Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a processor. The processor records setting information corresponding to at least one of a procedure or a scene during the procedure, sets a color to be detected from a fluorescent image and a detection level based on the setting information, detects a level of the set color from the fluorescent image inputted, and outputs signals to start and stop recording of the inputted fluorescent image by comparing the detected level of the color with a threshold based on the detection level.

Abstract: To present augmented reality features without localizing a user, a client device receives a request for presenting augmented reality features in a camera view of a computing device of the user. Prior to localizing the user, the client device obtains sensor data indicative of a pose of the user, and determines the pose of the user based on the sensor data with a confidence level that exceeds a confidence threshold which indicates a low accuracy state. Then the client device presents one or more augmented reality features in the camera view in accordance with the determined pose of the user while in the low accuracy state.

Abstract: The invention relates to an augmented reality surgical microscope (1) having a camera (2), preferably a multispectral or hyperspectral camera. The augmented reality surgical microscope (1) retrieves input image data (22) of an object (8) comprising in particular live tissue (10). The input image data (22) comprise visible-light image data (26) as well as fluorescent-light image data (24) of at least one fluorophore (14). The augmented reality surgical microscope (1) permits the automatic identification and marking in pseudo-color (86) of various types of vascular plexus structures (54a 54b, 54c) and/or of blood flow direction (56) depending on the fluorescent-light image data (24). A pre-operative three-dimensional atlas (36) and/or ultrasound image data (39) may be elastically matched to the visible-light image data (26). The augmented reality surgical microscope (1) allows different combinations of the various image data to be output simultaneously to different displays (75).

Abstract: An image processing device includes: one or more processors including hardware. The one or more processors are configured to: calculate, on a basis of a reference image acquired by capturing an image of a reference subject which has an optical characteristic that is equivalent to at least a part of a living body, image transformation parameters through congruence transformation that transforms a coordinate corresponding to a color of target region included in the reference image defined in a color space into a coordinate corresponding to an achromatic color in the color space; and perform, in the color space on a basis of the calculated image transformation parameters, the congruence transformation of colors of a color image acquired by capturing an image of the living body, the color image being constituted by at least two monochromatic image corresponding to different illumination having different center wavelengths.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an image processing unit obtaining a severity of a lesion of a biological tissue in which a degree of lesion is digitized, from an image of the biological tissue that is obtained by imaging the biological tissue in a body cavity. The image processing unit includes a feature amount calculation unit calculating a plurality of pixel evaluation values corresponding to a plurality of features of an appearance, which are capable of discriminating each of the plurality of features of the appearance from a feature of a normal portion of the biological tissue by a shape and indicate each degree of plurality of features relevant to the color component indicated by the lesion portion or the color component and the shape, a representative value calculation unit calculating a representative evaluation value corresponding to each of the plurality of features of the imaged biological tissue.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a scope including an imaging unit provided at a distal end of an insertion section to be inserted into an observation object, and a main body including a light source unit configured to emit illumination light that illuminates the observation object through the scope. The light source unit is configured to emit first narrow band light selected based on an absorption spectrum of a first characteristic substance, and second narrow band light selected based on an absorption spectrum of a second characteristic substance. The main body includes an image processing circuit configured to process image information acquired by the imaging unit. The endoscope apparatus also includes a display configured to display image information processed by the image processing circuit.

Abstract: An endoscope system processor includes: a blood vessel region determination unit that obtains a likelihood of a blood vessel region by a numerical value on the basis of a shape characterizing a blood vessel in each of a plurality of parts of an image of a biological tissue, from the image obtained by an electronic endoscope; and a blood vessel feature amount calculation unit that calculates a blood vessel feature amount indicating a feature amount of the blood vessel region by integrating the numerical values of the likelihood of the blood vessel region with each other in the entire image. The blood vessel region determination unit calculates an approximation degree as the likelihood of the blood vessel region, using a spatial filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro endoscope camera module, including a first tube body having one or more objective lenses disposed therein; and a second tube body supporting the first tube body at a one side, wherein an image capturing means is disposed to be adjacent to a rear portion of the objective lens inside the second tube body. In addition, the present invention relates to a micro endoscope, in which the above-described micro endoscope camera module is disposed at the tip end of the scope, whereby it is possible to realize a high-quality image acquisition by disposing the image capturing means for image acquisition at the front end of the scope.

Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus including a ratio calculation unit that calculates a first ratio of a bit assignment relating to transmission of a biological image on the basis of image capture conditions and a bit assignment determination unit that determines the bit assignment on the basis of the first ratio. In addition, provided is a control system including an image capture apparatus that captures an image of an object, the control apparatus including the ratio calculation unit that calculates the first ratio on the basis of the image capture conditions relating to the object, the bit assignment determination unit that determines the bit assignment, an image processing unit that performs image processing based on the captured image and the bit assignment and generates the biological image, and an output apparatus that outputs the biological image based on the bit assignment.

Abstract: In an endoscope system, an image processing section on a processor side detects a movement amount or a distance in an image. An endoscopic-procedure-scene classifying section classify, from a feature value, to which of endoscopic procedure scene a scene of an image corresponds and further determines whether reliability of the classified endoscopic procedure scene is low. When the reliability is low, the endoscopic-procedure-scene classifying section decides a target compression ratio from an endoscopic procedure scene classified in the past, and transmits a compression parameter corresponding to the target compression ratio to a wireless endoscope. The wireless endoscope performs wireless transmission of an image compressed with the compression parameter.

Abstract: A prism sheet includes a prism substrate having at least one cavity therein and a plurality of prism microstructures arranged on a light exit surface of the prism substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a display apparatus with an improved viewing angle. The display apparatus includes a display panel configured to receive light from a light source module, wherein the display panel includes: a liquid crystal panel; a first polarizing plate positioned on a rear side of the liquid crystal panel and a second polarizing plate positioned on a front side of the liquid crystal panel; and an optical layer positioned on a front surface of the second polarizing plate, wherein the optical layer includes: a resin layer having a first refractive index, and including an accommodating groove in which a light adjusting portion is disposed, the resin layer further including a light refractive pattern protruding toward a rear direction of the display panel; and an adhesive layer having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, and bonding the resin layer with the second polarizing plate.

Abstract: A three-dimensional imaging system includes a ladar sensor with a first field of view adapted to produce a three-dimensional image. The system also includes a visible light camera with a second field of view overlapping the first field of view and adapted to produce a two-dimensional image output. At least one digital processor is connected to the ladar sensor and the visible light camera and adapted to merge the three-dimensional image output with the two-dimensional image output into a three-dimensional point cloud output.

Abstract: An objective optical system includes in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens having a negative refractive power, an aperture stop, and a second lens having a positive refractive power. An image-side surface of the first lens is a surface which is concave toward the image side, and an image-side surface of the second lens is a surface which is convex toward the image side, and following conditional expressions (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) are satisfied: 0.6<LL1is/LsL2i<1.25??(1) ?3<(LL1is/RL1i)×(LsL2i/RL2i)<?1.25??(2) ?2<fL22/(f×fL1)<?1.35??(3) 2<(nd1?1.63)×(?d1?31)??(4) 5<(n2?1.45)×(?d2?31)??(5) 1.63<nd1, and, 31<?d1??(6) 1.45<nd2, and, 31<?d2??(7).

