Auto Zoom for Video Camera

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for filling a medical display with a medical image.

[0002] Endoscopes and endoscopic systems include cameras and other imaging modules that provide images on a medical display. These images can be viewed by surgeons and nurses during a surgical procedure. Typically, endoscopes and endoscopic systems do not allow surgeons to have a direct view of the surgical area during a surgical procedure and rely on cameras and imagers to transmit an image of the surgical area to a medical display.

[0003] Endoscopes in the art may be rigid or flexible. For rigid endoscopes coupled to proximal camera systems, the endoscopic image size (size of the endoscope mask) relative to the medical display size is typically determined by the diameter of the rod lens system in the endoscope and the magnification of the optics.

[0004] To facilitate coupling endoscopes having various diameters with medical displays having different dimensions, camera systems and imagers are provided with either optical or digital zoom, so that the medical image provided by the endoscope imagers can be adjusted to fit a medical display.

[0005] Users, such as surgeons or nurses, can manually optimize the image size transmitted from the endoscope on the surgical display, so that the endoscopic image is optimized for the medical display. However, optimization using both optical and digital zoom is a user intervention limitation that is performed manually. This means that a person, such as surgeon or nurse, has to manually adjust the optical or digital zoom of the endoscope so that the medical image appears properly and is optimized on the display. Being optimized means that the image is properly framed (sized) for the endoscopic display.

[0006] This manual intervention is disadvantageous as the user has to turn a knob, press a button or possibly adjust a camera imager, so as to manually adjust the optical and/or digital zoom so that the medical image appears properly sized for the display.

[0007] Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,039 Sato et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,912 Nagasaki et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,185 Arai et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,576 Hori et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,448 Chatenever et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,584 Hori et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,697 Saito et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,801 Rosenburg et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,492 Iijima et al. These references all involve manual intervention for optimizing images.

[0008] None of these references discloses automatically adjusting the optical and/or digital zoom so as to optimize the medical image, so the medical image appears properly on the display.

[0009] None of these references disclose using gesture detection or voice control to adjust the optical and/or digital zoom so as to optimize the medical image, so the medical image appears properly on the display.

[0010] Thus, it is desirable to provide an endoscope, endoscopic surgical system and method that automatically adjusts the optical and/or digital zoom so as to optimize the medical image, so that the medical image appears properly on the display.

[0011] It is also desirable to provide an endoscope, endoscopic surgical system and method using gesture detection or voice control to adjust the optical or digital zoom so as to optimize the medical image, so that the medical image appears properly on the display.

[0012] The endoscope, endoscopic surgical system and method provide the ability for surgeons, nurses, and/or other people in an operating room to optimize the medical image, so that the medical image appears properly on the display, which leads to optimized viewing of the medical images during a surgical procedure.

[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope, endoscopic surgical system and method that automatically adjusts the optical and/or digital zoom so as to optimize the medical image, so that the medical image appears properly sized on the display.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide an endoscope, endoscopic surgical system and method that uses gesture detection and/or voice control to adjust the optical or digital zoom so as to optimize the medical image, so that the medical image appears properly sized on the display.

[0015] These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a method for filling a medical display with a medical image, the method comprising: providing a medical display, the medical display having two dimensions for displaying an image; receiving the medical image; and sizing the medical image, so that it covers at least one of the dimensions of the medical display.

[0016] In certain embodiments, the image is vertically optimized, horizontally optimized or corner-to-corner optimized in the medical display. In certain embodiments, the image is optimized in the medical display, so that it is substantially optimized vertically, horizontally or corner-to-corner, and includes almost all of the display. In certain embodiments, the image is optimized according to some other predetermined size. In certain embodiments, the two dimensions of the medical display includes pixels to display the image. In other embodiments, the medical display includes various other electronic elements that may display an image including liquid crystal technology or plasma technology.

[0017] In certain embodiments, a user can select a region of interest in the medical display before and after the image has been optimized. In certain embodiments, the user can further optimize the selected region of interest using voice control or gesture detection. In certain embodiments, the user can optimized the selected region of interest using other control methods.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image is automatic. In certain embodiments, the sizing the image is controlled by gesture detection or voice control. In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image is via other control methods.

[0019] In certain embodiments, the selected region of interest can be automatically optimized via gesture detection or voice control. In certain embodiments, the selected region of interest can be automatically optimized via other control methods.

