JP2010022464A - Method and apparatus for obtaining image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a suitable spectral estimated image when the observation condition is changed but the wavelength estimated accuracy is not lowered. <P>SOLUTION: The image obtaining apparatus includes a spectral image generating portion 32 for performing the spectral image processing to an image signal output from an imaging element 22 by using an estimated matrix data and obtaining the spectral estimated image signal of the predetermined wavelength, and a memory portion 33 for memorizing the estimated matrix data, and a plurality of estimated matrix data corresponding to various observation conditions of the observation subject is memorized in the memory portion 33, and the observation condition selecting signal for selecting any observation conditions from among the various observation conditions is received in a control portion 35, and the spectral image generating portion 32 reads out the estimated matrix data corresponding to the observation condition in accordance with the observation condition selecting signal received by the control portion 35 from the memory portion 33, and the spectral image processing is performed to the image signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image acquisition method and apparatus for acquiring a plurality of types of narrow-band spectral images, and acquiring diagnostic images using these narrow-band spectral images. The present invention relates to an image acquisition method and apparatus for acquiring an estimated image.

  Conventionally, endoscope apparatuses for observing tissue in a body cavity are widely known. A normal image is obtained by imaging an observation target in a body cavity illuminated by white light, and the normal image is displayed on a monitor screen. Electronic endoscopes have been widely put into practical use.

  Then, as an endoscope apparatus as described above, a biological mucous membrane of a digestive organ (for example, stomach) is imaged, a plurality of types of narrow-band spectral images of the biological mucosa are acquired, and these narrow-band spectral images are used. There has been proposed an electronic endoscope apparatus that can accurately extract a fine structure of a biological mucous membrane by generating a diagnostic image. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method of generating a narrowband spectral estimation image by performing arithmetic processing on a color image signal acquired by an imaging element by irradiation of a living mucous membrane with illumination light in a visible light region. Yes. Specifically, the method described in Patent Document 1 is a method in which each color sensitivity characteristic of the RGB filter of the image sensor is converted into numerical data, and a spectral characteristic of a specific narrowband bandpass is converted into numerical data. The relationship is obtained as matrix data (coefficient set), and a spectral estimation image signal obtained through a narrowband bandpass filter is obtained in a pseudo manner by calculating this matrix data and the RGB signal acquired by the image sensor.

  In addition, as an electronic endoscope apparatus that acquires a narrow-band spectral estimation image by arithmetic processing as described above, Patent Document 2 discloses blood vessels with different thicknesses, blood vessels with different depths, cancer tissues with different degrees of progression, and the like. There has been proposed an electronic endoscope apparatus that can improve detection accuracy by changing the wavelength range of a narrow-band spectral estimation image according to different observation targets.

Patent Document 3 proposes an electronic endoscope apparatus that can improve the wavelength estimation accuracy by changing the matrix data described above according to the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the scope to be used.
JP 2003-93336 A JP 2006-239206 A JP 2006-239204 A

  However, for example, even when the wavelength range is changed according to different observation targets as in the method described in Patent Document 2, for example, when the observation conditions change due to spraying the medicine on the observation targets. Since the wavelength of the reflected light changes, if the calculation process using the matrix data on the assumption that the wavelength of the reflected light is constant, the wavelength estimation accuracy of the narrow-band spectral image is lowered. In addition, even when the observation target is inflamed or bleeding, if the calculation processing using the matrix data on the assumption that the observation target is normal, the narrowband spectroscopy is similarly performed. The wavelength estimation accuracy of the image is lowered.

  Also in the method described in Patent Document 3, although the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the scope are taken into consideration, the change in the observation conditions as described above is not taken into consideration, and thus the same problem as described above occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an image acquisition method and apparatus capable of acquiring an appropriate spectral estimation image without causing a decrease in wavelength estimation accuracy even when the observation condition changes. For the purpose.

