Imaging system having structural data enhancement for non-visible spectra
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Publication Number
US-12052526-B2
Publication Date
2024-07-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
An imaging system includes a light source for emitting visible light and infrared light and a camera head unit configured to capture visible light image data so as to generate a visible light image frame and configured to capture infrared image data so as to generate an infrared image frame. A camera control unit is configured to extract a structural data from the visible light image frame. The camera control unit is further configured to apply the structural data to the infrared image frame so as to enhance the infrared image with structural data.
Core Innovation
The imaging system and method extract structural data, including texture data, from a visible light image frame and apply that data to an infrared image frame to enhance the infrared image. The visible light frame is converted to grayscale, structural data is separated using an edge-preserving low pass bilateral filter, and the data is scaled by a predetermined factor to generate an enhancement signal. The enhanced infrared imagery may use a color map, an overlay, or video.
The background section and its statement of the problem being solved are not included in the provided patent content; therefore, that problem is not explicitly described in patent. The summary identifies clearer anatomical context for real-time surgical-site assessment as a stated benefit and illustrates anatomical structures, including veins, liver, bile duct, and intestine, in infrared imagery.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims are claim 1, directed to an imaging system, and claim 7, directed to a method for generating a visible light video and a colored light video, comprising two inventive features.
Imaging system for enhancing an infrared image frame
Claim 1 covers an imaging system with a light source emitting visible light and near infrared light, a camera head unit capturing visible light and near infrared image frames, and a camera control unit that converts the visible light frame to grayscale, extracts structural data including texture data using an edge-preserving low pass bilateral filter, scales the data by a predetermined factor, and applies the resulting enhancement signal to the infrared image frame.
Method for generating enhanced infrared imagery
Claim 7 covers obtaining a visible light image frame and an infrared image frame, extracting structural data including texture data from the visible light frame, scaling the data by a predetermined factor, and applying it to the infrared frame to generate an enhanced infrared image frame. The visible light frame is converted to grayscale before extraction, with the structural data separated using an edge-preserving low pass bilateral filter.
The independent claims cover a system and a method that use structural data extracted from a grayscale visible light frame to enhance an infrared image frame. Both specify extraction using an edge-preserving low pass bilateral filter and scaling by a predetermined factor.
Stated Advantages
Provides clearer anatomical context for real-time surgical-site assessment.
Documented Applications
The document describes endoscopic imaging and surgical-site imaging, including infrared imagery showing anatomical structures such as veins, liver, bile duct, and intestine.
The summary also identifies other imaging applications.
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