Abstract: A method and apparatus of objective assessment of images captured from a human gastrointestinal (GI) tract are disclosed. According to this method, one or more images captured using an endoscope when the endoscope is inside the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract are received. Whether there is any specific target object is checked. When one or more specific target objects in the images are detected: areas of the specific target objects in the images are determined; an objective assessment score is derived based on the areas of the specific target objects in a substantial number of images from the images; where the step of detecting the specific target objects is performed using an artificial intelligence process.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for retrieving a medical capsule. The collection pan comprises a flange to adapt to a rim of the toilet bowl and a collection cup joined to the flange around the capture opening. The flange comprises a capture opening for collecting feces, and two wings of the flange extended from the capture opening are placed over the rim of the toilet bowl to support the collection pan. The collection cup comprises a cup wall and a sifting part at bottom of the collection cup. The sifting part comprises a plurality of holes to allow liquied or soft feces to pass while preventing the capsule to pass. The flange and the collection cup are made of rubber or rubber-alike materials. The flange is flexible to fold down and to bend up. The cup wall is flexible to collapse and to extend from collapsed state.

Abstract: A method for imaging a patient's gastrointestinal tract using a capsule camera and a patient positioning system are disclosed. According to the method, the capsule camera is administered to a patient by swallowing the capsule camera through patient's mouth. For each target examination position selected from a set of examination positions: the patient positioning system is adjusted to a target positioner bed position associated with the target examination position with the patient on the positioner be. Adjusting patient positioning system comprises adjusting the positioner bed to tilt at a tilt angle, and wherein the set of examination positions comprises at least two different tilt angles; and the patient positioning system still is held at the target examination position for a pre-defined period of dwelling time to allow the capsule camera to capture stable pictures. Image data captured by the capsule camera are then collected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of objective assessment of images captured from a human gastrointestinal (GI) tract are disclosed. According to this method, one or more images captured using an endoscope when the endoscope is inside the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract are received. Whether there is any specific target object is checked. When one or more specific target objects in the images are detected: areas of the specific target objects in the images are determined; an objective assessment score is derived based on the areas of the specific target objects in a substantial number of images from the images; where the step of detecting the specific target objects is performed using an artificial intelligence process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sharpening gastrointestinal (GI) images are disclosed. A target distance between the target region and the imaging apparatus is determined for a target region in the regular image. One or more filter parameters of a de-blurring filter are selected from stored filter parameters according to the target distance. A processed target region is generated by applying the de-blurring filter to the target region to improve sharpness of the target region. A method for characterizing an imaging apparatus is also disclosed. The imaging apparatus is placed under a controlled environment. Test pictures for one or more test patterns are captured at multiple test distances in a range including a focus distance using the imaging apparatus. One or more parameters associated a target point spread function are determined from each test picture for characterizing image formation of the imaging apparatus at the selected distance.

Abstract: A method of processing images captured using an endoscope comprising a camera is disclosed. According to this method, regular images captured by the camera are received while the endoscope travels through a human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The regular images are mosaicked to determine any missed or insufficiently imaged area in a section of the human GI tract already travelled by the endoscope. If any missed or insufficiently imaged area is detected, information regarding any missed or insufficiently imaged area is provided. When a target area in the regular images is lack of parallax, the target area is determined as one missed area and an edge corresponding to a structure of the human lumen is highlighted. For a capsule endoscope, the endoscope can be configured to be controlled or steered to move so as to re-image the missed or insufficiently imaged area.

Abstract: A power source apparatus and a system incorporating said power source for medical capsules are disclosed. A medical capsule often includes a power source sealed in a housing. Embodiments of the present invention allow the medical capsule to enable/disable electrical power supplied to a sub-system in the capsule device without special tools and/or skills after the medical capsule is manufactured. In one embodiment, the power source apparatus comprises a plunger responsive to a magnetic field, a spring to interact with the plunger, a battery and a control piece. The plunger is moved between first and second positions according to a magnetic field applied externally. Accordingly, the control piece enables or disables the power depending on the plunger positions. In another embodiment, a capsule system uses an electrical interconnect with pressure contacts between the power source and the capsule sub-system connecting the second circuit board to the power-output nodes.

Abstract: A method of processing images captured using an endoscope comprising a camera is disclosed. According to this method, regular images captured by the camera are received while the endoscope travels through a human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The regular images are mosaicked to determine any missed or insufficiently imaged area in a section of the human GI tract already travelled by the endoscope. If any missed or insufficiently imaged area is detected, information regarding any missed or insufficiently imaged area is provided. When a target area in the regular images is lack of parallax, the target area is determined as one missed area and an edge corresponding to a structure of the human lumen is highlighted. For a capsule endoscope, the endoscope can be configured to be controlled or steered to move so as to re-image the missed or insufficiently imaged area.

Abstract: A method of processing images captured using an endoscope comprising a camera is disclosed. According to this method, regular images captured by the camera are received while the endoscope is maneuvered by an operator to travel through a human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The regular images are mosaicked to determine any missed or insufficiently imaged area in a section of the human GI tract already travelled by the endoscope. If any missed or insufficiently imaged area is detected, information regarding any missed or insufficiently imaged area is provided to the operator.