  In the image acquisition method of the present invention, the reflected light reflected from the observation target by irradiation of the illumination light to the observation target is received by the image pickup device, the image of the observation target is picked up, and the image signal output from the image pickup device is obtained. In an image acquisition method for acquiring a spectral estimation image signal of a predetermined wavelength by performing signal processing using a signal processing parameter, a plurality of signal processing parameters corresponding to a plurality of types of observation conditions of an observation target are stored in advance, An observation condition selection signal for selecting one of the observation conditions is received, and the image signal is subjected to signal processing using a signal processing parameter corresponding to the observation condition corresponding to the received observation condition selection signal. It is characterized by.

  The image acquisition device of the present invention receives an image of an observation object by receiving reflected light reflected from the observation object by irradiating the observation light with illumination light, and an image signal output from the image sensor. In an image acquisition apparatus including a signal processing unit that performs signal processing using a signal processing parameter to acquire a spectral estimation image signal of a predetermined wavelength, and a storage unit that stores the signal processing parameter, the storage unit is an observation target A plurality of signal processing parameters corresponding to a plurality of types of observation conditions are stored, and a selection signal receiving unit that receives an observation condition selection signal for selecting any one of the plurality of types of observation conditions is provided. The signal processing unit reads out the signal processing parameters corresponding to the observation condition according to the observation condition selection signal received by the selection signal receiving unit from the storage unit, and performs signal processing on the image signal. And characterized in that the subjecting.

  In the image acquisition device of the present invention, the storage unit stores a plurality of signal processing parameters corresponding to a plurality of types of observation conditions for each type of observation target, and the selection signal reception unit includes the observation conditions. An observation target selection signal for selecting the type of the observation target is received together with the selection signal, and the signal processing unit responds to the observation condition according to the observation condition selection signal received by the selection signal reception unit and the observation target selection signal. The signal processing parameter corresponding to the observation target can be read from the storage unit and signal processing can be performed on the image signal.

  The plurality of types of observation conditions may include a normal condition and at least one of a pigment dispersion condition and a tissue state condition.

  In addition, a scope unit that detects reflected light that is inserted into the body cavity and reflected from the observation target, a scope tip position information acquisition unit that acquires position information in the body cavity at the tip of the scope unit, and a scope tip position information acquisition unit And an observation target specifying unit that outputs an observation target selection signal for selecting the specified observation target and for specifying the observation target based on the position information acquired by the The observation object selection signal output from can be received.

  Here, the “observation condition” refers to information indicating whether or not a specific change has occurred in the observation target, or what kind of change has occurred.

  According to the image acquisition method and apparatus of the present invention, an observation in which a plurality of signal processing parameters corresponding to a plurality of types of observation conditions to be observed are stored in advance, and one of the plurality of types of observation conditions is selected. Since the condition selection signal is received and the signal processing is performed on the image signal using the signal processing parameter corresponding to the observation condition corresponding to the received observation condition selection signal, the wavelength estimation accuracy even if the observation condition changes It is possible to acquire an appropriate spectral estimation image without incurring a decrease in.

  For example, when multiple types of observation conditions include normal conditions and pigment application conditions, for example, when examining an inflamed mucosa, the mucous membrane before pigment application is usually red. If the estimated matrix data that can be seen is used, the inflamed part can be recognized more clearly, but if the indigo pigment is sprayed on this mucous membrane, the red part and the blue part are mixed, and the above estimated matrix If the data remains as it is, the inflammatory part becomes difficult to recognize. Therefore, by using estimated matrix data according to the pigment spraying condition, it is possible to make the blue part of the indigo difficult to see, thereby making it possible to recognize the inflamed part more clearly.

  In the image acquisition method and apparatus of the present invention described above, when a plurality of signal processing parameters corresponding to a plurality of types of observation conditions are stored for each type of observation target, Signal processing can be performed using signal processing parameters that take both into consideration, and a more accurate spectral estimation image can be acquired.

  In addition, if the position information in the body cavity at the distal end of the scope unit is acquired and the observation target is specified based on the acquired position information, the observation is automatically performed even if the operator does not input the observation target. A target can be set, and a more appropriate spectral estimation image can be acquired by automatically switching signal processing parameters to be used.

