Patents by Inventor Kentaro Fukazawa

Kentaro Fukazawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11744440
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an endoscope system capable of providing an optimal video image to an operator in accordance with surgical scenes are provided. A processing mode determination unit determines, in accordance with surgical scenes, a processing mode for an in-vivo image captured by an imaging apparatus including an imaging element arranged so as to enable pixel shift processing, and an image combining unit processes an image output from the imaging apparatus, in accordance with the processing mode. The present technology is applicable to, for example, an endoscope system for imaging a living body with an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisakazu Shiraki, Masahito Yamane, Kenji Takahasi, Takeshi Uemori, Kentaro Fukazawa
  • Publication number: 20230248231
    Abstract: A medical system includes a light source configured to irradiate an imaging target with light having different wavelength zones in a first observation mode and a second observation mode, the imaging target being a part of a living body being operated, an imaging apparatus configured to capture reflected light from the imaging target irradiated with the light and output a captured image, a storage controller configured to perform control for causing a storage section to store a first captured image upon the first observation mode as a reference image, a generator configured to compare a second captured image upon the second observation mode with the reference image to generate a parameter used for approximating a color shade of the second captured image to a color shade of the reference image, a color conversion processor configured to perform color conversion processing on the second captured image on a basis of the parameter to output a color-converted image, and a display controller configured to perform co
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventor: KENTARO FUKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 11602265
    Abstract: A control device includes an image quality control unit configured to control image quality of an image for display on a basis of optical axis angle information with reference to a scope axis of an endoscope and an image signal acquired by an image sensor. The optical axis angle information is information detected by information obtained by acquiring light source angle information controlled by an imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takami Mizukura, Takeshi Uemori, Kentaro Fukazawa, Daisuke Kikuchi, Tsuneo Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20230047294
    Abstract: To generate a medical image with high visibility in fluorescence observation. A medical image generation apparatus (100) according to the present application includes an acquisition unit (131), a calculation unit (132), and a generation unit (134). An acquisition unit (131) acquires a first medical image captured with fluorescence of a predetermined wavelength and a second medical image captured with fluorescence of a wavelength different from the predetermined wavelength. A calculation unit (132) calculates a degree of scattering, indicating a degree of blurring of fluorescence of a living body, included in the first medical image and the second medical image acquired by the acquisition unit (131). A generation unit (134) generates an output image on the basis of at least one of the degrees of scattering calculated by the calculation unit (132).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro FUKAZAWA, Takanori FUKAZAWA, Takashi YAMAGUCHI, Seiji WADA
  • Patent number: 11451698
    Abstract: In a case where a plurality of imaging apparatuses is used for a surgery, the appearance is regulated between images captured by the respective imaging apparatuses. According to the present disclosure, a medical system is provided, the medical system including a plurality of surgical imaging apparatuses and a control unit to which each of the surgical imaging apparatuses is connected, the control unit including a signal processing unit that links images captured by the respective surgical imaging apparatuses. With this configuration, in a case where a plurality of imaging apparatuses is arranged for a surgery, it becomes possible to regulate the appearance between images captured by the respective imaging apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Kikuchi, Yuki Sugie, Yukihiro Nakamura, Kentaro Fukazawa, Kenji Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20220188988
    Abstract: A medical system (1) includes a light source (2) that irradiates an imaging target (9) with light, an imaging device (3) that images reflected light from the imaging target (9) irradiated with the light, and a noise reduction processing means (412) that acquires a plurality of images captured by the imaging device (3) and performs noise reduction processing on one image of interest out of a plurality of the images. The noise reduction processing means (412) uses an image N (N is an integer not smaller than 2) frames before the image of interest as a reference image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventor: KENTARO FUKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 11272844
