Medical control apparatus and method of controlling medical control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11980348-B2
Application number	US-202117149753-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2021
Priority date	Mar 3, 2020
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

A medical control apparatus to which a rigid endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject is detachably connected is configured to perform image processing on a captured image obtained by capturing a subject image introduced by the rigid endoscope and generate a medical photographic image to be displayed on a display device that displays images. The medical control apparatus includes: a detection unit configured to detect a mask width that is a distance between boundary points dividing the subject image included in the captured image and a mask area that is an area other than the subject image; and a control unit configured to calculate a first parameter used for the image processing in accordance with the mask width.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical control apparatus to which an endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject is detachably connected, the medical control apparatus being configured to perform image processing on a captured image obtained by capturing a subject image introduced by the endoscope and generate a medical photographic image to be displayed on a display device that displays images, the medical control apparatus comprising:
a control circuit configured to
acquire a mask width that is a distance between boundary points dividing the subject image included in the captured image and a mask area that is an area other than the subject image,
calculate a first parameter used for the image processing in accordance with the mask width, and
use the first parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, at least one of
the greater a digital gain in the image processing,
the higher a noise reduction level in the image processing,
the higher a shading level in the image processing,
the greater a set value of black level adjustment in the image processing, and
the lower an enhancement level in the image processing.

2. The medical control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the first parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the greater a digital gain in the image processing.

3. The medical control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the first parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the higher a noise reduction level in the image processing.

4. The medical control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the first parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the higher a shading level in the image processing.

5. The medical control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the first parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the greater a set value of black level adjustment in the image processing.

6. The medical control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the first parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the lower an enhancement level in the image processing.

7. The medical control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to
specify a dynamic range of the display device, and
calculate the first parameter corresponding to the specified dynamic range of the display device.

8. The medical control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to set a second parameter used for controlling brightness of the captured image in accordance with the mask width.

9. The medical control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the second parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the greater an analog gain in signal processing in an image sensor.

10. The medical control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the second parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the longer an exposure time for each of pixels of an image sensor.

11. The medical control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the second parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the larger the amount of light supplied from a light source device to the insertion portion.

12. The medical control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is configured to
specify a dynamic range of the display device, and
calculate the second parameter corresponding to the specified dynamic range of the display device.

13. A method of controlling a medical control apparatus to which an endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject is detachably connected, the medical control apparatus being configured to perform image processing on a captured image obtained by capturing a subject image introduced by the endoscope and generate a medical photographic image to be displayed on a display device that displays images, the method comprising:
detecting a mask width being a distance between boundary points dividing the subject image included in the captured image and a mask area being an area other than the subject image;
calculating a first parameter used for the image processing in accordance with the mask width; and
using the first parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, at least one of
the treater a digital lain in the image processing,
the higher a noise reduction level in the image processing,
the higher a shading level in the image processing,
the greater a set value of black level adjustment in the image processing, and
the lower an enhancement level in the image processing.

14. A method of controlling a medical control apparatus to which an endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject is detachably connected, the medical control apparatus being configured to perform image processing on a captured image obtained by capturing a subject image introduced by the endoscope and generate a medical photographic image to be displayed on a display device that displays images, the method comprising:
acquiring a diameter of the insertion portion;
calculating a first parameter used for the image processing in accordance with the diameter of the insertion portion; and
setting a second parameter used for controlling brightness of the captured image in accordance with the diameter of the insertion portion.

15. A medical control apparatus to which an endoscope having an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject is detachably connected, the medical control apparatus being configured to perform image processing on a captured image obtained by capturing a subject image introduced by the endoscope and generate a medical photographic image to be displayed on a display device that displays images, the medical control apparatus comprising:
a control circuit configured to
acquire a mask width that is a distance between boundary points dividing the subject image included in the captured image and a mask area that is an area other than the subject image,
calculate a first parameter used for the image processing in accordance with the mask width, and
set a second parameter used for controlling brightness of the captured image in accordance with the mask width.

16. The medical control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the second parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the greater an analog gain in signal processing in an image sensor.

17. The medical control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the second parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the longer an exposure time for each of pixels of an image sensor.

18. The medical control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is configured to use the second parameter to perform control such that the smaller the mask width, the larger the amount of light supplied from a light source to the insertion portion.

19. The medical control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is configured to
specify a dynamic range of the display device, and
calcula

Assignees

• Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Michihata Taihei
• Myoken Hiroshi
• Mitsui Satoshi

Classifications

• H04N23/88

  for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control · CPC title

• A61B1/045 Primary

  Control thereof · CPC title

• A61B1/00006

  of control signals · CPC title

• A61B1/000095

  for image enhancement · CPC title

• A61B1/00045

  Display arrangement · CPC title