JP5160621B2 - Capsule endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a capsule endoscope system using a receiving device that receives image data captured by a capsule endoscope introduced into the body of a subject from the capsule endoscope via a predetermined radio wave. It is about.

  In recent years, in the field of endoscopes, capsule endoscopes, which are swallowable endoscopes that are provided with an imaging function and a wireless communication function, have appeared, and a subject that has been imaged by the capsule endoscope has been introduced. A capsule endoscope system that acquires image data in a specimen has been developed. In this capsule endoscope system, the capsule endoscope is swallowed from the subject's mouth for observation (examination) until it is naturally discharged from the subject. For example, the inside of an organ such as the stomach or the small intestine moves in accordance with the peristaltic motion, and functions to image the inside of the subject at a predetermined interval, for example, an interval of 0.5 seconds.

  While the capsule endoscope moves in the subject, image data captured by the capsule endoscope is sequentially transmitted to the outside by wireless communication, and is transmitted to the receiving device via a receiving antenna provided outside. Received. The receiving device generates image data based on wireless signals sequentially received via the receiving antenna, and thereby can acquire image data in the subject by the capsule endoscope. This receiving apparatus sequentially stores acquired image data in a memory. The subject can freely act by carrying the receiving device having the wireless communication function and the memory function from when the capsule endoscope is swallowed to when the capsule endoscope is naturally discharged. Thereafter, the doctor or nurse causes the display device to capture the image data stored in the memory of the receiving device, and displays an image in the subject, for example, an organ image based on the obtained image data, on the display device. A doctor or nurse can diagnose a subject using an organ image or the like displayed on a display (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a capsule endoscope system, the capsule endoscope transmits various data such as image data to the receiving device by transmitting a radio signal to the receiving device. As a result, a communication error may occur. As a method for detecting and correcting such a communication error, generally, a capsule endoscope on the data transmission side calculates an error correction code related to data to be transmitted, and originally transmits the error correction code. In addition to receiving the data transmitted from the capsule endoscope, the receiving device receives the data transmitted from the capsule endoscope, and based on the error correction code added to the received data, Detect and correct errors.

JP 2001-231186 A

  However, in the capsule endoscope system described above, if the capsule endoscope as a transmitting device calculates the error correction code described above and adds the error correction code to the transmission target data, then the capsule endoscope There is a problem that the internal circuit of the mirror is increased and the power consumption of the capsule endoscope is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a capsule endoscope system that can easily detect or correct a communication error without increasing the power consumption of the capsule endoscope body. With the goal.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a capsule endoscope system according to the present invention is introduced into a subject, images image data inside the subject, and captures the image data. In a capsule endoscope system comprising: a capsule endoscope that transmits a wireless signal including: a reception device that receives the wireless signal and acquires the image data based on the received wireless signal; The capsule endoscope includes at least a part of the unique information in each of a parameter storage unit that stores unique information of the capsule endoscope and a line that is a transmission unit when transmitting the image data, the provided together with the image data and transmitting means for sequentially transmitting the specific information contained in each of the lines as the radio signal, the receiving apparatus, before which it is sequentially transmitted from the transmitting means Acquires image data, on the basis of the specific information contained in each of the lines, a control means for determining a valid or invalid of the image data, the control means acquires the image data of the predetermined number of lines In this case, when the number of acquisitions of the unique information included in each line is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the image data of the predetermined number of lines is valid .

  According to the present invention, communication resulting from noise interference received on the propagation path of radio signals from the capsule endoscope or interference with other radio signals without increasing the power consumption of the capsule endoscope. There is an effect that it is possible to realize a capsule endoscope system using a receiving apparatus that can detect an error and can easily correct the detected communication error.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a receiving apparatus according to the present invention and a capsule endoscope system using the same will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically illustrating a configuration example of a capsule endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule endoscope system includes a capsule endoscope 2 that moves along a passage route in the subject 1 and images the inside of the subject 1, and a capsule endoscope 2 Receiving device 3 that receives the image data captured by the capsule endoscope 2, a display device 4 that displays an image in the subject 1 based on the image data captured by the capsule endoscope 2, the receiving device 3, and the display device 4 and a portable recording medium 5 for exchanging information with 4. The receiving device 3 is provided with receiving antennas 3 a to 3 h that receive radio signals transmitted by the capsule endoscope 2.

