Method and apparatus for selective registration of endoscopes with database

• US 20030063188A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Takahashi, Tadashi, Koike, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 6,977,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/88 for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control

Abstract

An electronic endoscope system includes an electronic endoscope and a processor to which the electronic endoscope is connectable. The processor includes a signal processor for displaying the images captured by the electronic endoscope, while adjusting the color balance thereof, and a memory holding an endoscope database. The processor further includes a CPU that retrieves endoscopic information from a memory of the electronic endoscope, which includes compensation data for white balance adjustment of the processor. The CPU registers the electronic endoscope with the endoscope database by storing the retrieved endoscopic information into the endoscope database when the white balance readjustment of the processor is required.

Claims

1. A method for registering an electronic endoscope with a database, the electronic endoscope connectable to a processor that processes an image captured by the electronic endoscope, the method comprising:

determining whether an operational condition of at least one of the electronic endoscope and the processor satisfies a predetermined condition when the electronic endoscope is connected with the processor; and

registering the electronic endoscope with the database when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor displays the image captured by the electronic endoscope on a monitor, and wherein the predetermined condition includes receipt of a requirement for executing white balance readjustment of the processor.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

retrieving color adjustment data from the electronic endoscope;

adjusting the white balance of the processor based on the color adjustment data; and

readjusting the white balance of the processor by modifying the color adjustment data when the requirement for executing white balance readjustment is received.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes connection of the electronic endoscope with the processor for more than a predetermined period of time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database is constructed in a memory provided to the processor.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting one of records of the database when all records are already filled with data; and

registering the electronic endoscope by replacing old data on the selected record with new data related to the electronic endoscope.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the record associated with an endoscope first registered with the database is selected when registering the electronic endoscope.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the record associated with an endoscope not utilized for the longest time among endoscopes registered with the database is selected when registering the electronic endoscope.

9. An apparatus for processing an image captured by an electronic endoscope, comprising:

a memory operable to store an endoscope database;

a first processor that processes the image captured by the electronic endoscope; and

a second processor that registers the electronic endoscope connected to said apparatus with said endoscope database when an operational condition of said apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first processor displays the image captured by the electronic endoscope on a monitor, and wherein the predetermined condition includes receipt of a requirement for executing white balance readjustment of said first processor.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the white balance of said first processor is executed based on color adjustment data obtained from the electronic endoscope, and wherein the white balance readjustment of said first processor is executed by modifying the color adjustment data when the requirement for executing white balance readjustment is received.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined condition includes connection of the electronic endoscope with said apparatus for more than a predetermined period of time.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second processor selects one of records of said endoscope database when all records are already filled with data and registers the electronic endoscope by replacing old data on the selected record with new data related to the electronic endoscope.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said second processor selects the record associated with an endoscope first registered with the electronic database when registering the electronic endoscope.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said second processor selects the record associated with an endoscope not utilized for the longest time among endoscopes registered with the electronic database when registering the electronic endoscope.