Abstract: An in vivo endoscope illuminates tissue using multiple sources. Light from a short-range source exits a tubular wall of the endoscope through a first illumination region that overlaps an imaging region, and the light returns through the imaging region after reflection by tissue, to form an image in a camera. Light from a long-range source exits the tubular wall through a second illumination region that does not overlap the imaging region. The endoscope of some embodiments includes a mirror, and light from an emitter for the short-range source is split and reaches the first illumination region from both sides of an optical axis of the camera. Illuminating the first illumination region with split fractions of light results in greater uniformity of illumination, than illuminating directly with an un-split beam. The energy generated by each source is changed depending on distance of the tissue to be imaged.

Abstract: An integrated image sensor for capturing a mixed structured-light image and regular image using an integrated image sensor are disclosed. The integrated image sensor comprises a pixel array, one or more output circuits, one or more analog-to-digital converters, and one or more timing and control circuits. The timing and control circuits are arranged to perform a set of actions including capturing a regular image and a structured-light image. According to the present invention, the structured-light image captured before or after the regular image is used to derive depth or shape information for the regular image. An endoscope based on the above integrated image sensor is also disclosed. The endoscope may comprises a capsule housing adapted to be swallowed, where the components of integrated image sensor, a structured light source and anon-structured light source are enclosed and sealed in the capsule housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of processing and displaying images captured using an in vivo capsule camera are disclosed. One or more overlapped areas between a target image and each image in a neighboring image group are determined, which comprises at least two neighboring images around the target image. Marked pixels in the target image are then determined, where a pixel in the target image is designated as a marked pixel if the pixel is within an overlapped area between the target image and at least one neighboring image. If the total number of the marked pixels in the target image exceeds a threshold and the number of the marked pixels associated with the overlapped area(s) between the target image and any image in the neighboring image group is below the threshold, the target image is excluded from a set of images to be displayed on a display device.

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.

Abstract: A display device includes (a) a non-volatile memory containing corrective data for compensating input image data received; (b) display hardware receiving control and data signals for displaying an image; and (c) an image processing circuit that retrieves the corrective data from the non-volatile memory to generate the data signals for the display hardware, after applying the corrective data to each color component of each pixel in the input image data.

Abstract: A method for sharpening gastrointestinal (GI) images and an apparatus thereof are disclosed. A first target distance between a first target region in a regular image and an imaging apparatus is determined, and a second target distance between a second target region in the regular image and the imaging apparatus is determined. One or more first filter parameters for a first de-blurring filter and one or more second filter parameters for a second de-blurring filter are selected from stored filter parameters according to the first and second target distances respectively. A first processed target region is generated by applying the first de-blurring filter to the first target region to improve sharpness of the first target region. A second processed target region is generated by applying the second de-blurring filter to the second target region to improve sharpness of the second target region.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe virtual stop optical systems, methods and structures employing either positive- or negative-curvature virtual stop.

Abstract: A capsule endoscopic system is disclosed, where the system comprises a capsule device and a docking device. The capsule device comprises a battery, a secondary coil, and a capsule housing to enclose the battery and the secondary coil in a sealed environment, where the capsule device consists of a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction of the capsule device, and the battery is located in proximity to the first end and the secondary coil is located in proximity to the second end. The docking device comprises an opening on the docking device, a primary coil to generate an alternating magnetic field, and a primary core. The capsule endoscopic system is arranged so that at least a portion of the secondary coil is enclosed by the primary coil and the battery is outside the primary coil when the capsule device is at the docked position.

Abstract: A capsule endoscopic system is disclosed, where the system comprises a capsule device and a docking device. The capsule device comprises a battery, a secondary coil, and a capsule housing to enclose the battery and the secondary coil in a sealed environment, where the capsule device consists of a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction of the capsule device, and the battery is located in proximity to the first end and the secondary coil is located in proximity to the second end. The docking device comprises an opening on the docking device, a primary coil to generate an alternating magnetic field, and a primary core. The capsule endoscopic system is arranged so that the primary coil is wrapped around at least a portion of the primary core.

Abstract: A method for imaging a patient's gastrointestinal tract including upper parts of stomach using a capsule camera system are disclosed. According to the method, the capsule camera is administered to a patient by swallowing the capsule camera through patient's mouth. For each target examination position selected from a set of examination positions: the patient positioning system is adjusted to a target positioner bed position associated with the target examination position with the patient on the positioner be. Adjusting patient positioning system comprises adjusting the positioner bed to tilt at a tilt angle, and wherein the set of examination positions comprises at least two different tilt angles; and the patient positioning system still is held at the target examination position for a pre-defined period of dwelling time to allow the capsule camera to capture stable pictures. Image data captured by the capsule camera are then collected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging a body lumen are disclosed. According to the method, an imaging apparatus is induced into the body lumen. Structured light from the imaging apparatus is projected into the body lumen. The structured light reflected from anatomical features in the body lumen is detected by the imaging apparatus. A first structured light image is generated from the detected structured light by the imaging apparatus. Non-structured light is emitted from the imaging apparatus into the body lumen. The non-structured light reflected from the anatomical features in the body lumen is detected by the imaging apparatus. A non-structured light image is generated from the detected non-structured light by the imaging apparatus. The frame period of the first structured light image is shorter than the frame period of the non-structured light image. In one embodiment, the imaging apparatus corresponds to a capsule endoscope.