  The display device 4 is for displaying an image or the like in the subject 1 imaged by the capsule endoscope 2, and is an image based on image data obtained through the portable recording medium 5, for example, It has a configuration such as a workstation that displays an image of an organ or the like in the subject 1. The display device 4 may display an image using a CRT display or a liquid crystal display, or may output the image to another medium such as a printer. Further, the display device 4 has a processing function for a doctor or nurse to make a diagnosis based on an image of an organ or the like in the subject by the capsule endoscope 2.

  The portable recording medium 5 is a portable recording medium such as compact flash (registered trademark) or smart media. The portable recording medium 5 is detachable from the receiving device 3 and the display device 4 and has a structure capable of outputting and recording information when attached to both. Specifically, when the portable recording medium 5 is attached to the receiving device 3, the image data in the subject 1 received by the receiving device 3 from the capsule endoscope 2 can be sequentially stored. Further, the portable recording medium 5 is taken out from the receiving device 3 after the capsule endoscope 2 is ejected from the subject 1 and mounted on the display device 4, and the stored image data and the like are read out by the display device 4. It is. By exchanging data between the receiving device 3 and the display device 4 using the portable recording medium 5, the subject 1 is different from the case where the receiving device 3 and the display device 4 are connected by wire in the capsule type. Even when the endoscope 2 is moving inside the subject 1, the user can freely act while carrying the receiving device 3.

  The capsule endoscope 2 passes through the esophagus in the subject 1 by being swallowed by the subject 1, and advances in the body cavity by peristalsis of the digestive tract cavity. At the same time, the capsule endoscope 2 sequentially captures images in the body of the subject 1 and sequentially transmits the obtained image data and the like in the subject 1 to the receiving device 3 side.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the capsule endoscope 2. The capsule endoscope 2 is illuminated by the illumination unit 20 that illuminates the imaging region when imaging the inside of the subject 1, the illumination unit drive circuit 21 that controls the drive of the illumination unit 20, and the illumination unit 20. An imaging unit 22 that captures a reflected light image from the region and an imaging unit drive circuit 23 that controls driving of the imaging unit 22 are provided. The capsule endoscope 2 also stores in advance an image processing unit 24 that generates an image signal in which image data captured by the imaging unit 22 and parameters such as white balance data (WB data) are superimposed. A parameter storage unit 25, a transmission circuit 26 that modulates the image signal generated by the image processing unit 24 to generate a radio signal, a transmission antenna 27 that outputs the radio signal output from the transmission circuit 26 to the outside, A control unit 28 that controls driving of the illumination unit drive circuit 21, the imaging unit drive circuit 23, the image processing unit 24, and the transmission circuit 26, and a power supply unit 29 that supplies drive power to each component are provided.

  The illuminating unit 20 is realized by using a light emitting element such as an LED, and illuminates the region imaged by the imaging unit 22 by outputting irradiation light. The imaging unit 22 is realized using an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS, and receives reflected light from a region illuminated by the illumination unit 20 to capture an image of this region. The imaging unit 22 outputs the obtained image data to the image processing unit 24. The control unit 28 controls the illumination unit driving circuit 21 and the imaging unit driving circuit 23 so that the illumination timing of the imaging region by the illumination unit 20 and the imaging timing of the imaging region by the imaging unit 22 are synchronized.

  The image processing unit 24 generates an image signal including the image data captured by the imaging unit 22. In this case, the image processing unit 24 generates an image signal without compressing the image data. The parameter storage unit 25 is realized by using a nonvolatile memory IC such as an EPROM, and parameters specific to the capsule endoscope 2 relating to image data such as WB data and capsule ID data are recorded in advance. The image processing unit 24 reads the capsule ID data and WB data stored in the parameter storage unit 25, and generates an image signal in which the read capsule ID data and WB data and uncompressed image data are superimposed. The image processing unit 24 transmits the generated image signal to the transmission circuit 26. The capsule ID data is information specific to the capsule endoscope 2 and is specific information for specifying the capsule endoscope 2.

