Abstract: A control device, an external device, a medical observation system, a control method, a display method, and a program capable of performing predetermined processing to a position desired by an operator even under a situation where the operator's hand is not available. A control device includes: an image processing unit that processes an image signal generated by an imaging unit to generate a display image for display; a transmission/reception unit that transmits the display image generated by the image processing unit to a display device and an external device, which has a display function and is capable of bidirectional communication and receives an instruction signal including at least a position of the display image transmitted from the external device; and a control unit that executes predetermined processing on a touch position of the display image according to the instruction signal from the external device.

Abstract: A control device, an external device, a medical observation system, a control method, a display method, and a program capable of performing predetermined processing to a position desired by an operator even under a situation where the operator's hand is not available. A control device includes: an image processing unit that processes an image signal generated by an imaging unit to generate a display image for display; a transmission/reception unit that transmits the display image generated by the image processing unit to a display device and an external device, which has a display function and is capable of bidirectional communication and receives an instruction signal including at least a position of the display image transmitted from the external device; and a control unit that executes predetermined processing on a touch position of the display image according to the instruction signal from the external device.

Abstract: An image pickup system includes: a camera including a first image pickup unit and a second image pickup unit; and a processor configured to: define a first common area in a first image and a second common area in a second image, respectively; detect brightness of an image in the first common area; detect brightness of an image in the second common area; adjust brightness of the first image based on the brightness of the image in the first common area; and adjust brightness of the second image based on the brightness of the image in the second common area.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: a CMOS image pickup device configured to output digital signals of a plurality of systems; E/O converters configured to convert the digital signals of the plurality of systems to optical signals respectively; optical fibers configured to transmit the optical signals of the plurality of systems respectively; a transmission amount changer configured to convert a data amount of the digital signal of at least one system; and a metal wire configured to transmit the digital signal, the data amount of which is converted by the transmission amount changer.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: a CMOS image pickup device configured to output digital signals of a plurality of systems; E/O converters configured to convert the digital signals of the plurality of systems to optical signals respectively; optical fibers configured to transmit the optical signals of the plurality of systems respectively; a transmission amount changer configured to convert a data amount of the digital signal of at least one system; and a metal wire configured to transmit the digital signal, the data amount of which is converted by the transmission amount changer.

Abstract: A video processor includes: a judgement section configured to judge whether an input is a 2D or 3D image signal; an LR synthesis section configured to embed left and right image signals into an image signal in a side-by-side format to output the signal if the input is the 3D image signal and configured to embed a 2D image signal into a position corresponding to one of the left and right in an image signal in a side-by-side format to output the signal if the input is the 2D image signal; and an image processing section configured to apply image processing to the image signal in the side-by-side format.

Abstract: An image pickup system includes: a camera including a first image pickup unit and a second image pickup unit; and a processor configured to: define a first common area in a first image and a second common area in a second image, respectively; detect brightness of an image in the first common area; detect brightness of an image in the second common area; adjust brightness of the first image based on the brightness of the image in the first common area; and adjust brightness of the second image based on the brightness of the image in the second common area.

Abstract: A video processor includes: a judgement section configured to judge whether an input is a 2D or 3D image signal; an LR synthesis section configured to embed left and right image signals into an image signal in a side-by-side format to output the signal if the input is the 3D image signal and configured to embed a 2D image signal into a position corresponding to one of the left and right in an image signal in a side-by-side format to output the signal if the input is the 2D image signal; and an image processing section configured to apply image processing to the image signal in the side-by-side format.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope equipped with an insertion portion, and an image pickup unit disposed at a distal end portion of the insertion portion; an illumination unit detachably connected to the endoscope; an imaging mode input unit used to set an imaging mode of the endoscope to one of a normal-light mode and a special-light mode; a processing condition selection unit which selects a processing condition for a color correction process of an endoscopic image based on the imaging mode; and a processor detachably connected to the endoscope and equipped with an image processing unit which performs the color correction process, under the processing condition selected by the processing condition selection unit, with respect to each of hue regions partitioned by at least eight reference color axes including six reference color axes which divide a color space into R (red), M (magenta), B (blue), C (cyan), G (green), and Y (yellow) hue regions and at least two reference color axes established additio

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope equipped with an insertion portion, and an image pickup unit disposed at a distal end portion of the insertion portion; an illumination unit detachably connected to the endoscope; an imaging mode input unit used to set an imaging mode of the endoscope to one of a normal-light mode and a special-light mode; a processing condition selection unit which selects a processing condition for a color correction process of an endoscopic image based on the imaging mode; and a processor detachably connected to the endoscope and equipped with an image processing unit which performs the color correction process, under the processing condition selected by the processing condition selection unit, with respect to each of hue regions partitioned by at least eight reference color axes including six reference color axes which divide a color space into R (red), M (magenta), B (blue), C (cyan), G (green), and Y (yellow) hue regions and at least two reference color axes established additio

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus including: an endoscope unit having: a lens units; a photographing unit for photographing an optical image picked up through the lens unit; and a lens unit driving motor for driving the lens unit for realizing at least one of a zoom function and a focus function; and a control unit having: an image processing circuit for processing an image signal output from the photographing unit, and for outputting the processed image signal to a monitor, wherein: at least one of the endoscope unit and the control unit comprises: a motor driving circuit for controlling the lens unit driving motor; and a motor control circuit for outputting a control signal that controls the motor driving circuit by detecting a switch signal generated by operation of a zoom switch or a focus switch.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus including: an endoscope unit having: a lens units; a photographing unit for photographing an optical image picked up through the lens unit; and a lens unit driving motor for driving the lens unit for realizing at least one of a zoom function and a focus function; and a control unit having: an image processing circuit for processing an image signal output from the photographing unit, and for outputting the processed image signal to a monitor, wherein: at least one of the endoscope unit and the control unit comprises: a motor driving circuit for controlling the lens unit driving motor; and a motor control circuit for outputting a control signal that controls the motor driving circuit by detecting a switch signal generated by operation of a zoom switch or a focus switch.