Abstract: A substrate for a medical device, a portion of which is brought into contact with or inserted into a subject. The substrate includes a patient circuit conductively connected to the portion that is configured to be brought into contact with or inserted into the subject, and a ground-side circuit configured to perform at least one of transmission of a signal, reception of a signal, and supply of electric power on the patient circuit. The ground-side circuit is grounded by a protective ground to ensure safety of a manipulator of the medical device. The substrate also includes an insulating layer between the patient circuit and the ground-side circuit providing insulation between the patient circuit and the ground-side circuit, and an isolated circuit provided apart from the patient circuit and the ground-side circuit on the insulating layer and having a different reference potential from the patient circuit and the ground-side circuit.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope removably connected to a video processor in which a predetermined gamma characteristic is set includes: an image pickup device provided at a distal end of an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject, the image pickup device being configured to pick up an optical image of the subject to generate an image pickup signal; a gain circuit configured to amplify the image pickup signal using a predetermined gain parameter; a gamma characteristic recognition circuit configured to recognize the gamma characteristic of the video processor; and a gain adjustment circuit configured to set the gain parameter according to the gamma characteristic.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating an endoscope having the camera and the light source close to each other in an enclosed environment. The system includes a colour chart plate, being specularly reflecting, having radially extending colour patches, and a circular central achromatic bright field that can handle the automatic gain control of the camera. The colour chart can be mounted into a container unit having mechanically connected holders to support the endoscope arm.

Abstract: A brightness homogenizing member comprising: an incidence surface and an emission surface, the brightness homogenizing member has a lamination structure in which the brightness homogenizing member has a layer of high refractive index and a layer of low refractive index are alternately laminated in a direction perpendicular to the emission surface, each of a plurality of the layers of high refractive index includes, on a light emission surface side, a light bending portion that bends at least a portion of light proceeding in a direction intersecting to the emission surface and cause the light to proceed in a direction in which an in-plane component parallel to the emission surface increases, in a case where the lamination structure is planarly viewed from a lamination direction in the lamination structure, the light bending portions are provided in different positions between the plurality of the layers of high refractive index.

Abstract: An ophthalmic illumination system includes a light source to emit a light beam and a filter comprising a clear region to transmit visible light in the visible spectrum and a first filtered region to transmit visible light in a first spectral range. The filter is arranged within the optical path of the beam. The system includes a plurality of chromaticity sensors to receive a portion of the light beam transmitted by the filter and output a signal indicating chromaticity of the received beam. The system also includes a processor to receive the signal indicating chromaticity, compare the indicated chromaticity to a target chromaticity stored in memory and, based on the comparison, adjust the chromaticity of the light beam transmitted by the filter by generating a signal to move the filter from a first position in which the light beam is incident upon only the clear region to a second position in which the light beam is partially incident on both the clear region and the first filtered region.

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: An endoscope apparatus includes: a light source that emits white light or narrow-band light; an image sensor having pixels; a color filter including a filter unit having a plurality of filters in which the number of filters for passing green wavelength band light and the number of filters for passing blue wavelength band light satisfy predetermined conditions; a first gain adjustment unit that adjusts a gain of an electric signal generated by the image sensor; a demosaicing processing unit that generates an image signal of a color component passing through a filter based on the electric signal whose gain has been adjusted by the first gain adjustment unit; a color conversion processing unit that performs color separation on an image signal when the light source unit emits the white light; and a second gain adjustment unit that adjusts a gain of each image signal subjected to the color conversion processing.

Abstract: An ingestible scanning device includes, in an embodiment, a capsule housing having a transparent window and sized so as to be ingestible, a photo-sensing array located within the capsule housing, a mirror located within the housing and oriented to direct an image from a surface outside the transparent window to the photo-sensing array, and a light source for illuminating the surface outside the transparent window.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal device including: a liquid crystal panel including a first substrate having a first vertical alignment film, a second substrate having a second vertical alignment film, a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first vertical alignment film and the second vertical alignment film and has a negative dielectric anisotropy, a first polarizing plate that is disposed on a light-incident side of the liquid crystal layer, and a second polarizing plate that is disposed on a light-emitting side of the liquid crystal layer; an illuminating device which is disposed on a light-incident side of the liquid crystal panel, and emits light toward the liquid crystal panel; and a light control member which is disposed on a light-emitting side of the liquid crystal panel, and diffuses light that is emitted from the liquid crystal panel in an azimuth angle direction and a polar angle direction viewed from a normal direction of the liquid crystal panel to control an emission direction of th

Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting system for endoscopic examinations having a lighting unit that includes at least two LED elements for illuminating an area of examination that is to be observed by means of an endoscope optic. To create a lighting system for endoscopic examinations that ensures a constantly sufficient illumination of the area of examination, it is proposed according to the invention that the direction of radiation of the lighting unit can be displaced between a direction essentially perpendicular to the direction of observation of the endoscope optic upon insertion into the area of examination and a direction essentially in the direction of observation of the endoscope optic after insertion into the area of examination.