  The transmission circuit 26 performs predetermined modulation processing, power amplification processing, and the like on the image signal generated by the image processing unit 24, and generates a radio signal corresponding to the image signal. This wireless signal includes uncompressed image data. The transmission circuit 26 outputs the generated radio signal to the transmission antenna 27. The transmission antenna 27 outputs the radio signal input from the transmission circuit 26 to the outside. In this case, the capsule endoscope 2 outputs the radio signal to the outside in a state (uncompressed state) including uncompressed image data.

  Next, the receiving device 3 will be described. As described above, the receiving device 3 is electrically connected to the receiving antennas 3a to 3h. The receiving antennas 3a to 3h are realized by using, for example, loop antennas, and are arranged at predetermined positions on the body surface of the subject 1, for example, at positions corresponding to the passage path of the capsule endoscope 2 as shown in FIG. Is done. The receiving antennas 3a to 3h are for receiving radio signals transmitted by the capsule endoscope 2 in this arrangement state. Note that the number of receiving antennas electrically connected to the receiving device 3 is preferably one or more, preferably a plurality, and is not particularly limited to four.

  The receiving device 3 is for performing reception processing of a radio signal received via any one of the receiving antennas 3a to 3h. The receiving device 3 is provided with a plurality of receiving antennas on the subject 1, so that the receiving device 3 passes through a receiving antenna at a position suitable for receiving a radio signal according to the position of the capsule endoscope 2 in the subject 1. Thus, image data obtained by the capsule endoscope 2 can be acquired.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the receiving device 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the reception device 3 includes an antenna selection unit 30 that selects a reception antenna suitable for receiving a radio signal from among a plurality of reception antennas 3 a to 3 h, and a reception antenna selected by the antenna selection unit 30. A receiving circuit 31 that performs demodulation processing or the like on a radio signal received via any one of 3a to 3h, and an image processing unit 32 that performs processing related to image data based on a signal input from the receiving circuit 31; Have In addition, the reception device 3 includes a control unit 33 that controls driving of each component of the reception device 3, a storage unit 34 that stores extracted information such as image data, and driving power of each component of the reception device 3. And a power supply unit 35 for supplying power.

  The antenna selection unit 30 is electrically connected to each of the plurality of reception antennas 3a to 3h, selects any one of the reception antennas 3a to 3h, and receives a radio signal received via the selected reception antenna as a reception circuit 31. Output to. In this case, the antenna selection unit 30 detects the reception field strength of the radio signal received via each of the reception antennas 3a to 3h, for example, and compares the detected reception field strengths to obtain the highest reception field strength. The receiving antenna that received the wireless signal is selected.

  The receiving circuit 31 is for performing demodulation processing or the like on the radio signal input from the antenna selection unit 30. Specifically, when receiving a radio signal transmitted by the capsule endoscope 2, the receiving circuit 31 restores an image signal included in the radio signal. The receiving circuit 31 outputs the obtained image signal to the image processing unit 32.

  The image processing unit 32 performs processing for detecting and correcting pixel defects in the image data included in the image signal input from the receiving circuit 31, and generating frame-unit image data based on the corrected image data Is for doing. As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing unit 32 includes a signal separation unit 321 that separates the image signal input from the reception circuit 31 into image data and parameters, and pixels of the image data that are separated and extracted by the signal separation unit 321. A pixel defect correction unit 322 that detects and corrects defects, a parameter detection unit 323 that detects WB data and capsule ID data based on parameters separated and extracted by the signal separation unit 321, and a pixel defect correction unit 322 An image signal processing unit 324 that generates image data in units of frames based on the corrected image data and WB data detected by the parameter detection unit 323, and the image data generated by the image signal processing unit 324 An image compression unit 325 that performs predetermined image compression processing.

