Patents by Inventor Miho Sawa

Miho Sawa 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: 8515141
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a three-dimensional model estimating section for estimating a three-dimensional model of an object based on a two-dimensional image of an image of the object which is inputted from a medical image pickup apparatus; an image dividing section for dividing the two-dimensional image into a plurality of regions each of which includes at least one or more pixels; a feature value calculation section for calculating a feature value according to a grayscale of each pixel in one region for each of the plurality of regions; and a lesion detection reference setting section for setting lesion detection reference for detecting a locally protruding lesion in the regions of the three-dimensional model which correspond to each of the plurality of regions, based on the feature value according to the grayscale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Miho Sawa, Hirokazu Nishimura, Hideki Tanaka, Ryoko Inoue, Kenji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8335361
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus which performs image processing on a medical input image, includes: a pixel extraction portion for extracting an inappropriate pixel satisfying a predetermined condition in the input image, a replacing pixel information calculation portion for calculating replacing information with which pixel information of the inappropriate pixel is to be replaced, based on pixel information of a predetermined region including the extracted inappropriate pixel or adjacent to the extracted inappropriate pixel and a replaced image generation portion for replacing the pixel information of the inappropriate pixel in the input image with the replacing information and generating a replaced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakamura, Hideki Tanaka, Hirokazu Nishimura, Ryoko Inoue, Miho Sawa
  • Patent number: 8295566
    Abstract: An image processing device includes; a lesion candidate region detecting section that detects a lesion candidate region based on at least one color signal in a medical image including a plurality of color signals; an incidental region detecting section that detects an incidental region that arises because of incidental attributes accompanying a lesion from the medical image; and a detection standard changing section that changes a detection standard when detecting a lesion from the lesion candidate region in accordance with a detection result of the incidental region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nishimura, Hideki Tanaka, Kenji Nakamura, Ryoko Inoue, Miho Sawa
  • Patent number: 8244009
    Abstract: A CPU executes a gray value gradient calculation process to, for example, an R signal in step S10, executes an isotropic change feature value calculation process based on a gray value gradient calculated in step S11, and further executes a possible polyp detection process for generating a possible polyp image at a location where a polyp exists based on an isotropic change feature value calculated in step S12. This improves the detection of an existing location of an intraluminal abnormal tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Hirokazu Nishimura, Kenji Nakamura, Ryoko Inoue, Miho Sawa
  • Patent number: 8238629
    Abstract: A CPU implements a possible polyp detection process of step S4 to execute processing for each label value of a thinned image and superimpose a processing result on a possible polyp image, thereby generating a possible polyp labeling image in which a possible polyp edge is labeled. The possible polyp labeling image, in which the possible polyp image is superimposed on an original image, is displayed on a display device so that a possible polyp location on the image can be easily checked, thereby improving the detection accuracy of an intraluminal abnormal tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Hirokazu Nishimura, Kenji Nakamura, Ryoko Inoue, Miho Sawa
  • Patent number: 8184146
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a surface model generation section for performing processing for generating a three-dimensional surface model from a two-dimensional medical image; and an area reliability calculation section for dividing the surface model into multiple areas and calculating the reliability of data in each of the multiple areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Hirokazu Nishimura, Kenji Nakamura, Ryoko Inoue, Miho Sawa
  • Patent number: 8165367
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus of the present invention has a three-dimensional model estimating section for estimating, based on an inputted two-dimensional image of an image of a living tissue within a body cavity, a three-dimensional model of the living tissue, a shape feature value calculating section for calculating shape feature values of respective voxels included in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue, a three-dimensional shape extracting section for extracting a first voxel group whose three-dimensional model has been estimated as a predetermined shape, in the respective voxels included in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue, based on the shape feature values, and a protruding shape detecting section for detecting the first voxel group as a voxel group configuring a protruding shape in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Ryoko Inoue, Hideki Tanaka, Hirokazu Nishimura, Kenji Nakamura, Miho Sawa
  • Patent number: 8165370
