JPS62266041A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial application field) TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, and particularly to image processing technology thereof.

(Prior Art) In recent years, endoscopes have been developed in which a solid-state imaging device such as a COD is disposed at the tip of an endoscope.

This allows, for example, to directly display the state of the stomach lining as a color TV image on a color cathode ray tube and observe it.
It has been recognized that it is useful in that it makes endoscopy easier and provides clearer images. By processing and displaying images obtained by this endoscope, it is expected that new diagnostic functions will be improved.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Traditionally, in image diagnosis using an endoscope, changes in lesions are detected based on the structure and color changes (color development, discoloration, etc.) of organ mucous membranes. When the color changes, this subtle change in color could not be recognized and the lesion could be missed. In other words, subtle changes in color are often difficult to recognize from color images due to the influence of structure, that is, brightness.For example, even if the same color is far away, parts that are far away are displayed brightly, and parts that are close to each other are brightly displayed, and similarly, the shadows of folds are dark and folds are displayed brightly. Since the convex parts of the screen are displayed brightly, this structure makes it difficult to see the subtle color tones of folds, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope device that can easily recognize even subtle changes in color associated with lesions and can greatly contribute to early detection of lesions.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a hue image forming means for forming a hue image from color retraction information obtained from a solid-state image sensor of an endoscope, and The endoscope apparatus is provided with a display means for displaying.

(Function) In the present invention, a hue image is formed based on color imaging information obtained from a solid-state eye image device. This hue image is hue information obtained by removing brightness and saturation information from the endoscopic color image, and is an image that faithfully reflects even subtle color changes.

By displaying this hue image, it is possible to grasp color changes without being affected by structural differences in the diagnosis site, and it is possible to reliably recognize color changes due to lesions and discover lesions early. You can make a big contribution.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention. In the same figure, 1 is a solid-state image sensor C0 at the tip.
3 is an endoscope in which D2 is arranged, and 3 is the above-mentioned C0D.
This is a TV circuit section that forms the signal output from 2 into a color video signal. In addition, when generating a color video signal,
Either the so-called field-sequential method, in which R, G, and B lights of different wavelengths are sequentially imaged on C0D2, or the so-called point-sequential method, in which a mosaic filter is formed on C0D2 and R, G, and B information is simultaneously obtained. May be adopted.

4 is an encoder that converts the color video signal into R, G, B signals; 5 is R, G, B signals from this encoder 4;
A/D converter, 6R, 6 which A/D converts each signal
G and 6B are image memories for R, G, and B, respectively. 7 is R from each image memory 6R, 6G, 6B,
A D/A converter converts the G and B digital signals into D/A, and 8 is a display that displays an image based on the signal from the D/A converter 7.

The above configuration is a conventional original image display unit that converts an original image obtained by an endoscope into R2O, B and displays it on the display 8. Only the actual hue image is displayed.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an image processing section as a hue image forming means, which is composed of the following blocks.

The first conversion unit 11 includes the image memories 6R and 6G.
, 6B, and input the R, G, and B information from 6B, and use this as the three attributes of color: brightness (I) and saturation (S).

This is a unit that converts into each image of the β phase (l'').

The relationship between the three attributes of color is as shown in the schematic diagram in Figure 2. Brightness (I) is the black and white information of the original image (corresponding quantitatively to the brightness information), and the brightness (I) is the black and white information of the original image (corresponding quantitatively to brightness information) Express well. Saturation (S) represents the degree to which each color in the original image is diluted with bright white, and hue (]'') is the hue of red, blue, etc. in the original image. In addition, the R, G, B information is
, S, l-1 image is well known in the field of color graphics.
(The As5ocation For Comp
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) and the 1-1sI conversion model proposed in 1979.

In this embodiment, brightness (I) and saturation (S) are each converted to a value of O to 1, and hue (H) is expressed as a hue angle shown in FIG. 3.

The image memories 12, 13, and 14 are for storing the , S, and I information output from the first conversion unit 11, respectively.

The image processing unit 15 includes image memories 12, 13, and 14.
Input H, S, and I information via
For S), all the data are eg 1-0.5. S=0.
5, and only the hue (T1) information is output as is.

The second conversion unit 16 includes the image processing unit 15
The output of H, S, 1 image is R, G.

This RlG, 8 image is converted into 8 images and output.
The image formed by the drawing corresponds to the hue image.

=1 The control console 17 is provided, for example, in the grip of an endoscope, and outputs a conversion command to the first conversion unit 11 based on input from an operator, and
It outputs instructions for image processing to the image processing unit 15. In addition, each command listed in "-" is executed by the image freeze switch (
(not shown) may be pressed to stop the color image displayed on the display 8.

As a display means for displaying the R2O,8 image (which is a hue image) that is the output of the image processing section 10,
Image memory 18R, 18G, 18B, D/A converter 19
and a display 20 are provided.

The operation of the device configured as above will be explained.