Abstract: First illumination light of a first wavelength range, in which light absorption coefficient of blood hemoglobin varies with oxygen saturation thereof, is projected into a test subject body, to capture a first image signal from the first illumination light as reflected from inside the test subject body. Then second illumination light of a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range is projected into a test subject body, to capture a second image signal from the second illumination light as reflected from inside the test subject body. A subject image of the test subject is produced from the second image signal. Oxygen saturation levels of the test subject are calculated using the first and second image signals. According to the calculated oxygen saturation levels, color properties of the subject image are changed to produce an oxygen saturation image.

Abstract: An infrared imaging probe that includes an elongated wand and an electrically isolating connection between the imaging components, located at the distal end of the wand, and the image processing components, located at the proximal end of the wand.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of highly accurately detecting and correcting color shift of image data, caused by a chromatic difference of magnification. The image processing apparatus stores first color shift amount data including color shift amount information of the image data and accuracy information indicative of detection accuracy of the color shift. The image processing apparatus analyzes the image data to thereby determine second color shift amount data including color shift amount information of the image data and accuracy information indicative of detection accuracy of the color shift. The image processing apparatus corrects the color shift of the image data using the color shift amount information selected from the first and color shift amount data, based on the accuracy information included in the first color shift amount data and the accuracy information included in the second color shift amount data.

Abstract: Mixed mode imaging is implemented using a single-chip image capture sensor with a color filter array. The single-chip image capture sensor captures a frame including a first set of pixel data and a second set of pixel data. The first set of pixel data includes a first combined scene, and the second set of pixel data includes a second combined scene. The first combined scene is a first weighted combination of a fluorescence scene component and a visible scene component due to the leakage of a color filter array. The second combined scene includes a second weighted combination of the fluorescence scene component and the visible scene component. Two display scene components are extracted from the captured pixel data in the frame and presented on a display unit.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus is an endoscope apparatus having an insertion portion having an image pickup device in a distal end portion, and a main body portion, and has a drive circuit that outputs a drive signal that drives the image pickup device, and a changing section that changes at least one of a pulse width and a peak value of a reset gate signal included in the drive signal, in response to a temperature of a vicinity of the image pickup device or the main body portion.

Abstract: Mixed mode imaging is implemented using a single-chip image capture sensor with a color filter array. The single-chip image capture sensor captures a frame including a first set of pixel data and a second set of pixel data. The first set of pixel data includes a first combined scene, and the second set of pixel data includes a second combined scene. The first combined scene is a first weighted combination of a fluorescence scene component and a visible scene component due to the leakage of a color filter array. The second combined scene includes a second weighted combination of the fluorescence scene component and the visible scene component. Two display scene components are extracted from the captured pixel data in the frame and presented on a display unit.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.

Abstract: An optical module includes a wavelength variable interference filter that selects light of a predetermined wavelength from incident light, and can change the wavelength of emitted light; a global shutter imaging element that accumulates electric charges while being exposed to the emitted light, and outputs a detection signal in response to the accumulated electric charges; an imaging element controller for setting a photodetection period during which the electric charges are accumulated in the imaging element, and a standby period during which the electric charges accumulated in the imaging elements are reset; and a spectroscopic controller for controlling the wavelength change driving of the emitted light. The imaging element controller sets the duration of the standby period to a minimum drive time for changing the wavelength or greater. The spectroscopic controller starts the wavelength change driving at the start of the standby period.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system includes a light source apparatus, a CCD, and a processor apparatus. The light source apparatus applies illumination light to a target portion. The target portion includes a surface blood vessel and a subsurface blood vessel. The CCD captures light reflected from the target portion. The processor apparatus generates an image based on an imaging signal from the CCD. The processor apparatus has a suppression processor. Out of the surface blood vessel and the subsurface blood vessel in an image, the suppression processor reduces contrast of a non-target blood vessel relative to that of a target blood vessel to suppress or reduce display of the non-target blood vessel relative to that of the target blood vessel.