    Abstract: [Problem] To predict a remaining time during which a fluorescence image is observable. [Solution] An information processing device according to the present disclosure includes a remaining time estimation unit that estimates, on the basis of a luminance limit value for observation of a fluorescence image and a change in luminance of a fluorescence image, a remaining time until the luminance of the fluorescence image reaches the luminance limit value. This configuration enables the time at which the luminance of a fluorescence image reaches the luminance limit value to be estimated according to a change in luminance of the fluorescence image, and it is possible to predict a remaining time during which a fluorescence image is observable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takami Mizukura, Minori Takahashi, Kenji Takahashi, Kentaro Fukazawa
  • Patent number: 11272167
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a control unit that controls display on the basis of a detection value indicating a focus state of a lens acquired from a stereoscopic imaging unit, and a captured image signal for a left eye and a captured image signal for a right eye acquired from the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisakazu Shiraki, Takeshi Miyai, Kentaro Fukazawa, Tadashi Morishige
  • Publication number: 20210321887
    Abstract: A medical system (1) includes first light irradiation means (11) for irradiating an image capturing target with coherent light, image capturing means (12) for capturing a speckle image obtained from scattered light caused by the image capturing target irradiated with the coherent light, speckle contrast calculation means (1312) for calculating a speckle contrast value for each pixel on the basis of the speckle image, motion detection means (1311) for detecting motion of the image capturing target, speckle image generation means (1313) for generating a speckle contrast image on the basis of the speckle contrast value and the motion of the image capturing target detected by the motion detection means, and display means (14) for displaying the speckle contrast image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: TAKANORI FUKAZAWA, KAZUKI IKESHITA, DAISUKE KIKUCHI, TETSURO KUWAYAMA, KENJI TAKAHASHI, MINORI TAKAHASHI, ISAMU NAKAO, KENTARO FUKAZAWA, GORO FUJITA, FUMISADA MAEDA, TAKESHI MATSUI, TAKASHI YAMAGUCHI, HIROSHI YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20210304419
    Abstract: A medical system includes irradiation means for irradiating an image capturing target with an electromagnetic wave, image capturing means for capturing a reflected wave caused by the image capturing target irradiated with the electromagnetic wave, acquisition means for acquiring, from the image capturing means, a first image based on a first wavelength band and a second image based on a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band, first motion estimation means for calculating a first motion vector as a motion vector between a plurality of the first images on a basis of a feature value in the first image, second motion estimation means for calculating a second motion vector as a motion vector between a plurality of the second images on a basis of a feature value in the second image, correlation degree calculation means, and correction means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro FUKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 11127116
    Abstract: A medical system including a medical imaging device, and circuitry that obtains a plurality of first images each having a different phase from the medical imaging device, combines each of the plurality of first images a plurality of times to generate a plurality of second images, wherein each time of the plurality of times that the plurality of first images are combined, a different candidate process is used in the combining, and selects one image from the plurality of second images as an output image for display, the selected one image being higher quality than any one of the plurality of first images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Takahasi, Kentaro Fukazawa, Hisakazu Shiraki, Masahito Yamane, Takeshi Uemori
  • Patent number: 11123150
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an information processing apparatus, an assistance system, and an information processing method that enable suitable assistance to be performed on a surgeon. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus includes a control unit. The control unit extracts, on the basis of a first image obtained by picking up an image of a surgical part including an affected part and metadata of a situation obtained from past surgery or examination, a parameter of assistance performed with respect to the situation, which is made to correspond to the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ichiki, Takami Mizukura, Daisuke Tsuru, Kentaro Fukazawa
  • Patent number: 11083536
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an information processing apparatus, an assistance system, and an information processing method that enable suitable assistance to be performed on a surgeon. [Solving Means] An information processing apparatus includes a control unit. The control unit extracts, on the basis of a first image obtained by picking up an image of a surgical part including an affected part and metadata of a situation obtained from past surgery or examination, a parameter of assistance performed with respect to the situation, which is made to correspond to the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ichiki, Takami Mizukura, Daisuke Tsuru, Kentaro Fukazawa
  • Publication number: 20210235968