First, the endoscopic scope 1 is inserted into the human body cavity, and for example, illumination light is irradiated onto the inner wall of the stomach, and the reflected light is detected by the C0D2 and converted into an electrical signal. The TV circuit section 3 forms this into a standard video signal, for example, an NTSC signal. This N
The TSC signal is converted into R, G, and B signals by the encoder 4, and converted into digital signals by the A/D converter 5, and then stored in each image memory 6R, 6G, and 6B. R stored in this image memory 6R, 6G, 6B,
The G and B signals are converted into analog signals by the D/A converter 7, and the original work is displayed in color on the display 8. This allows image diagnosis of the stomach lining.

Here, if it is desired to more accurately diagnose the color change associated with the lesion on the inner wall of the stomach, the following image processing is performed.

First, the operator presses the freeze switch on the control console 170 to freeze the image displayed on the display 8, and specifies the image to be processed. Subsequently, based on the operator's operating power, an image processing execution command is output from the control console 7 to the first conversion unit 11. Then, this first conversion unit 11 converts R and G from the image memories 6R, 6G, and 6B.

Input the B signal and convert it to the known (RGB)→(TR15I)
) is converted into H, S, and one image using the conversion method and output. The l-(, S, 1 images are then stored in the image memories 12, 13, and 14, respectively.

Roughly speaking, when the control console 17 outputs a command to the image processing unit 15 to form a hue image, the image processing unit 15 inputs the H2S and I images from each of the image memories 12, 13, and 14. However, the brightness and saturation are processed and output as I-0.5, S=0.5, and the hue (H) is output as is.

The second conversion unit 16 converts the processed H
, S, 1 image is again converted into R, G, 8-stroke image and output. After that, these R, G, B11tii (I are once stored in the image memories 18R, 18G, 18'B, and then D/
The signal is converted into an analog signal by the A converter 19 and displayed on the display 20.

Here, the image displayed on this display 20 and
Comparing the image displayed on the display 8, the image displayed on the display 20 is H, S, 1
S-〇 at the stage of conversion to image, 5. It was processed with I=0.5. Therefore, brightness (I) and saturation (S
), the image has no change between pixels. That is, the image on the display 20 is an image in which only the hue (H) is displayed as information. For this reason, the image is displayed as a clear hue image that does not exhibit the effects of brightness caused by differences in perspective and fold structure of the diagnostic site, and the effects of saturation, which is the difference in vividness of the same color. Therefore, even subtle color changes can be easily recognized. Therefore,
Even lesions that are perceived as subtle color changes can be recognized, making early detection of lesions possible.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

The hue image forming means is not limited to those of the above embodiments,
Various means for forming a hue image based on at least color eye image information from the solid-state image sensor 2 can be employed. In the first conversion unit 11 in the above embodiment, R
, G, and B signals to form a hue image.
In the case of a method of displaying an endoscope color image based on the SC signal, the hue image forming means converts it into R, G, and B signals, and then performs the same processing as in the above embodiment to form a hue image. be able to.

Further, in the above embodiment, the endoscope color image display means 6
, 7.8 and hue image display means 18, 19.20 are provided separately, but as shown in FIG. However, it is also possible to switch between the two images and display them on the display 36, or to display them separately on one screen.

For this purpose, for example, an NTSC signal as color image removal information from the endoscope is digitally converted by an A/D converter 31, and the original image is stored in an image memory 32. When displaying this original image, the selector 34 is switched to the Δ terminal side and displayed.

On the other hand, the hue image is formed by the image processing unit 10,
When displaying only this hue image, it is once stored in the memory 33 and then displayed via the B terminal of the selector 34.

When displaying both images separately on one screen of the display 36, the original image and the hue image are written in the memory 33.

At this time, since it is necessary to reduce both images as data, the address controller 37 thins out the data, reads the data, and stores it in two areas on the memory 33 corresponding to, for example, the left and right halves of the display 36. Then, by selecting the B terminal with the selector 34, both images can be displayed separately on the display 36. Note that the above address control and switching of the selector 36 can be performed based on commands from the system controller 38.

[Effects of the Invention] As mentioned above, according to the present invention, by forming and displaying a hue image from color imaging information from a solid-state image sensor, it is possible to display a pure color image that is not affected by structural differences in the diagnosis site. Changes can be ascertained, and even subtle color changes associated with lesions can be easily observed, making it possible to greatly contribute to early detection of lesions.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the relationship between three color attributes, FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the hue angle as an example of hue expression, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a modified example in which the display means is shared. 1... Endoscope scope, 2... Solid-state image sensor, 10
... Hue image forming means, 18R, '18G, 18B, 19.20 ... Display means. = 14-

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Based on color imaging information obtained by a solid-state imaging device placed at the insertion tip of an endoscope, an endoscope device that displays an endoscope color image forms a hue image from the color imaging information. What is claimed is: 1. An endoscope apparatus comprising: a hue image forming means for displaying the hue image; and a display means for displaying the hue image. (2) The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means selectively switches and displays the endoscope color image and the hue image. (3) The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the endoscope color image and the hue image on one screen in a divided manner.