrow blue band signal, a second narrow blue band signal, and a third narrow green band signal; wherein, the blood vessel information obtaining section obtains based on the correlation stored in the memory the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index from the first and second brightness ratios. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A processor unit connected to an electronic endoscope comprising:
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a receiving section for receiving an image signal from the electronic endoscope, the image signal being obtained by an image sensor for capturing an image of an internal body part containing a blood vessel, while the internal body part is irradiated with at least three types of narrow band light as illumination light, two types of the illumination light out of the three types of the illumination light being narrow blue band light and narrow green band light; a blood vessel information obtaining section for obtaining blood vessel information based on a narrow band signal corresponding to the three types of the narrow band light, the blood vessel information including a depth of the blood vessel and a hemoglobin index, a brightness ratio calculating section for calculating a first brightness ratio between the first narrow blue band signal and the second narrow blue band signal, and a second brightness ratio between the third narrow green band signal and the second narrow blue band signal; and a memory for storing in advance a correlation between the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index with respect to the first and second brightness ratios, wherein the three types of the illumination light includes first narrow blue band light, second narrow blue band light, and third narrow green band light; and the narrow band signal corresponding to the three types of the narrow band light includes a first narrow blue band signal, a second narrow blue band signal, and a third narrow green band signal; wherein, the blood vessel information obtaining section obtains based on the correlation stored in the memory the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index from the first and second brightness ratios.
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10. A method for obtaining blood vessel information comprising the steps of:
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applying at least three types of narrow band light having wavelengths within 400 nm to 600 nm as illumination light to an internal body part containing a blood vessel, two types of the illumination light out of the three types of the illumination light being narrow blue band light and narrow green band light; capturing an image of the internal body part irradiated with the illumination light; and obtaining blood vessel information based on a narrow band signal corresponding to the three types of the narrow band light, the blood vessel information including a depth of the blood vessel and a hemoglobin index, a brightness ratio calculating section for calculating a first brightness ratio between the first narrow blue band signal and the second narrow blue band signal, and a second brightness ratio between the third narrow green band signal and the second narrow blue band signal; and a memory for storing in advance a correlation between the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index with respect to the first and second brightness ratios, wherein the three types of the illumination light includes first narrow blue band light, second narrow blue band light, and third narrow green band light; and the narrow band signal corresponding to the three types of the narrow band light includes a first narrow blue band signal, a second narrow blue band signal, and a third narrow green band signal; wherein, the blood vessel information obtaining section obtains based on the correlation stored in the memory the depth of the blood vessel and the hemoglobin index from the first and second brightness ratios.
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Specification