    Abstract: Main parts of an endoscope system of the present invention include a medical observation apparatus, a medical image processing apparatus, and a monitor. A CPU of the medical image processing apparatus is constituted by function units including a three-dimensional model estimating unit, a detection target area setting unit, a shape feature value calculating unit, a three-dimensional shape detecting unit, a threshold determining unit, and a polyp determining unit. Such a configuration enables to execute a process appropriately adapted to an observation state of a targeted two-dimensional image and to improve the detection accuracy in the detection of a lesion with locally elevated shape as compared to the past.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Ryoko Inoue, Hirokazu Nishimura, Hideki Tanaka, Kenji Nakamura, Miho Sawa
  • Patent number: 8086005
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus of the present invention includes an edge extracting section that extracts edges of an inputted two-dimensional image, a three-dimensional-model estimating section that estimates a three-dimensional model on the basis of the two-dimensional image, a voxel extracting section that extracts, on the basis of positions of respective voxels, where the edges are present, a predetermined voxel group to be set as a calculation object of a shape feature value, a shape-feature-value calculating section that calculates the shape feature value for at least a part of voxels among the predetermined voxel group, a three-dimensional-shape extracting section that extracts a voxel group, a three-dimensional model of which is estimated as a predetermined shape, on the basis of the shape feature value, and a tuberal-shape detecting section that detects the voxel group as a voxel group forming a tuberal shape in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Ryoko Inoue, Hirokazu Nishimura, Hideki Tanaka, Kenji Nakamura, Miho Sawa
  • Patent number: 7830378
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus of the invention comprises: a three-dimensional model estimating section that estimates a three-dimensional model of body tissues based on a two-dimensional image of an image of the body tissues inside a body cavity inputted from a medical image pickup apparatus; a voxel detecting section that detects one voxel existing on a nearest side in a view direction of the medical image pickup apparatus among the voxels included in the three-dimensional model; and a raised shape detecting section that acquires one curved surface including the one voxel to detect a position with gradient variation on the one curved surface and to determine whether or not body tissues with a locally raised shape exist in the position in the three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Ryoko Inoue, Hirokazu Nishimura, Hideki Tanaka, Kenji Nakamura, Miho Sawa
  • Publication number: 20090220133
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a three-dimensional model estimating section for estimating a three-dimensional model of an object based on a two-dimensional image of an image of the object which is inputted from a medical image pickup apparatus; an image dividing section for dividing the two-dimensional image into a plurality of regions each of which includes at least one or more pixels; a feature value calculation section for calculating a feature value according to a grayscale of each pixel in one region for each of the plurality of regions; and a lesion detection reference setting section for setting lesion detection reference for detecting a locally protruding lesion in the regions of the three-dimensional model which correspond to each of the plurality of regions, based on the feature value according to the grayscale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Miho SAWA, Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Hideki TANAKA, Ryoko INOUE, Kenji NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20090148017
    Abstract: Main parts of an endoscope system of the present invention include a medical observation apparatus, a medical image processing apparatus, and a monitor. A CPU of the medical image processing apparatus is constituted by function units including a three-dimensional model estimating unit, a detection target area setting unit, a shape feature value calculating unit, a three-dimensional shape detecting unit, a threshold determining unit, and a polyp determining unit. Such a configuration enables to execute a process appropriately adapted to an observation state of a targeted two-dimensional image and to improve the detection accuracy in the detection of a lesion with locally elevated shape as compared to the past.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Ryoko INOUE, Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Hideki TANAKA, Kenji NAKAMURA, Miho SAWA
  • Publication number: 20090079737
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus of the invention comprises: a three-dimensional model estimating section that estimates a three-dimensional model of body tissues based on a two-dimensional image of an image of the body tissues inside a body cavity inputted from a medical image pickup apparatus; a voxel detecting section that detects one voxel existing on a nearest side in a view direction of the medical image pickup apparatus among the voxels included in the three-dimensional model; and a raised shape detecting section that acquires one curved surface including the one voxel to detect a position with gradient variation on the one curved surface and to determine whether or not body tissues with a locally raised shape exist in the position in the three-dimensional model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Ryoko INOUE, Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Hideki TANAKA, Kenji NAKAMURA, Miho SAWA
  • Publication number: 20090074271
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus which performs image processing on a medical input image, includes: a pixel extraction portion for extracting an inappropriate pixel satisfying a predetermined condition in the input image, a replacing pixel information calculation portion for calculating replacing information with which pixel information of the inappropriate pixel is to be replaced, based on pixel information of a predetermined region including the extracted inappropriate pixel or adjacent to the extracted inappropriate pixel and a replaced image generation portion for replacing the pixel information of the inappropriate pixel in the input image with the replacing information and generating a replaced image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Kenji NAKAMURA, Hideki TANAKA, Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Ryoko INOUE, Miho SAWA
  • Publication number: 20090074270
    Abstract: A CPU executes a gray value gradient calculation process to, for example, an R signal in step S10, executes an isotropic change feature value calculation process based on a gray value gradient calculated in step S11, and further executes a possible polyp detection process for generating a possible polyp image at a location where a polyp exists based on an isotropic change feature value calculated in step S12. This improves the detection of an existing location of an intraluminal abnormal tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hideki TANAKA, Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Kenji NAKAMURA, Ryoko INOUE, Miho SAWA
  • Publication number: 20090073257
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a surface model generation section for performing processing for generating a three-dimensional surface model from a two-dimensional medical image; and an area reliability calculation section for dividing the surface model into multiple areas and calculating the reliability of data in each of the multiple areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hideki TANAKA, Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Kenji NAKAMURA, Ryoko INOUE, Miho SAWA
  • Publication number: 20090074268
    Abstract: A CPU implements a possible polyp detection process of step S4 to execute processing for each label value of a thinned image and superimpose a processing result on a possible polyp image, thereby generating a possible polyp labeling image in which a possible polyp edge is labeled. The possible polyp labeling image, in which the possible polyp image is superimposed on an original image, is displayed on a display device so that a possible polyp location on the image can be easily checked, thereby improving the detection accuracy of an intraluminal abnormal tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hideki TANAKA, Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Kenji NAKAMURA, Ryoko INOUE, Miho SAWA
  • Publication number: 20090074269
    Abstract: An image processing device includes; a lesion candidate region detecting section that detects a lesion candidate region based on at least one color signal in a medical image including a plurality of color signals; an incidental region detecting section that detects an incidental region that arises because of incidental attributes accompanying a lesion from the medical image; and a detection standard changing section that changes a detection standard when detecting a lesion from the lesion candidate region in accordance with a detection result of the incidental region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Hideki TANAKA, Kenji NAKAMURA, Ryoko INOUE, Miho SAWA
  • Publication number: 20090010508
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus of the present invention has a three-dimensional model estimating section for estimating, based on an inputted two-dimensional image of an image of a living tissue within a body cavity, a three-dimensional model of the living tissue, a shape feature value calculating section for calculating shape feature values of respective voxels included in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue, a three-dimensional shape extracting section for extracting a first voxel group whose three-dimensional model has been estimated as a predetermined shape, in the respective voxels included in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue, based on the shape feature values, and a protruding shape detecting section for detecting the first voxel group as a voxel group configuring a protruding shape in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Ryoko INOUE, Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Hideki TANAKA, Kenji NAKAMURA, Miho SAWA
  • Publication number: 20090003671
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus of the present invention includes an edge extracting section that extracts edges of an inputted two-dimensional image, a three-dimensional-model estimating section that estimates a three-dimensional model on the basis of the two-dimensional image, a voxel extracting section that extracts, on the basis of positions of respective voxels, where the edges are present, a predetermined voxel group to be set as a calculation object of a shape feature value, a shape-feature-value calculating section that calculates the shape feature value for at least a part of voxels among the predetermined voxel group, a three-dimensional-shape extracting section that extracts a voxel group, a three-dimensional model of which is estimated as a predetermined shape, on the basis of the shape feature value, and a tuberal-shape detecting section that detects the voxel group as a voxel group forming a tuberal shape in the three-dimensional model of the living tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Ryoko INOUE, Hideki TANAKA, Hirokazu NISHIMURA, Kenji NAKAMURA, Miho SAWA