  The signal separation unit 321 is for separating the image signal input from the reception circuit 31 into image data and parameters. When this image signal is an image signal generated and output by the capsule endoscope 2, as described above, the image data captured by the capsule endoscope 2 and parameters such as capsule ID data and WB data are included. It is superimposed. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating a data format of transmission data that is a transmission unit when the capsule endoscope 2 transmits an image signal. This transmission unit corresponds to one line of the image captured by the imaging unit 22, and within the unit configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, the head of the horizontal line included in one frame of image data is included. Horizontal identification data D1 shown, capsule ID data D2 superimposed immediately after horizontal identification data D1, WB data D3 superimposed immediately after capsule ID data D2, and uncompressed state superimposed immediately after WB data D3 Image data D4. In this case, the signal separation unit 321 synchronizes the image signal in the horizontal direction by detecting the horizontal identification data D1 using a predetermined horizontal synchronization signal. Thereafter, the signal separation unit 321 extracts and separates the capsule ID data D2 and the WB data D3 as parameter signals, and outputs the parameter signals to the parameter detection unit 323. At the same time, the signal separation unit 321 extracts and separates the image data D4 as an image data signal, and outputs the image data signal to the pixel defect correction unit 322. Note that the signal separation unit 321 performs such signal separation processing on all image signals received from the reception circuit 31.

  The pixel defect correction unit 322 is for detecting and correcting pixel defects in the image data separated and extracted by the signal separation unit 321. Here, the pixel defect is caused by a local crystal defect of a semiconductor of a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD used in the imaging unit 22, electrostatic breakdown, or aged deterioration. In a defective pixel, a fixed bias is superimposed on an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of incident light, and the pixel defect appears as a white point or black point on the captured image. Appears as an error. The pixel defect correction unit 332 performs processing for detecting and correcting such a pixel defect, that is, a pixel in which a pixel unit error has occurred. The pixel defect correction unit 322 includes a pixel defect detection unit 322a that detects pixel defects in the image data separated and extracted by the signal separation unit 321. The pixel defect detection unit 322a detects a pixel defect based on the pixel value of each pixel constituting the image data input from the signal separation unit 321.

  For example, the pixel defect detection unit 322a detects the pixel value of each pixel in the horizontal direction arranged in the line-by-line image data, compares the pixel value with the same color pixel adjacent to the left and right of each pixel, and compares this If the result is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the pixel is detected as a pixel defect. By the way, even when a communication error occurs in the image data portion of the wireless signal due to noise or the like received before the wireless signal output by the capsule endoscope 2 is received by the receiving device 3, An error in pixel units similar to a pixel defect occurs on the top. For this reason, the image data received by the receiving device 3 includes both pixel defects inherent to the imaging unit 22 of the capsule endoscope 2 and pixel defects that are pixel-unit errors caused by communication errors. become. Therefore, the pixel defect detection unit 322a receives not only the pixel defect inherent in the imaging unit 22 of the capsule endoscope 2 and existing at a fixed pixel position but also the radio signal output by the capsule endoscope 2 as a reception antenna. It is possible to detect a pixel-by-pixel communication error similar to a pixel defect that occurs at a random pixel position in the image data due to noise interference received before being received via any of 3a to 3h. become. The pixel defect detection unit 322a detects the pixel value of each pixel in the vertical direction arranged in the image data of a plurality of lines, compares the pixel value with the same color pixel adjacent above and below each pixel, and If the comparison result is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the pixel may be detected as a pixel defect.

