公开(公告)号：EP1709476A4

公开(公告)日：2010-08-04

申请号：EP04786669

申请日：2004-09-27

Applicant: TIDAL PHOTONICS INC

Inventor： MACKINNON NICHOLAS B ,  STANGE ULRICH

IPC: G02B23/26 ,  A61B1/04 ,  A61B1/05 ,  A61B1/06 ,  G01J1/32 ,  G01J3/10 ,  G01J3/28 ,  G01N21/64 ,  G02B23/24 ,  H04N5/225 ,  H04N5/235 ,  H04N9/04

CPC classification number: G01N21/6456 ,  A61B1/00186 ,  A61B1/05 ,  A61B1/0638 ,  A61B1/227 ,  G01J1/32 ,  G01J3/0216 ,  G01J3/0229 ,  G01J3/0286 ,  G01J3/10 ,  G01J3/28 ,  G01J3/2803 ,  G01J3/2823 ,  G01N2021/6471 ,  G01N2021/6484 ,  G02B23/2461 ,  G02B23/2469 ,  H04N5/2354 ,  H04N9/045 ,  H04N2005/2255

Abstract: The apparatus and methods herein provide quantitatively controllable light sources and expanded dynamic range endoscopy systems that can improve the quality of images and the ability of users to distinguish desired features when viewing tissues by providing methods and apparatus that improve the dynamic range of images from endoscopes, in particular for example with endoscopes that have dynamic range limited because of small image sensors and small pixel electron well capacity, and other optical system constraints. The apparatus and methods herein, for example, combine light sources with quantitatively variable spectral output and quantitatively variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution with image sensors and controllers to create an expanded dynamic range endoscopy system. By digitally combining illumination data from the digitally controllable light source with the digital image data from the image sensor the system synthesizes expanded dynamic range images whose dynamic range exceeds the dynamic range of the image sensor alone thus providing greatly enhanced information content in the acquired images.

公开(公告)号：EP1709475A4

公开(公告)日：2010-08-18

申请号：EP04786670

申请日：2004-09-27

Applicant: TIDAL PHOTONICS INC

Inventor： STANGE ULRICH ,  MACKINNON NICHOLAS B

IPC: G02B26/02 ,  G02B27/00 ,  G02F1/03 ,  G02F1/1347

CPC classification number: G02B26/02 ,  G02B5/045 ,  G02B26/0833 ,  G02B27/0018 ,  G02F1/1347 ,  G02F2201/16 ,  G02F2203/02 ,  G02F2203/12

公开(公告)号：EP1709474A4

公开(公告)日：2010-01-06

申请号：EP04786667

申请日：2004-09-27

Applicant: TIDAL PHOTONICS INC

Inventor： MACKINNON NICHOLAS B ,  STANGE ULRICH

IPC: G02B23/00 ,  G02B23/24

CPC classification number: A61B1/00186 ,  A61B1/043 ,  A61B1/0638 ,  G02B23/2423 ,  G02B23/2446

Abstract: Color endoscopes, light sources and endoscopy systems, etc., that have good dynamic range and/or resolution while reducing the size and cost of the endoscopes. The endoscopes achieve this, in part, by using a black and white (grayscale or monochromatic) sensor at the tip of the endoscope instead of a color sensor. The endoscope uses a light system that precisely and specifically illuminates the tissue one color at time, captures the image in grayscale, then uses a computer to associate the image with the color. Certain aspects of the invention apply to imaging systems in addition to endoscopes.