  Hereinafter, an endoscope system using an embodiment of an image acquisition device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an endoscope system 1 using an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope system 1 is inserted into a body cavity of a subject and a scope unit 20 for observing an observation target, and a processor unit 30 to which the scope unit 20 is detachably connected, A scope unit 20 is optically detachably connected, and includes an illumination light unit 10 that stores a xenon lamp that emits illumination light L0. Note that the processor unit 30 and the illumination light unit 10 may be configured integrally or may be configured separately.

  The illumination light unit 10 emits illumination light L0 for normal observation from a xenon lamp. The illumination light unit 10 is optically connected to the light guide 11 of the scope unit 20, and is configured so that the illumination light L 0 is incident from one end of the light guide 11.

  The scope unit 20 includes an imaging optical system 21, an image sensor 22, a CDS / AGC circuit 23, an A / D converter 24, and a CCD driver 25, and each component is controlled by a scope controller 26. The imaging element 22 is made of, for example, a CCD or a CMOS, and obtains image information by photoelectrically converting the observation target image formed by the imaging optical system 21. As the image pickup element 22, for example, a complementary color type image pickup element having Mg (magenta), Ye (yellow), Cy (cyan), and G (green) color filters on the image pickup surface, or a primary color type having RGB color filters. Although an image sensor can be used, in this embodiment, a primary color image sensor is used. The operation of the image sensor 22 is controlled by the CCD drive unit 25. When the image sensor 22 acquires an image signal, a CDS / AGC (correlated double sampling / automatic gain control) circuit 23 samples and amplifies the signal, and an A / D converter 24 is output from the CDS / AGC circuit 23. The obtained image signal is A / D converted, and the image signal is output to the processor unit 30.

 The scope unit 20 is provided with an operation unit 27 that is connected to the scope controller 26 and can set various operations such as switching of the observation mode.

  An illumination window 28 is provided at the distal end of the scope unit 20, and the other end of the light guide 11 whose one end is connected to the illumination light unit 10 faces the illumination window 28.

  The processor unit 30 includes an image acquisition unit 31 that acquires R, G, and B color image signals generated based on a normal image captured by the scope unit 20 by irradiating the observation target with the illumination light L0. In the spectral image generation unit 32, the spectral image generation unit 32 generates a spectral estimation image signal having a predetermined wavelength by performing spectral image processing on the color image signal acquired by the image acquisition unit 31 using the estimation matrix data. For the storage unit 33 in which estimation matrix data used for performing spectral image processing is stored and the color image signal output from the image acquisition unit 31 or the spectral estimation image signal generated in the spectral image generation unit 32, A display signal generation unit 34 that performs various processing to generate a display image signal, and a control unit that controls the entire processor unit 30 And a 5. The operation of each part will be described in detail later.

  The processor unit 30 is connected to an input unit 2 that receives an operator input. The input unit 2 receives an input of an observation target and an observation condition by an operator, and receives an observation target selection signal corresponding to the observation target selected by the input and an observation condition selection signal corresponding to the observation condition. It outputs to 30 control parts 35. The input unit 2 is configured by a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse, for example.

  The storage unit 33 of the processor unit 30 stores a plurality of estimated matrix data 1 to Z as shown in FIG. The estimated matrix data 1 to Z are respectively calculated corresponding to combinations of predetermined observation objects and observation conditions. Specifically, in order to obtain measurement data related to the spectral reflection intensity distribution under a predetermined observation condition for a predetermined observation target, and to estimate the spectral reflection intensity distribution under the observation condition of the observation target based on Winner estimation Seeking a matrix.

  Further, the control unit 35 of the processor unit 30 is provided with a selection signal receiving unit that receives the observation target selection signal and the observation condition selection signal output from the input unit 2. Then, observation target information according to the observation target selection signal received by the selection signal reception unit and observation condition information according to the observation condition selection signal are output to the spectral image generation unit 32.