  The pixel defect correction unit 322 performs a process of correcting the pixel defect detected by the pixel defect detection unit 322a. In this case, the pixel defect correction unit 322 corrects this pixel defect by replacing, for example, the average value of the same color pixels adjacent in the horizontal direction of the pixel in which the pixel defect is detected with the pixel value of the pixel defect pixel. Note that the pixel defect correction unit 322 may correct this pixel defect by replacing the average value of pixels of the same color adjacent in the vertical direction of the pixel in which the pixel defect is detected with the pixel value of the pixel defect pixel. Here, since the pixel defect detection unit 322a detects a pixel defect unique to the imaging unit 22 and detects a pixel defect that is a pixel unit error caused by a communication error caused by noise interference, the pixel defect correction unit 322 In addition, it is possible to correct pixel defects inherent to the imaging unit 22 and to correct dynamic pixel defects caused by noise interference, that is, pixel-by-pixel communication errors. Thereafter, the pixel defect correction unit 322 sequentially outputs the image data in which the pixel defect has been corrected to the image signal processing unit 324.

  Note that the pixel defect detection unit 322a dynamically detects a pixel defect inherent in the imaging unit 22, but the pixel defect detection unit 322a detects the inherent pixel defect based on address information indicating a pixel defect position where the inherent pixel defect occurs. It is good also as a structure to detect. That is, the pixel defect position where the inherent pixel defect occurs is detected in advance when the capsule endoscope 2 is manufactured, and pixel address information indicating the detected pixel defect position is stored in the parameter storage unit 25 of the capsule endoscope 2. Store it. The capsule endoscope 2 wirelessly transmits the address information superimposed on the image signal in the same manner as the WB data or capsule ID data described above, and the receiving device 3 receives the image signal from the capsule endoscope 2 together with the image signal. The address information may be received, and the pixel defect detection unit 322a may detect the specific pixel defect based on the received address information.

  Further, the pixel defect detection unit 322a performs a process of detecting a pixel defect as described above for a plurality of frame unit image data, and detects a pixel defect at the same pixel position in the plurality of frame unit image data. The same pixel position may be stored as a pixel position where a pixel defect unique to the imaging unit 22 has occurred, and thereafter the pixel defect detection process for this pixel position may not be performed. In this case, the pixel defect detection unit 322a transmits information indicating the stored pixel position to the pixel defect correction unit 322, and the pixel defect correction unit 322 performs a pixel defect detection process. Alternatively, the pixel defect at the pixel position based on this information may be corrected. Further, the pixel defect detection unit 322a may perform control for correcting the pixel defect at the pixel position with respect to the pixel defect correction unit 322 based on the stored pixel position.

  The parameter detection unit 323 is for detecting WB data and capsule ID data based on the parameter signal input from the signal separation unit 321. The parameter detection unit 323 outputs WB data detected based on the received parameter signal to the image signal processing unit 324. The parameter detection unit 323 outputs capsule ID data detected based on the received parameter signal to the control unit 33.

  The image signal processing unit 324 performs predetermined image processing based on the image data corrected by the pixel defect correction unit 322, the WB data detected by the parameter detection unit 323, and the like, and generates image data in units of frames. belongs to. Specifically, the image signal processing unit 324 corrects the white balance of each image data based on each image data sequentially input from the pixel defect correction unit 322 and WB data input from the parameter detection unit 323. Perform white balance correction. The image signal processing unit 324 further performs image processing such as gamma correction processing and edge enhancement processing on each image data input from the pixel defect correction unit 322.

  In addition, the image signal processing unit 324 generates frame-unit image data (received image data) using a predetermined number of image data subjected to predetermined image processing. When the capsule endoscope 2 transmits image data having a predetermined number of frame lines, the image signal processing unit 324 generates received image data using image data in units of lines equal to the predetermined number of frame lines. . The number of frame lines is the number of horizontal lines included in one frame. That is, one frame of image data is composed of image data in line units equal to the number of frame lines.

  The received image data generated by the image signal processing unit 324 is sequentially input to the image compression unit 325. The image compression unit 325 performs predetermined image compression processing on each received image data sequentially input from the image signal processing unit 324, and compresses each received image data. The image signal processing unit 324 outputs the compressed received image data to the control unit 33.

  On the other hand, the storage unit 34 can detachably mount the above-described portable recording medium 5, and sequentially receives information based on the control of the control unit 33, for example, received image data generated by the image signal processing unit 324 in the portable recording medium 5. Write. Note that the storage unit 34 may include a memory IC such as a RAM or a flash memory so that the storage unit 34 itself stores information.