Abstract: An Ethernet-based image transmitting/receiving system including a image transmitting device configured to generate and transmit a packet including at least one multiplexed signal of a luminance signal and a chrominance signal; an image receiving device configured to receive the packet, extract the luminance signal and the chrominance signal from the multiplexed signal of the packet, store the luminance signal and the chrominance signal, and output the luminance signal and the chrominance signal by synchronizing lines with each other based on the synchronization information; and an Ethernet cable configured to connect the image transmitting device to the image receiving device and transmit the packet.

Abstract: An endoscopic image display apparatus reads taken image data in which a taken image outputted from an endoscope is recorded, and reproduces and displays the taken image. The taken image data includes intensity information about a plurality of fundamental color components. The endoscopic image display apparatus includes an intensity changing unit which selectively reduces intensity of a specific color component in the taken image data by using the intensity information.

Abstract: A method of using a scanning microscope to rapidly form a digital image of an area. The method includes performing an initial set of scans to form a guide pixel set for the area and using the guide pixel set to identify regions representing structures of interest in the area. Then, performing additional scans of the regions representing structures of interest, to gather further data to further evaluate pixels in the regions, and not scanning elsewhere in the area.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method and system for displaying an in vivo imaging procedure. The method includes receiving real-time image data captured by the capsule, and continuously generating an updated summarized color bar, said color bar comprising color strips and time scale marks. The color bar is calculated based on color values of received image data, and is updated continuously as new image data is received. The displayed time period is periodically updated, for example based on pre determined fixed time intervals, based on varying time intervals, or based on an accumulated amount of received image data. Other methods of determining the periodic updates may be used.

Abstract: A method for detecting a capsule camera entering into or exiting the GI tract, includes (a) taking a first test image under the condition that an illumination system of the capsule camera is disabled; (b) taking a second test image under the same condition as the first test image; (c) comparing selected corresponding pixel values of the first test image and the second test image to determine if a significant change in pixel values has occurred; and (d) upon detecting the significant change in pixel values, determining if the capsule camera has entered or exited the GI tract, and performing operations appropriate to follow such determination.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reference image signal outputting unit that outputs a reference image signal in which color information of a plurality of colors is included in a chart image in a display plane or a time axis, a color display information detection unit that detects color display information of an image displayed on a displaying unit based on the reference image signal, a profile generation unit that generates a display characteristic profile of the displaying unit using the detected color display information and the color information of the chart image, a display characteristic correcting unit that generates a color correction image signal obtained by correcting an image signal to be output which is input from a modality based on the display characteristic profile, and a standardization processing unit that converts the generated color correction image signal to a standardization image signal.

Abstract: It is a method of driving a MOS type imaging element in which pixels having sensitivities for different colors are arranged two-dimensionally, in which the imaging element has at least two types of read-out lines having different pixel arrangements to read out a charge signal of the pixels, and the method includes driving such that a read-out time interval of a charge signal of at least one type of read-out line among the read-out lines is longer than a read-out time interval of another type of read-out line and a charge accumulating period of each pixel of the one type of read-out line is longer than a charge accumulating period of each pixel of said another type of read-out line.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for detecting osteoarthritis (OA) relate to image processing for enhancing, visualizing and quantifying the fibrillation structure of cartilage using endoscopes. A structure enhancement method comprises obtaining input data, conversion to intensity data, preprocess filtering, intensity fluctuation filtering and contrast enhancement. The degeneration is quantified by a degeneration index (DI) algorithm, applied to the structure enhanced image. Results are then compiled in an output frame presentation.