  In addition, the spectral image generation unit 32 of the processor unit 30 is provided with a table indicating estimated matrix data 1 to Z corresponding to a plurality of types of observation targets and a plurality of types of observation conditions as shown in FIG. The spectral image generation unit 32 receives the observation target information and the observation condition information output from the control unit 35, refers to the table shown in FIG. 3, and estimates corresponding to the received combination of the observation target and the observation condition. The type of matrix data is obtained, and the estimated matrix data of that type is selected from the estimated matrix data 1 to Z stored in the storage unit 33 and read out.

  The display device 3 includes a liquid crystal display device, a CRT, and the like, and displays a normal image, a spectral estimation image, and the like based on the display image signal output from the processor unit 30. The display device 3 displays a plurality of types of observation objects and observation conditions so that the operator can select any one of the observation objects and observation conditions from the plurality of types of observation objects and observation conditions. . Specifically, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, and observation targets include “thick blood vessel”, “thin blood vessel”, “tissue raised shape” or “tissue depressed shape”. One is displayed so that it can be selected by a pointing device such as a mouse. In addition, observation conditions include “normal conditions”, “indigo spraying”, “rugol spraying”, “inflammation”, “bleeding”, or “bile adhering”. One of them is displayed so that it can be selected by a pointing device such as a mouse. Note that the observation target and the observation conditions are not limited to those described above, and other observation targets may be adopted. In addition, the “thick blood vessel”, “thin blood vessel”, “tissue raised shape”, or “tissue depressed shape” listed above are the observation target (1), the observation target (2) in FIG. Corresponding to the observation target (m), etc., “Normal condition”, “Indigo spraying”, “Lugol spraying”, “Inflamed” or “Bleeding” or “Bile adhering” Correspond to the observation condition (1), the observation condition (2),..., The observation condition (n) in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the endoscope system of this embodiment will be described. First, an operation in the normal observation mode in which a normal image is displayed based on a color image signal acquired by irradiating the observation target with the illumination light L0 will be described.

  First, in the operation unit 27 or the input unit 2 of the scope unit 20, the normal observation mode is set by the operator. When the normal observation mode is set, the illumination light L0 is emitted from the illumination light unit 10. The illumination light L0 is irradiated from the illumination window 28 to the observation target via the light guide 11. Then, the reflected light L1 reflected from the observation target by the irradiation of the irradiation light L0 is incident on the imaging optical system 21 of the scope unit 20, and a normal image is formed on the imaging surface of the imaging element 22 by the imaging optical system 21. . Then, the imaging element 22 driven by the CCD drive unit 25 captures a normal image to be observed and acquires a color image signal. The color image signal is amplified by correlated double sampling and automatic gain control in the CDS / AGC circuit 23, then A / D converted by the A / D converter 24, and input to the processor unit 30 as a digital signal. .

  The color image signal output from the scope unit 20 is acquired by the image acquisition unit 31 of the processor unit 30, and the color image signal is output to the display signal generation unit 34. The display signal generation unit 34 performs various signal processing on the color image signal, generates a Y / C signal composed of the luminance signal Y and the color difference signal C, and further converts the Y / C signal. On the other hand, various signal processing such as I / P conversion and noise removal is performed to generate a display image signal, and this display image signal is output to the display device 3. Then, the display device 3 displays a normal image based on the input display image signal.

  Next, in the endoscope system of the present embodiment, the operation in the spectral estimation image observation mode for displaying the spectral estimation image based on the color image signal acquired by irradiating the observation object with the illumination light L0 will be described. To do.

  First, in the operation unit 27 or the input unit 2 of the scope unit 20, a spectroscopic estimated image observation mode is set by the operator. When the spectral estimation image observation mode is set, a selection screen for selecting an observation target and an observation condition as shown in FIG.

  When the selection screen is displayed on the display device 3, the operator inputs any one of the plurality of types of observation targets and any one of the plurality of types of observation conditions to the input unit. 2 is selected.

  When an observation target and an observation condition are selected by the input unit 2, an observation target selection signal and an observation condition selection signal are output from the input unit 2 and received by the selection signal reception unit of the control unit 35.