  The power supply unit 35 supplies driving power to each component of the receiving device 3 even when the receiving device 3 is carried by the subject 1 as shown in FIG. Examples of the power supply unit 35 include a dry battery, a lithium ion secondary battery, or a nickel metal hydride battery. The power supply unit 35 may be rechargeable.

  The control unit 33 is realized using a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes various processing programs, a ROM in which various processing programs are recorded in advance, and a RAM that stores calculation parameters or capsule ID data of each processing. Is done. The control unit 33 controls driving of each component of the receiving device 3. The control unit 33 causes the storage unit 34 to store received image data and the like input from the image compression unit 325, for example. In this case, the control unit 33 determines an image ID for identifying the capsule endoscope that has transmitted the image data, based on the capsule ID data for each piece of line-unit image data detected by the parameter detection unit 323. The determined image ID and the received received image data are stored in the storage unit 34 in association with each other. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure until the determined image ID and the received image data received are stored in the storage unit 34 in association with each other.

  The control unit 33 performs the processing procedure shown in FIG. 5 every time frame image reception is started, and based on the capsule ID detected by the parameter detection unit 323 for each line reception of the image, An image ID is determined, and control is performed to store the determined image ID and the received image data in the storage unit 34 in association with each other. That is, the control unit 33 first initializes an acquisition count i indicating the number of lines for which capsule IDs have been acquired, and sets the acquisition count i to “0” (step S101).

  Next, the control unit 33 acquires a capsule ID based on the capsule ID data D2 that the parameter detection unit 323 continues to detect the horizontal identification data D1 every time a line is received (step S102). In this case, the control unit 33 stores the acquired capsule ID in a memory area (not shown) held. Furthermore, the control unit 33 performs a process of counting up the number of acquisitions i, and adds “1” to the number of acquisitions i (step S103).

  Thereafter, the control unit 33 repeats the processing procedure of steps S102 to S104 described above until the number of acquisitions i reaches a preset number of acquisitions n. Here, the number of acquisitions n corresponds to the number of vertical lines of one frame of image data transmitted by the capsule endoscope 2 (hereinafter referred to as the number of frame lines). That is, the control unit 33 determines whether or not the number of acquisitions i has reached the number of frame lines, and determines that the number of acquisitions i has not reached the number of frame lines, that is, the number of acquisitions n (No in step S104). The processing procedure after step S102 described above is repeated.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 33 determines that the number of acquisitions i has reached the number of frame lines, that is, the number of acquisitions n (Yes in step S104), among the acquired capsule IDs, the most frequently received capsule ID, that is, the highest acquisition frequency. The capsule ID is determined as the image ID of the received image data (step S105).

  Thereafter, the control unit 33 associates the received image data input from the image compression unit 325 and the image ID determined in step S107 and transfers them to the storage unit 34, and the received image data in a state in which the image ID is associated. The storage unit 34 is controlled so as to store (step S106).

  Here, the control unit 33 has received capsule ID data in which a communication error such as garbled characters has occurred due to the above-described noise interference among the capsule ID data received from the parameter detection unit 323 as many times as the number of acquisitions n. Even in such a case, the capsule ID based on the capsule ID data received in the remaining normal state can be determined as the capsule ID having the highest acquisition frequency. That is, the control unit 33 can correct a frame-by-frame communication error related to the capsule ID data, and can store the image ID corresponding to the normal capsule ID in the storage unit 34 in association with the received image data.