Abstract: This invention relates to an endoscope image sensing apparatus which can switch suitable color matrixes in accordance with the type of observation region, the type of light source used, or the like, and obtain good color reproduction corresponding to the type of observation region or the type of light source used. This apparatus uses a one-chip color CCD as an image sensing means. A CPU reads out corresponding color matrix coefficients from a ROM, and outputs the coefficients to a color separation circuit. The color separation circuit executes a matrix computation based on the color matrix to convert luminance and color difference signals into primary color signals.

Abstract: A plurality of handpieces used to perform an operation is connected to a main operation apparatus, which generates a driving signal, through connectors formed on the main apparatus. When an operator holds a handpiece he/she wants to use, an output line over which the driving signal is transmitted is routed to the held handpiece owing to an output of a sensor that detects a change in capacitance stemming from the hold. The operator therefore need not manually set a mode in which the driving signal is applied to the handpiece he/she wants to use. Moreover, a port number assigned to a port to which the output line is routed is indicated on a display device. The operator can readily identify the usable handpiece.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus which can display an image on monitors different on scanning systems for display and can record a progressive video signal upon recording a still image. The image processing apparatus includes a video signal processing circuit which generates a non-interlace video signal, a memory which can store one frame of the non-interlace video signal so as to generate the still image of the non-interlace video signal, and a recording processing circuit which records the still image outputted from the memory to a predetermined medium. Further, the image processing apparatus includes an operating switch and a converting circuit which converts the non-interlace video signal into an interlace video signal and outputs the converted signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to an endoscope image sensing apparatus which can switch suitable color matrixes in accordance with the type of observation region, the type of light source used, or the like, and obtain good color reproduction corresponding to the type of observation region or the type of light source used. This apparatus uses a one-chip color CCD as an image sensing means. A CPU reads out corresponding color matrix coefficients from a ROM, and outputs the coefficients to a color separation circuit. The color separation circuit executes a matrix computation based on the color matrix to convert luminance and color difference signals into primary color signals.

Abstract: A plurality of handpieces used to perform an operation is connected to a main operation apparatus, which generates a driving signal, through connectors formed on the main apparatus. When an operator holds a handpiece he/she wants to use, an output line over which the driving signal is transmitted is routed to the held handpiece owing to an output of a sensor that detects a change in capacitance stemming from the hold. The operator therefore need not manually set a mode in which the driving signal is applied to the handpiece he/she wants to use. Moreover, a port number assigned to a port to which the output line is routed is indicated on a display device. The operator can readily identify the usable handpiece.

Abstract: A sentinel lymph node detecting system comprises an inserting portion with a small diameter which can be inserted into the body cavity, an X-ray detecting unit for two-dimensionally detecting X-rays, and an optical imaging unit 3 for taking visible-light images, which are mounted to the tip of the inserting portion. The X-ray detecting unit and the optical imaging unit are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the inserting portion, and are closely disposed one to another so as to observe in the same direction. A radioactive tracer accumulated in sentinel lymph nodes is detected by the X-ray detecting unit. The X-ray detected image is smaller in size than the image taken by the optical imaging unit. Thus, sentinel lymph nodes can be quickly identified in a sure manner, and further, the load placed on a patient, such as the need to perform laparotomy, can be reduced.

Abstract: A sentinel lymph node detecting apparatus comprises an endoscope, a visible-light CCU and infrared CCU, which are detachably connected to the endoscope, a superimposing circuit for superimposing the image output from the infrared CCU on the image output from the visible-light CCU, a monitor for displaying the image superimposed by the superimposing circuit, and a fluctuating magnetic field generating device for generating a fluctuating magnetic field for vibrating ferrofluid which has been accumulated in sentinel lymph nodes as a tracer beforehand, so as to heat the ferrofluid. A computer color-enhanced infrared image obtained by an infrared sensor is superimposed on an endoscope image obtained by visible-light CCD, and the synthesized endoscope infrared image is displayed on a display screen of the monitor.

Abstract: A plurality of handpieces used to perform an operation is connected to a main operation apparatus, which generates a driving signal, through connectors formed on the main apparatus. When an operator holds a handpiece he/she wants to use, an output line over which the driving signal is transmitted is routed to the held handpiece owing to an output of a sensor that detects a change in capacitance stemming from the hold. The operator therefore need not manually set a mode in which the driving signal is applied to the handpiece he/she wants to use. Moreover, a port number assigned to a port to which the output line is routed is indicated on a display device. The operator can readily identify the usable handpiece.