  When the control unit 35 receives the observation target selection signal and the observation condition selection signal, the control unit 35 sends the observation target information corresponding to the observation target selection signal and the observation condition information corresponding to the observation condition selection signal to the spectral image generation unit 32. Output.

  When the spectral image generation unit 32 receives the observation target information and the observation condition information, the spectral image generation unit 32 refers to the table shown in FIG. 3 and acquires the type of estimated matrix data. For example, when the observation target information is the observation target (2) and the observation condition information is the observation condition (3), the estimated matrix data 4 is acquired as the type of the estimated matrix data. Then, estimated matrix data indicated by the type of the acquired estimated matrix data is read from the storage unit 33. When the observation target information is the observation target (2) and the observation condition information is the observation condition (3), the estimated matrix data 4 is read from the storage unit 33.

  Then, the scope unit 20 performs imaging of the observation target. In the spectral estimation image observation mode, similarly to the normal observation mode, the irradiation light L0 is irradiated on the observation target, and the reflected light L1 reflected by the irradiation target is incident on the imaging optical system 21 of the scope unit 20, A normal image is formed on the imaging surface of the imaging element 22 by the imaging optical system 21. Then, the image pickup device 22 picks up a normal image to be observed and obtains a color image signal. The color image signal is amplified by correlated double sampling and automatic gain control in the CDS / AGC circuit 23, and then A / The signal is A / D converted by the D converter 24 and input to the processor unit 30 as a digital signal.

  Then, the color image signal acquired by the image acquisition unit 31 is output to the spectral image generation unit 32.

In the spectral image generation unit 32, spectral image processing is performed on the input color image signals R, G, and B using estimated matrix data corresponding to the combination of the observation target and the observation conditions. For example, when the observation target information is the observation target (2) and the observation condition information is the observation condition (3), the spectral image processing is performed using the estimated matrix data 4 read from the storage unit 33. Applied. Specifically, the spectral image processing is performed by calculating the following expression.

  Then, by calculating the above equation, an R component image signal R ′, a G component image signal G ′, and a B component image signal B ′ of the spectral estimation image are obtained.

  The spectral estimation image signals R ′, G ′, and B ′ generated by the spectral image generation unit 32 are output to the display signal generation unit 34. The display signal generation unit 34 performs various signal processing on the input spectral estimation image signals R ′, G ′, and B ′, and outputs a Y / C signal composed of the luminance signal Y and the color difference signal C. Then, the Y / C signal is subjected to various signal processing such as I / P conversion and noise removal to generate a display image signal, and the display image signal is output to the display device 3. Then, the display device 3 displays a spectral estimation image based on the input display image signal.

Further, in the endoscope system of the above embodiment, the estimated matrix data 1 to Z as shown in FIG. 2 are stored in the storage unit 33. Instead, as shown in Table 1 below, The wavelength estimation matrix data may be acquired in advance for each observation condition n (n = 1 to Z), and the Z total wavelength estimation matrix data may be stored in the storage unit 33. The method for acquiring all-wavelength estimation matrix data is the same as the method for acquiring estimation matrix data described above. The total wavelength estimation matrix data in Table 1 includes 61 wavelength range parameters (coefficient sets) p1 to p61 obtained by dividing a wavelength range of 400 nm to 700 nm, for example, at 5 nm intervals. Each of the parameters p1 to p61 is composed of coefficients _kprn , _kpgn , and _kpbn (p = 1 to 61) for matrix calculation.

  The operation when Z total wavelength estimation matrix data for each observation condition n is stored in the storage unit 33 as described above will be described below.

  Also in this case, when an observation target and an observation condition are selected by the input unit 2 by the operator, an observation target selection signal and an observation condition selection signal are output from the input unit 2 and received by the selection signal receiving unit of the control unit 35. .

  When the control unit 35 receives the observation target selection signal and the observation condition selection signal, the control unit 35 sends the observation target information corresponding to the observation target selection signal and the observation condition information corresponding to the observation condition selection signal to the spectral image generation unit 32. Output.