[0020] In certain embodiments, the image is a medical image and is received from an imager, such as a solid state imager. In certain embodiments, the method includes determining the size of the medical display and the corresponding zoom factor to either fill the surgical display vertically, horizontally or corner-to-corner.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the method includes determining the black circular mask or pixels that do not have a medical image. The method may calculate the percentage of the screen that does not include the image and size the image in this manner. In certain embodiments, the method may calculate the horizontal and/or vertical dimensions of the screen that does not include the image and size the image to optimize the horizontal and/or vertical dimensions.

[0022] In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image accounts for changing zoom factors, various endoscopes that are used, and imaging conditions.

[0023] Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a method for sizing an endoscopic image to fit a display comprising: providing an endoscope, the endoscope associated with an imager; capturing an image with the imager; providing a display in communication with the imager; conveying the image from the imager to the display; and sizing the image to fit the dimensions of the display.

[0024] In certain embodiments, the dimensions of the display consist of the vertical, horizontal, or corner-to-corner dimensions of the display. In certain embodiments, the imager is located within the endoscope.

[0025] In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image is automatic. In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image involves automatically calculating the size of the medical display and adjusting the size of the medical image to fit the medical display. In certain embodiments, the imager includes zoom factors and the sizing of the image accounts for the zoom factors of the imager.

[0026] In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image accounts for the type of imager and the type of endoscope used to capture the image. In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image accounts for imaging conditions. In certain embodiments, the type of imager may be a solid state imager. In certain embodiments, the endoscope may be a flexible endoscope. In certain embodiments, the endoscope may be a rigid endoscope.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image involves determining the size of an image corresponding zoom factor associated with the image. The corresponding zoom factor may be 1×, 2×, 3×, 10×, 20×, 50× or other such zoom factors used in the art.

[0028] In certain embodiments, the method further comprises image navigation software in communication with the imager. In certain embodiments, the method is performed on an endoscopic video system, CCU, proximal camera or flexible videoscope. In certain embodiments, the method is performed on a distal imager on a rigid endoscope, a distal imager on a flexible endoscope, a videoscope, and endoscope with an embedded imager, the endoscope being either flexible or rigid.

[0029] In certain embodiments, the sending of the image from the imager to the display involves sending an electronic signal. In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image to fit the dimensions of the display involves software executing on the display. In certain embodiments, there is a step of processing the image prior to sizing the image.

[0030] In certain embodiments, the method further comprises resizing the image to account for changing zoom factors, endoscopes and imaging conditions. In certain embodiments, the resizing of the image involves first determining the original size of the image transmitted to the display. The original size of the image is the size of the image captured by the camera, such as a 12.1 megapixel camera.

[0031] In certain embodiments, the method further includes steps of selecting a region of interest. In certain embodiments, the method involves using gesture detection and/or voice control. In certain embodiments, the method involves using other control methods.

[0032] Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing an endoscopic surgical system comprising: an endoscope, the endoscope comprising: a housing having an imaging module, an objective lens disposed in the imaging module, an imager disposed in the imaging module, a light source, and a camera control unit in communication with the imaging module, the camera control unit including image navigation software in communication with the imager; a display; and software executing on the display for automatically sizing an endoscope image to fit the dimensions of the display.

[0033] In certain embodiments, the dimensions of the display consist of the vertical, horizontal, or corner-to-corner dimensions of the display.

[0034] In certain embodiments, the housing has a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis spanning the proximal end and the distal end.

[0035] In certain embodiments, the imager is disposed in the distal end of the housing. In certain embodiments, the imager is disposed in the middle of the housing. In certain embodiments, the light source is disposed in the distal end of the housing. In certain embodiments, the objective lens is disposed in the distal end of the housing.

[0036] In certain embodiments, the imager captures a field of view.

[0037] In certain embodiments, the objective lens is a wide-angle lens. In certain embodiments, the software for sizing an endoscope image involves sizing the image to fit either the vertical, horizontal, or corner-to-corner dimensions of the display.

[0038] In certain embodiments, the software for sizing an endoscope image accounts for changing zoom factors, endoscopes and imaging conditions. In certain embodiments, the software for sizing the image accounts for the type of imager and the type of endoscope used to capture the image. In certain embodiments, the software for sizing the image accounts for imaging conditions.