  On the other hand, the control unit 33 determines whether the received image data generated by the image signal processing unit 324 is a valid image or an invalid image based on the capsule ID data for each line of image data detected by the parameter detection unit 323. It can also be judged whether it is. The effective image is image data effective for examining the subject 1, that is, normal image data captured by the capsule endoscope 2. On the other hand, the invalid image is image data that is not effective in examining the subject 1, for example, abnormal image data in which a communication error due to the noise interference described above has occurred.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure until the acquired received image data is determined to be a valid image or an invalid image and the received image data determined to be a valid image is stored in the storage unit 34. In FIG. 6, the control unit 33 performs the same processing procedure as steps S <b> 101 to S <b> 106 described above, acquires capsule IDs for the number of acquisitions n, and sets the capsule ID with the highest acquisition frequency among all these capsule IDs. The image ID is determined (steps S201 to S205).

  Next, the control unit 33 compares the maximum acquisition frequency of the capsule ID corresponding to the image ID determined in step S207 with the number of acquisitions m recorded in advance in the control unit 33 as determination criterion information, and the maximum acquisition frequency is determined. When the number is m or more (Yes at Step S206), the received image data generated by the image signal processing unit 324 is determined as an effective image (Step S207). Thereafter, the control unit 33 associates the valid received image data determined as the valid image with the image ID determined in the above-described step S205 and transfers the image ID to the storage unit 34, and the valid image in the state in which the image ID is associated. The storage unit 34 is controlled to store various received image data (step S208).

  On the other hand, the control unit 33 compares the above-described maximum acquisition frequency with the number of acquisitions m, and if this maximum acquisition frequency is less than the number of acquisitions m (No at step S206), the reception generated by the image signal processing unit 324 is received. The image data is determined to be an invalid image (step S209). Thereafter, the control unit 33 deletes the invalid received image data determined to be an invalid image (step S210) and does not store it in the storage unit 34.

  Here, the control unit 33 uses the capsule ID having the highest acquisition frequency as the capsule ID based on the capsule ID data received from the parameter detection unit 323 as many times as the acquisition number n. It can be determined as an ID. Therefore, even when the control unit 33 receives capsule ID data in which a communication error such as garbled characters has occurred due to the above-described noise interference, the control unit 33 uses the capsule ID having the most frequently acquired frequency as the image of the received image data. This communication error can be corrected by determining the ID.

  Furthermore, the control unit 33 converts the acquired received image data into a valid image or an invalid image based on a result of comparing the maximum acquisition frequency of capsule IDs corresponding to the determined image ID and the number of acquisitions m that is a determination criterion. to decide. Therefore, even when a communication error is received that is received by the receiving device 3 in a state where the radio signal from the capsule endoscope 2 is mixed with the radio signal from another capsule endoscope, the control unit 33, received image data in which the number of line-unit image data corresponding to the most frequently acquired capsule ID is equal to or greater than the number m of acquisitions, that is, image data from the same capsule endoscope having a predetermined number of lines m or more in the received image. Can be determined as valid images, and other received image data can be determined as invalid images. As a result, the control unit 33 can correct such a frame-by-frame communication error, and can sequentially store the valid received image data determined to be a valid image in the storage unit 34 separately from the invalid received image data.

  The number m of acquisitions described above is preferably a majority of the number n of frame lines of the received image data generated by the image signal processing unit 324. As a result, the control unit 33 can determine that the received image data in which the image data of the line unit corresponding to the capsule ID having the highest acquisition frequency is included in the majority of the frame line number n is a valid image, and determine the valid image and the invalid image. The accuracy can be further increased.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the capsule ID data is used as the specific information for identifying the capsule endoscope 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the capsule endoscope 2 is not limited to this. Unique information such as WB data may be used as this specific information. In this case, the control unit 33 may determine the image ID based on information unique to the capsule endoscope 2.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the capsule endoscope 2 generates an image signal, the capsule ID data is superimposed immediately after the horizontal identification data, and the WB data is superimposed immediately after the capsule ID data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the parameters such as the capsule ID and the WB data may be superimposed on the area between the horizontal identification data and the image data, and the order is a series of image data. It is sufficient if it is constant.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the received image data determined to be an invalid image is erased without being stored in the storage unit 34. However, the present invention is not limited to this and is determined to be an invalid image. Invalid image specifying information such as an ID code indicating an invalid image may be associated with the received image data, and the received image data may be stored in the storage unit 34 in association with the invalid image specifying information. .