Abstract: In a processor of a wireless image transmission system that transmits, by radio communication, an image signal obtained by converting an image obtained by an endoscope apparatus, a communication state detection unit monitors a communication state of radio communication. An editing unit edits the image signal according to a mode in which the endoscope apparatus obtains an image when the deterioration of a communication state is detected by the communication state detection unit. A transmission unit transmits the image signal output from the editing unit to a receiver.

Abstract: An efficient demosaicing method includes reconstructing missing green pixels after estimating green-red color difference signals and green-blue color difference signals that are used in the reconstruction, and then constructing missing red and blue pixels using the color difference signals. This method creates a full resolution frame of red, green and blue pixels. The full resolution frame of pixels is sent to a display unit for display. In an efficient demosaicing process that includes local contrast enhancement, image contrast is enhanced to build and boost a brightness component from the green pixels, and to build chromatic components from all of the red, green, and blue pixels. Color difference signals are used in place of the red and blue pixels in building the chromatic components.

Abstract: To display a brownish area distinguishably from residuum, a B image signal having a blue narrow-band signal corresponding to blue narrow-band light and a G image signal, out of a color image signal obtained by an endoscope, are inputted to a processor device. The B image signal is assigned as a B display image signal. The B display image signal and the G image signal are weighted independently, and the sum of the weighted B display image signal and the weighted G image signal is assigned as a G display image signal. The G image signal is assigned as an R display image signal. Based on the RGB display image signals, a special light image is displayed on a monitor. In the special light image, the residuum or residual fluid is displayed in a yellowish color, and structure including blood vessels and a lesion is visible translucently under the residuum.

Abstract: A lesion evaluation information generator including a processor configured to, when executing processor-executable instructions stored in a memory, determine a hue value and a saturation value of each of pixels of an endoscopic image based on an acquired endoscopic color image data, determine, for at least a part of the pixels of the endoscopic image, a correlation value between color information of each individual pixel and reference color data, based on a hue correlation value between the hue value of each individual pixel and a reference hue value of the reference color data, and a saturation correlation value between the saturation value of each individual pixel and a reference saturation value of the reference color data, and generate an evaluation value for evaluating a severity of a lesion in the endoscopic image, by integrating the correlation value of each individual pixel.

Abstract: A color adjustment system for a display device includes a computer device, and a display device for displaying an image. The display device selectably displays a plurality of color temperature color presets. The computer device makes a white point adjustment to the display device, based on a color temperature color preset selected from among the plurality of color temperature color presets by a selecting operation from the computer device.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an image pickup section equipped with a color separation section that picks up an image of returning light from a subject illuminated by an illumination section, an emphasis processing section that performs emphasis processing on sharpness of an image signal generated from the output signal of the image pickup section and a storage section that stores information for modifying processing contents of the emphasis processing, wherein the storage section stores information for setting image signals to be subjected to emphasis processing in first and second observation modes in which images are picked up under illumination of white light and narrow band light respectively to a luminance signal and a color difference signal, and the emphasis processing section performs emphasis processing on the luminance signal with a greater emphasis characteristic than the color difference signal over an entire frequency domain.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing device including an image information acquisition unit configured to acquire a captured image from an endoscope, an adjustment information acquisition unit configured to acquire color calibration information about color calibration performed in a display device on which the captured image is displayed, a transmission unit configured to transmit, to a printing device, print data corresponding to the acquired captured image, and a correction value acquisition unit configured to acquire a correction value used for performing, on the print data, correction that is corresponding to the color calibration of the acquired color calibration information.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a flash memory that stores a reference value of a color balance adjustment value of an endoscopic image of an endoscope that picks up an object through a polarizer. The endoscope calculates, from the reference value and the color balance adjustment value of the endoscope after elapse of a predetermined time period, an amount of change in the color balance adjustment value; judges whether or not the calculated amount of change is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold; and, when the amount of change is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold, outputs a predetermined output.