Endoscope employing structured light providing physiological feature size measurement
Inventors
Wilson, Gordon C. • Wang, Kang-Huai • Lu, Ganyu
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11019327-B2
Publication Date
2021-05-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and structures providing accurate and easy to use size measurement of physiological features identified from endoscopic examination. In sharp contrast to the prior art, systems, methods, and structures according to the present disclosure employ structured light that advantageously enables size and/or distance information about lesions and/or other physiological features in a gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Advantageously, systems, methods, and structures according to the present disclosure are applicable to both capsule endoscopes and insertion endoscopes.
Core Innovation
This disclosure addresses imaging a body lumen using an imaging apparatus that emits structured light and non-structured light during a common integration period. The imaging apparatus detects both the structured light and the non-structured light reflected from anatomical features in the body lumen and generates images from the detected light.
The approach uses structured-light triangulation with an endoscope camera and a structured-light projector to estimate scale and distance. Structured-light generation is described using a shadow-mask-based structured light generation with a microlens array, aperture masking, and optional post-MLA optics such as a negative lens or mirrors to expand field of view.
Structured-light image interpretation is described using epipolar or spot correspondence and depth mapping. The disclosure describes separating structured-light from non-structured light, including structured-light subtraction or in-painting, and using frame-based selection and stitching strategies for measurement.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim provides a core method comprising introducing an imaging apparatus into a body lumen, emitting structured light and non-structured light during a common integration period, detecting reflected structured and non-structured light, and generating images. The inventive features further include capsule-specific calibration storage and refinements involving spectral separation, pixel transmissivity behavior, ordering of structured-light removal prior to display, and object-of-interest frame selection for size estimation.
Structured and non-structured light during a common integration period
Emitting, during a common integration period of the imaging apparatus, from the imaging apparatus, structured light and non-structured light into the body lumen.
Detecting both structured and non-structured light reflected from anatomical features
Detecting, by the imaging apparatus, both structured light and non-structured light reflected from anatomical features in the body lumen.
Generating images from detected light
Generating, by the imaging apparatus, images from the detected light.
Capsule structured-light calibration stored in memory
Projecting a structured light pattern from a capsule onto a scene before introducing the capsule endoscope into a body lumen, generating calibration data from the projected pattern, and storing the calibration data in memory.
Structured-light optical spectrum outside white-light spectrum
The structured light having an optical spectrum outside the spectrum of white light.
Pixels with different transmissivity for structured and non-structured light
An imaging apparatus that uses pixels that transmit structured light but transmit less of non-structured light.
Structured-light removal carried out before displaying images
The image removal is carried out before displaying the images.
Proximal structured-light frame selection for object size estimation
Identifying an object of interest in both a non-structured light frame and a structured light frame, and selecting a proximal structured light frame to estimate or determine the object's size.
Across the independent claim and its highlighted inventive refinements, the method is grounded in common-integration emission and detection of structured and non-structured light in a body lumen, image generation from the detected light, and structured-light enabling features such as capsule calibration data storage, optical-spectrum separation, pixel transmissivity behavior, ordered removal prior to display, and proximal structured-light frame selection for object size estimation.
Stated Advantages
Accurate, easy-to-use measurement of physiological feature size/distance in GI tracts.
Reduce reviewer distraction by separating structured-light from non-structured light, including structured-light subtraction or in-painting.
Documented Applications
Imaging and measurement of physiological feature size/distance in GI tracts using endoscopic imaging, including capsule and insertion endoscopes.
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