    Abstract: In a medical system (1), speckle contrast calculation means (1313, 1314) calculates a first speckle contrast value for each pixel based on a first speckle image at a first exposure time and/or a second speckle contrast value for each pixel based on a second speckle image at a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time. In addition, speckle image generation means (1315) generates a speckle contrast image on the basis of the first speckle contrast value and/or the second speckle contrast value depending on a detection result of motion of an image capturing target by motion detection means (1312).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: KENTARO FUKAZAWA, DAISUKE KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210177263
    Abstract: [Problem] To predict a remaining time during which a fluorescence image is observable. [Solution] An information processing device according to the present disclosure includes a remaining time estimation unit that estimates, on the basis of a luminance limit value for observation of a fluorescence image and a change in luminance of a fluorescence image, a remaining time until the luminance of the fluorescence image reaches the luminance limit value. This configuration enables the time at which the luminance of a fluorescence image reaches the luminance limit value to be estimated according to a change in luminance of the fluorescence image, and it is possible to predict a remaining time during which a fluorescence image is observable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takami MIZUKURA, Minori TAKAHASHI, Kenji TAKAHASHI, Kentaro FUKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20210169305
    Abstract: [Problem] It is desired to provide a technology capable of improving visibility of a fluorescence image. [Solution] Provided is an image processing apparatus that includes a feature detecting unit configured to detect a feature of first image data that is obtained by capturing an image of a blood vessel by ICG fluorescence imaging, and an enhancement processing unit configured to control a degree of an enhancement process performed on the first image data, on the basis of the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: KENTARO FUKAZAWA, TAKANORI FUKAZAWA, DAISUKE KIKUCHI, MINORI TAKAHASHI, KAZUKI IKESHITA
  • Patent number: 10849482
    Abstract: An endoscopic system including an endoscope device that outputs image data, an illumination device that illuminates a body of a patient, and circuitry that obtains, from the image data, at least two frames each captured with a different illumination state, generate, from at least two obtained frames, a composite image that has a reduced specular reflection light component with respect to at least one of the obtained frames, and generate a video signal including the composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Fukazawa, Takeshi Miyai, Kenta Yamaguchi, Yukihiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20200345220
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an endoscope system capable of providing an optimal video image to an operator in accordance with surgical scenes are provided. A processing mode determination unit determines, in accordance with surgical scenes, a processing mode for an in-vivo image captured by an imaging apparatus including an imaging element arranged so as to enable pixel shift processing, and an image combining unit processes an image output from the imaging apparatus, in accordance with the processing mode. The present technology is applicable to, for example, an endoscope system for imaging a living body with an endoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisakazu SHIRAKI, Masahito YAMANE, Kenji TAKAHASI, Takeshi UEMORI, Kentaro FUKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 10722106
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an endoscope system capable of providing an optimal video image to an operator in accordance with surgical scenes are provided. A processing mode determination unit determines, in accordance with surgical scenes, a processing mode for an in-vivo image captured by an imaging apparatus including an imaging element arranged so as to enable pixel shift processing, and an image combining unit processes an image output from the imaging apparatus, in accordance with the processing mode. The present technology is applicable to, for example, an endoscope system for imaging a living body with an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisakazu Shiraki, Masahito Yamane, Kenji Takahasi, Takeshi Uemori, Kentaro Fukazawa
  • Publication number: 20200183145
    Abstract: [Object] To optimally adjust the specular refection component without lowered luminance [Solution] An endoscope device according to the present disclosure includes: a reflection-presence image acquisition unit that acquires a reflection-presence image containing a specular reflection component from a subject; a reflection-absence image acquisition unit that acquires a reflection-absence image not containing the specular reflection component from the subject; and a synthesis processing unit that performs synthesis of the reflection-presence image and the reflection-absence image. This configuration makes it possible to optimally adjust the specular refection component without lowered luminance, and makes it possible to optimally perform observation of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: KENTA YAMAGUCHI, TAKESHI MIYAI, KENTARO FUKAZAWA, KOJI KASHIMA