US5045934A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic endoscope apparatus capable of indicating over-exposure area on functional image
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1990-03-07
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Granted: 1991-09-03
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Expires: 2010-03-07
Abstract
Abstract In an electronic endoscope apparatus, a region having an over exposure level within a functional image of a biological body under medical examination is detected and displayed, such as a hemoglobin concentration distribution image superimposed thereon. The electronic endoscope apparatus includes a unit for processing a functional information image signal so as to detect a region having an exposure level exceeding over an allowable maximum exposure level, and for superimposing the region having the over-exposure level on the functional information image signal; and, a monitor for displaying both a functional information image and the over-exposure region superimposed thereon based upon the functional information image signal and the detected over-exposure region.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsuya Kikuchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; A61B1/00002; A61B1/00043; A61B1/00045; A61B1/0005; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/555; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/272; H04N7/00; H04N7/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: a light source for illuminating an interior portion of a biological body under medical examination; filter means selectively interposed between the light source and illuminated interior portion of the biological body for filtering out light having a preselected transmission wavelength, and for projecting said filtered light to the interior portion thereof; image sensor means for imaging the illuminated interior portion by receiving the filtered light therefrom to thereby produce a functional information image signal; means for processing said functional information image signal so as to detect a region having an exposure level exceeding over an allowable maximum exposure level, and for superimposing said region having the over-exposure level on said functional information image signal; and, means for displaying both a functional information image of the biological body and said over-exposure region superimposed thereon based upon said functional information image signal and said over-exposure region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: a light source for illuminating an interior portion of a biological body under medical examination; filter means selectively interposed between the light source and illuminated interior portion of the biological body for filtering out light having a preselected transmission wavelength, and for projecting said filtered light to the interior portion thereof; image sensor means for imaging the illuminated interior portion by receiving the filtered light therefrom to thereby produce a functional information image signal; means for processing said functional information image signal so as to detect a region having an exposure level exceeding over an allowable maximum exposure level, and for superimposing said region having the over-exposure level on said functional information image signal; and, means for displaying both a functional information image of the biological body and said over-exposure region superimposed thereon based upon said functional information image signal and said over-exposure region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing/superimposing means includes: a calculation unit for calculating functional information data from said functional information image signal; a detection unit for detecting said over-exposure region from said functional information image data; and, a superimposing unit for superimposing said over-exposure region on said functional image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said calculation unit includes: a logarithm converting unit for converting said functional information data to obtain logarith-converted functional information data; a subtracting circuit for performing subtraction between the logarithm-converted functional information data sequentially obtained under the different filtered lighting conditions; and, an adding circuit for adding a first constant value to a result of said subtracting circuit so as to thereby produce said functional information image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detecting unit includes a comparator for comparing said functional information data with a second constant value so as to detect whether or not said exposure level of the area exceeds over said allowable maximum exposure level, whereby said over-exposure region is detected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said superimposing unit includes: an address memory for storing said over-exposure region; and, a superimposing circuit for superimposing said over-exposure region on said functional information image signal based upon said stored address.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filter means includes a disk and at least a first interference filter having a first transmission wavelength and a second interference filter having a second transmission wavelength.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said functional image represents one of hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4884134A
Cited
US4914512A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-02 | 1995-03-04 | 1995-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-02 | 1999-03-04 | 1999-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-02 | 2003-03-04 | 2003-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |