Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an image data obtaining means configured to obtain image data acquired by photographing biological tissue, a score calculating means configured to calculate a score representing severity degree of lesion of the biological tissue photographed in an image represented by the image data for each pixel based on the image data, a reliability evaluation means configured to evaluate reliability of the score based on the image data, and a score reliability calculating means configured to calculate score reliability which represents a ratio of pixels of which scores having predetermined reliability to all the pixels of the image data.

Abstract: Provided is a correction data generation method that includes acquiring captured image data by imaging an indicator that is related to a predetermined illness; plotting a real imaging data point that corresponds to the acquired captured image data in a predetermined color space that is associated with the predetermined illness in accordance with a color component of the data point; calculating a correction value for correcting the values of pixels that make up a captured image captured by an electronic endoscope based on the distance between the data point and a predetermined target point in the predetermined color space; and storing the calculated correction value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a color image obtaining means configured obtain color image data representing a color image of biographic tissues, a lesion determining means configured to determine whether each pixel of the color image is of a lesion part based on the color image data, and a marking means configured to apply a mark indicating a position of the lesion part on the color image based on a result of determination, and the mark is configured such that the color image at a background of the mark can be seen.

Abstract: Provided is a correction data generation method that includes acquiring captured image data by imaging an indicator that is related to a predetermined illness; plotting a real imaging data point that corresponds to the acquired captured image data in a predetermined color space that is associated with the predetermined illness in accordance with a color component of the data point; calculating a correction value for correcting the values of pixels that make up a captured image captured by an electronic endoscope based on the distance between the data point and a predetermined target point in the predetermined color space; and storing the calculated correction value.

Abstract: An image processing includes multiple pieces of image data capturing biological tissues, a scene determining device configured to determine a photographic scene based on the color moving image data, a score calculating device calculating a score indicative of seriousness of lesion of the biological tissues captured in the image represented by the image data, based on the image data, and a marking device applying marks indicative of a distribution of the scores on the image. The marking device executes a detailed marking process to apply the marks indicating the distribution of the scores in detail, and a simple marking process to apply the marks indicating the distribution of the scores in a manner simpler than the detailed marking process. The marking means executes one of the detailed marking process and the simple marking process in accordance with the result of determination of the photographic scene.

Abstract: A load voltage control device, comprising: a load disposed in a tip portion; a power supply circuit and a controller disposed in a proximal end portion; and a cable connecting the tip portion with the proximal end portion, the cable comprising a first and second power supply lines, the power supply circuit comprising at least one power supply, wherein the controller operates to: obtain a voltage applied to the load based on a voltage applied to an input point of the first power supply line, a current flowing through the first power supply line, a voltage applied to an input point of the second power supply line and a current flowing through the second power supply line; and adjust the power supply voltage by controlling the at least one power supply so that the voltage applied to the load becomes substantially equal to a predetermined reference voltage.

Abstract: A load voltage control device, comprising: a load disposed in a tip portion; a power supply circuit and a controller disposed in a proximal end portion; and a cable connecting the tip portion with the proximal end portion, the cable comprising a first and second power supply lines, the power supply circuit comprising at least one power supply, wherein the controller operates to: obtain a voltage applied to the load based on a voltage applied to an input point of the first power supply line, a current flowing through the first power supply line, a voltage applied to an input point of the second power supply line and a current flowing through the second power supply line; and adjust the power supply voltage by controlling the at least one power supply so that the voltage applied to the load becomes substantially equal to a predetermined reference voltage.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a color image obtaining means configured obtain color image data representing a color image of biographic tissues, a lesion determining means configured to determine whether each pixel of the color image is of a lesion part based on the color image data, and a marking means configured to apply a mark indicating a position of the lesion part on the color image based on a result of determination, and the mark is configured such that the color image at a background of the mark can be seen.

Abstract: A load voltage control device, comprising: a load disposed in a tip portion; a power supply circuit and a controller disposed in a proximal end portion; and a cable connecting the tip portion with the proximal end portion, the cable comprising a first and second power supply lines, the power supply circuit comprising at least one power supply, wherein the controller operates to: obtain a voltage applied to the load based on a voltage applied to an input point of the first power supply line, a current flowing through the first power supply line, a voltage applied to an input point of the second power supply line and a current flowing through the second power supply line; and adjust the power supply voltage by controlling the at least one power supply so that the voltage applied to the load becomes substantially equal to a predetermined reference voltage.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an image data obtaining means configured to obtain image data acquired by photographing biological tissue, a score calculating means configured to calculate a score representing severity degree of lesion of the biological tissue photographed in an image represented by the image data for each pixel based on the image data, a reliability evaluation means configured to evaluate reliability of the score based on the image data, and a score reliability calculating means configured to calculate score reliability which represents a ratio of pixels of which scores having predetermined reliability to all the pixels of the image data.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided having an imager, an analog-digital converter, and a data converter. The imager comprises multiple pixels which output pixel signals, and that outputs an image signal comprising the pixel signals. The analog-digital converter converts the image signal to digital image data in parallel data format. The data converter converts the digital image data to transmission data. The data converter converts the pixel-generated digital image data based on a first rule, converts the converted digital image data to converted pixel data in serial data format, and adds a start bit and an end bit to the converted pixel data to convert the digital image data to the transmission data.

Abstract: A load voltage control device, comprising: a load disposed in a tip portion; a power supply circuit and a controller disposed in a proximal end portion; and a cable connecting the tip portion with the proximal end portion, the cable comprising a first and second power supply lines, the power supply circuit comprising at least one power supply, wherein the controller operates to: obtain a voltage applied to the load based on a voltage applied to an input point of the first power supply line, a current flowing through the first power supply line, a voltage applied to an input point of the second power supply line and a current flowing through the second power supply line; and adjust the power supply voltage by controlling the at least one power supply so that the voltage applied to the load becomes substantially equal to a predetermined reference voltage.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided having an imager, an analog-digital converter, and a data converter. The imager comprises multiple pixels which output pixel signals, and that outputs an image signal comprising the pixel signals. The analog-digital converter converts the image signal to digital image data in parallel data format. The data converter converts the digital image data to transmission data. The data converter converts the pixel-generated digital image data based on a first rule, converts the converted digital image data to converted pixel data in serial data format, and adds a start bit and an end bit to the converted pixel data to convert the digital image data to the transmission data.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a conductive layer of in a signal transmission substrate. The method includes sewing conductive thread in sheet-like material having an insulating property so as to form one of a plurality of low resistance regions using the conductive thread in a high resistance region formed by the sheet-like material, moving the conductive thread from an end point of a previously sewed low resistance region to a start point of a low resistance region to be sewed subsequently, repeating the sewing and moving steps to form the plurality of low resistance regions in the high resistance region, and forming a plurality of holes in the conductive layer by press working so that an electrical component attached to at least one of the plurality of holes is able to transmit a signal between neighboring ones of the plurality of low resistance regions.

Abstract: A light scanning device capable of scanning a light beam on a photosensitive surface includes a light receiving system configured to receive the light beam and output a light receiving signal and a synchronizing signal generating system configured to generate a synchronizing signal with which light scanning is synchronized. The synchronizing signal generating system includes a first bias superimposing system configured to superimpose a first bias signal onto the light receiving signals to generate a first light receiving signal, a second bias superimposing system configured to superimpose a second bias signal with a different level from that of the first bias signal onto the light receiving signals to generate a second light receiving signal, a waveform shaping system configured to shape the waveform of the second light receiving signal, and a comparing system configured to compare the first light receiving signal with the second light receiving signal to output the synchronizing signal.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication device for an electronic endoscope provided with a videoscope having an imaging function and generating a scope information signal, has a communication channel, a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit. The first communication circuit outputs a clock signal to the communication channel in order to perform the imaging function in the videoscope. The second communication circuit receives the clock signal through the communication channel and amplifies the clock signal to generate an amplified clock signal. The second communication circuit superimposes the scope information signal onto the amplified clock signal to generate a superimposed signal, which is transmitted to the first communication circuit through the communication channel. The first communication circuit obtains the scope information signal from the superimposed signal at a timing corresponding to the clock signal.

Abstract: An electrical power supply device is for an endoscope having a scope for insertion into the body of a subject. The electrical power supply device includes a temperature controller and a thermoelectric converter. The thermoelectric converter controls the temperature of the interior of the scope. The thermoelectric converter generates electricity based on the difference in temperature between the body interior of the subject and the interior of the scope.

Abstract: A communication device capable of transmitting a signal by two-dimensional diffusive signal transmission technology includes: a signal layer in which the signal is transmitted; a plurality of communication chips which are connected to the signal layer to transmit the signal by the two-dimensional diffusive signal transmission technology; a power supply layer which supplies electric power to each of the communication chips; a ground layer which is electrically connected to each of the communication chips as ground for the electric power; and an attenuation layer which is placed between the signal layer and the power supply layer, attenuates electric current that can flow between the signal layer and the power supply layer, and pulls up electric potential of the signal layer toward that of the power supply layer.

Abstract: There is provided a method of compressing an image signal including a plurality of pixel signals outputted from a pixel array in which color pixels are arranged in a predetermined array. The method includes calculating a difference between pixel signals of neighboring same color pixels in the pixel array in accordance with predetermined order where the plurality of pixel signals are outputted from the pixel array, and generating a difference signal representing the calculated difference between the pixel signals of neighboring same color pixels.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a conductive layer of in a signal transmission substrate. The method includes sewing conductive thread in sheet-like material having an insulating property so as to form one of a plurality of low resistance regions using the conductive thread in a high resistance region formed by the sheet-like material, moving the conductive thread from an end point of a previously sewed low resistance region to a start point of a low resistance region to be sewed subsequently, repeating the sewing and moving steps to form the plurality of low resistance regions in the high resistance region, and forming a plurality of holes in the conductive layer by press working so that an electrical component attached to at least one of the plurality of holes is able to transmit a signal between neighboring ones of the plurality of low resistance regions.