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, each time the receiving device receives image data transmitted by the capsule endoscope, it is based on the pixel value of each pixel constituting each received image data. Thus, the pixel defect is detected, and interpolation processing is performed based on the pixel value of the same color pixel adjacent in the horizontal direction of the pixel in which the pixel defect is detected, thereby correcting the pixel defect. Therefore, it is possible to detect pixel defects inherent to the imaging device of the capsule endoscope without increasing the power consumption of the capsule endoscope, and further, the wireless signal from the capsule endoscope is noisy on its propagation path. It can also detect dynamic pixel defects as pixel-by-pixel communication errors due to interference, correct this unique pixel defect, and communicate pixel-by-pixel that appears as dynamic pixel defects due to this noise interference A receiving apparatus that can easily correct an error and a capsule endoscope system using the receiving apparatus can be realized.

  Furthermore, specific information of the capsule endoscope is acquired for each line-unit image data constituting the frame-unit image data captured by the capsule endoscope, and based on the number of times this specific information is acquired, Since image specifying information for specifying image data in units of frames is determined, communication errors such as garbled characters due to noise interference described above occur in specific information of some capsule endoscopes. In addition, the image specifying information corresponding to the specific information of the capsule endoscope can be easily associated with the image data in units of frames, and thereby communication errors such as garbled characters can be corrected.

  In addition, since it is determined whether the acquired frame-unit image data is a valid image or an invalid image based on the number of times this specific information has been acquired, the frame-unit image obtained by this capsule endoscope Even if a communication error occurs due to interference between the data and image data from another capsule endoscope that is noise, image data in units of frames that includes a predetermined number of lines of image data to be acquired is valid. Images can be determined, and other images can be determined as invalid images. As a result, the valid image and the invalid image can be distinguished and sequentially stored for each acquired frame-unit image data, and a frame-unit communication error caused by this interference can be easily corrected. This leads to preventing an invalid image due to interference from being used for observation or the like on the display device 4.

1 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a capsule endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which illustrates typically an example of 1 composition of a capsule type endoscope which constitutes a capsule type endoscope system. It is a block diagram which illustrates typically one structural example of the receiver which is embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates typically the data format of the transmission unit of an image signal. It is a flowchart which illustrates the process sequence until it associates and stores image ID and received image data in a memory | storage part. It is a flowchart which illustrates the process sequence which judges received image data as an effective image or an invalid image.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subject 2 Capsule endoscope 3 Reception apparatus 3a-3h Reception antenna 4 Display apparatus 5 Portable recording medium 20 Illumination part 21 Illumination part drive circuit 22 Imaging part 23 Imaging part drive circuit 24, 32 Image processing part 25 Parameter storage Unit 26 transmission circuit 27 transmission antenna 28, 33 control unit 29, 35 power supply unit 30 antenna selection unit 31 reception circuit 34 storage unit 321 signal separation unit 322 pixel defect correction unit 322a pixel defect detection unit 323 parameter detection unit 324 image signal processing Section 325 Image compression section D1 Horizontal identification data D2 Capsule ID data D3 WB data D4 Image data

Claims (1)

A capsule endoscope that is introduced into a subject and captures image data inside the subject and transmits a radio signal including the image data, and the radio signal is received, and the received radio signal is In a capsule endoscope system including a receiving device that acquires the image data based on
The capsule endoscope includes at least a part of the unique information in each of a parameter storage unit that stores unique information of the capsule endoscope and a line that is a transmission unit when the image data is transmitted. A transmission means for sequentially transmitting the unique information included for each line together with the image data as the wireless signal;
The receiving apparatus includes control means for acquiring the image data sequentially transmitted from the transmission means, and determining whether the image data is valid or invalid based on the unique information included for each line .
The control means obtains the predetermined number of lines of the image data when the number of acquisitions of the specific information included in each line is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold when acquiring the predetermined number of lines of the image data. A capsule endoscope system characterized by being determined to be effective .

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