[0039] Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a method for sizing an endoscopic image to fit a surgical display comprising: providing an imager; capturing an image with the imager; conveying the captured image from the imager to a surgical display in communication with the imager; automatically sizing the captured image to fit either the vertical, horizontal, or corner-to-corner dimensions of the surgical display, the sizing of the image involving adjusting the image size to account for changing zoom factors, endoscopes and imaging conditions.

[0040] In certain embodiments, automatically sizing the captured image accounts for magnification factors used to capture the captured image.

[0041] Other objects of the invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from consideration of the following drawings and accompanying detailed description. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0049] The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example, not by way of limitation of the principles of the invention. This description will enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.

[0050] The present invention is directed to providing a novel, unique endoscope, endoscopic surgical system and method that automatically adjusts the optical and/or digital zoom so as to optimize the medical image, so that the medical image appears properly on the display.

[0051] The present invention is also directed to providing a novel, unique endoscope, endoscopic surgical system and method that uses gesture detection or voice control to adjust the optical and/or digital zoom so as to optimize the medical image, so that the medical image appears properly on the display

[0052] FIG. 1 shows an endoscopic image in the prior art that is not optimized to fully cover the dimensions of the medical display.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows an endoscopic image of an embodiment of the invention where the endoscopic image has been vertically optimized so that it covers the vertical dimension of the medical display.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows an endoscopic image of an embodiment of the invention where the endoscopic image has been horizontally optimized so that it covers the horizontal dimension of the medical display.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows an endoscopic image of an embodiment of the invention where the endoscopic image has been corner-to-corner optimized so that it covers almost both the horizontal and vertical dimension of the medical display. In certain embodiments, the endosocopic image can be optimized to cover both the horizontal and vertical dimension of the medical display.

[0056] The endoscopic image shown in FIGS. 2-4 may be automatically optimized in various embodiments of the invention. In other embodiments, the endoscopic image shown in FIGS. 2-4 may be optimized via gesture detection and/or voice control. In certain embodiments, the optimization via gesture detection and/or voice control is performed by software that picks up the voice and/or gestures exhibited by a user.

[0057] In certain embodiments, a user may pick a region of interest in the endoscopic image of the invention. In certain embodiments, a user may pick a region of interest via gesture detection and/or voice control. In certain embodiments, the user may pick a region of interest via other control methods.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 involves capturing an image with an imager 501, sending the image from the imager to a surgical display 502 and sizing the image to fit the dimensions of the display 503. As part of this method, step 601 involves determining whether sizing of the image is for the vertical, horizontal or corner-to-corner dimensions of the display. The method involves adjusting the size of the image based on zoom factors 602, accounting for the image conditions 603 and determining the size of an image corresponding zoom factor 604. In certain embodiments, the sizing of the image is done at the display.

[0059] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another method of an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 involves providing a medical display, the medical display having two dimensions for displaying an image 701, receiving the medical image 702 and sizing the medical image, so that it covers at least one of the dimensions of the medical display 703.

[0060] Certain embodiments of the invention includes utilizing the black mask which typically surrounds an endoscopic image to determine the proper sizing of the endoscopic image in relation to the medical display. A black mask may be produced when a camera is coupled to an endoscope ocular and the camera zoom settings (either optical, digital, or in combination) are such that a wide field of view image is rendered by the camera (see FIG. 1). Additionally, the diameter of any rod-lens image transmission system, or the diameter if a coherent fiber-optic image bundle used in flexible endoscopes will impact the diameter of the endoscopic image, and thus impact the overall size of the black mask. The endoscopic surgical system may detect a demarcation point between the endoscopic image and the black mask for adjusting the camera zoom settings to place the endoscopic image black mask demarcation point either at the vertical, horizontal, or corner-to-corner edge of the medical display, thus automatically optimizing the endoscopic image to the medical display based upon a user preference.

[0061] The invention further involves electronic circuitry and software that allows the digital and/or optical zoom to automatically optimize the image. The invention further involves various software executing on the imager to allow the digital and optical zoom to automatically optimize the image sent to the medical display.

[0062] The invention further involves electronic circuitry and software that executes on the medical display to optimize the image transmitted to the display and to zoom in and out of the image, either via digital and/or optical zoom.

[0063] The invention further involves auto-sizing of the endoscopic image to adjust the image size throughout the endoscopic case to account for changing zoom factors, endoscopes and imaging conditions.

[0064] While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation and that various changes and modifications in form and details may be made thereto, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

[0065] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature, and thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.