When the spectral image generation unit 32 receives the observation condition information, the spectral image generation unit 32 reads all wavelength estimation matrix data corresponding to the observation condition from the storage unit 33. Then, using the 3 × 61 matrix shown in Table 1, matrix calculation represented by the following equation is performed to calculate estimated reflection spectrum data (q1 to q61).

  Further, when the spectral image generation unit 32 receives the information on the observation target, the spectral image generation unit 32 acquires a wavelength set including three wavelength ranges λ1, λ2, and λ3 corresponding to the observation target. The spectral image generation unit 32 stores in advance a table in which each observation target is associated with a wavelength set corresponding to each observation target.

  Then, estimated reflection spectrum data corresponding to the wavelength ranges λ1, λ2, and λ3 of the wavelength set acquired as described above are acquired. For example, when the three wavelength regions λ1, λ2, and λ3 are wavelengths 500 nm, 620 nm, and 650 nm, the estimated reflections calculated using the coefficients of the parameters p21, p45, and p51 in Table 1 corresponding to the respective wavelengths. Spectral data q21, q45, q51 are acquired.

  The acquired estimated reflection spectrum data q21, q45, and q51 are acquired as an R component image signal R ′, a G component image signal G ′, and a B component image signal B ′ of the spectral estimation image.

  For example, 550 nm, 500 nm, and 470 nm are used when the observation target is a thick blood vessel, and 520 nm, 500 nm, and 405 nm are used when the observation target is a thin blood vessel. be able to.

  In the endoscope system of the above-described embodiment, the normal image is displayed in the normal observation mode, and the spectral estimation image is displayed in the spectral estimation image observation mode. The normal image and the spectral estimation image may be displayed simultaneously or by switching.

  In the endoscope system of the above embodiment, the operator selects and inputs the observation target information using the input unit 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. The processor unit 30 specifies the observation target based on the position information acquired by the tip position information acquisition unit 36 for acquiring the position information of the tip of the scope unit 2 in the body cavity, and the position information acquired by the tip position information acquisition unit 36, An observation target specifying unit 37 that outputs an observation target selection signal corresponding to the specified observation target is further provided, and the selection signal receiving unit of the control unit 35 receives the observation target selection signal output from the observation target specifying unit 37. Thus, the observation target information may be output to the spectral image generation unit 32.

  As the tip position information acquisition unit 36, for example, a configuration is adopted in which a radiation image signal representing a radiographic image of a subject is acquired and the tip position of the scope unit 20 in the radiation image is specified based on the radiation image signal. can do.

  Further, an IC tag or the like is provided at the distal end of the scope unit 20, and the distal end position of the scope unit 20 is specified by detecting the IC tag in the body cavity of the subject with a sensor or the like from the outside, and the distal end position information is obtained from the distal end position The information acquisition unit 36 may acquire the information.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the insertion part inserted into the body cavity of the scope unit 20 is provided with a scale 20a in which lines and the like are arranged at predetermined intervals, and a mouthpiece to be attached to the subject's mouth. 40 is provided with an optical sensor 41 for detecting the scale 20a, and a detection signal detected by the optical sensor 41 is output to the tip position information acquisition unit 36, and the tip position information acquisition unit 36 based on the input detection signal. You may make it acquire the front-end | tip position information of the scope unit 20. FIG. Specifically, for example, the tip position information acquisition unit 36 may count the scale detection signal output from the optical sensor 41 and acquire the tip position information based on the count number. The count number of the scale detection signal represents the distance from the subject's mouth to the tip of the scope unit 20, and thus distance information is acquired.

  As the observation target specifying unit 37, for example, a table in which the tip position information of the scope unit 20 and the observation target are associated with each other and a configuration for specifying the observation target by referring to the table can be employed. Note that the observation target may be anything that can be specified from the position of the tip of the scope unit 20, and examples thereof include the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.

  Since the relationship between the distance information from the subject's mouth to the tip of the scope unit 20 and the observation target such as the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine varies depending on the height of the subject, information such as the height of the subject is also acquired. The observation target may be specified in consideration of the information.

  In the above embodiment, spectral image processing is performed on the image signal using matrix data to obtain a spectral estimated image. However, the signal processing method for acquiring the spectral estimated image is not limited to this. For example, the spectral estimation image may be acquired using a lookup table, or the spectral estimation image may be acquired using a neural network.

  In the above description, an example in which an embodiment of the image acquisition device of the present invention is applied to an endoscope system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to, for example, a laparoscope and a colposcope. .

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the endoscope system using one Embodiment of the image acquisition apparatus of this invention. The figure for demonstrating the estimation matrix data memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of the endoscope system shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the table which shows the estimation matrix data 1-Z corresponding to multiple types of observation object and multiple types of observation conditions. The figure which shows an example of the selection screen of observation object and observation conditions The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the endoscope system using other embodiment of the image acquisition apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows an example of a structure of an endoscope insertion part and a mouthpiece

Explanation of symbols

1,5 Endoscope system 2 Input unit 2 Scope unit 3 Display device 10 Illumination light unit 11 Light guide 20 Scope unit 21 Imaging optical system 22 Imaging element 23 Circuit 24 Conversion unit 25 Drive unit 26 Scope controller 27 Operation unit 28 Illumination Window 30 Processor unit 31 Image acquisition unit 32 Spectral image generation unit (spectral image processing unit)
33 Storage Unit 34 Display Signal Generation Unit 35 Control Unit 36 Tip Position Information Acquisition Unit 37 Observation Target Identification Unit 40 Mouthpiece 41 Optical Sensor

Claims (5)

The reflected light reflected from the observation target by irradiating the observation target with illumination light is received by the image sensor to capture an image of the observation target, and a signal processing parameter is used for the image signal output from the image sensor. In an image acquisition method for performing signal processing to acquire a spectral estimation image signal of a predetermined wavelength,
A plurality of signal processing parameters corresponding to a plurality of types of observation conditions of the observation target are stored in advance,
Receiving an observation condition selection signal for selecting any one of the plurality of types of observation conditions;
An image acquisition method comprising: performing the signal processing on the image signal using the signal processing parameter corresponding to an observation condition corresponding to the received observation condition selection signal. An imaging device that receives reflected light reflected from the observation target by illuminating the observation target with illumination light and picks up an image of the observation target, and uses a signal processing parameter for the image signal output from the imaging device In an image acquisition apparatus comprising: a signal processing unit that performs signal processing to acquire a spectral estimation image signal of a predetermined wavelength; and a storage unit that stores the signal processing parameter;
The storage unit stores a plurality of signal processing parameters corresponding to a plurality of types of observation conditions of the observation target,
A selection signal receiving unit for receiving an observation condition selection signal for selecting any one of the plurality of types of observation conditions;
The signal processing unit reads the signal processing parameter corresponding to the observation condition according to the observation condition selection signal received by the selection signal reception unit from the storage unit, and performs the signal processing on the image signal. An image acquisition apparatus characterized by being. The storage unit stores a plurality of signal processing parameters corresponding to the plurality of types of observation conditions for each type of the observation target,
The selection signal receiving unit receives an observation target selection signal for selecting a type of the observation target together with the observation condition selection signal,
The signal processing unit reads the signal processing parameter corresponding to the observation condition according to the observation condition selection signal received by the selection signal reception unit and the observation target according to the observation target selection signal from the storage unit. The image acquisition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the signal processing is performed on the image signal.   The image acquisition apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the plurality of types of observation conditions include a normal condition and at least one of a pigment dispersion condition and a tissue state condition. A scope for detecting reflected light inserted into a body cavity and reflected from the observation target;
A scope tip position information acquisition unit for acquiring position information of the tip of the scope part in the body cavity;
An observation target specifying unit that specifies the observation target based on the position information acquired by the scope tip position information acquisition unit, and outputs the observation target selection signal for selecting the specified observation target;
5. The image acquisition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selection signal receiving unit receives an observation target selection signal output from the observation target specifying unit.

Images