# US 11,122,225 B2 · Medical image processing apparatus and medical observation system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,122,225 B2
- Document ID: US11122225B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/503,623
- Filed: 2019-07-05
- Published: 2020-01-16
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-13
- Assignees: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Taihei Michihata; Takahiro Yamamoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122225B2

## CPC

- H04N 25/683: by defect estimation performed on the scene signal, e.g. real time or on the fly detection
- H04N 25/68: applied to defects
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A medical image processing apparatus includes: a defective pixel specifier configured to specify a defective pixel in a captured image based on a pixel level of each pixel in the captured image; a setting unit configured to set a correction degree of a defect correction process of making a brightness of the defective pixel approach a brightness of a discrimination area including surrounding pixels positioned around the defective pixel; and a defect corrector configured to perform the defect correction process according to the correction degree. When a difference between the brightness of the defective pixel and the brightness of the discrimination area is divided into a first range and a second range in which the difference is larger than that in the first range, the setting unit sets a higher correction degree for the difference is in the second range than the first range.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical image processing apparatus comprising:
circuitry configured to:
specify a defective pixel in a captured image obtained by capturing an image of a subject based on a pixel level of each individual pixel in the captured image that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the defective pixel being specified independently from pixel levels of surrounding pixels around the defective pixel in the captured image;
set a correction degree of a defect correction process of making a brightness of the defective pixel approach a brightness of a discrimination area including the surrounding pixels; and
perform the detect correction process according to the correction degree,
wherein in a case where a range from a lower limit value to an upper limit value of a difference between the brightness of the defective pixel and the brightness of the discrimination area is divided into a first range and a second range in which the difference is larger than that in the first range, the circuitry is configured to set a higher correction degree for a case where the difference is in the second range, in comparison to a case where the difference is in the first range.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the correction degree set by the circuitry is a correction degree indicating that the brightness of the defective pixel is not changed in the defect correction process in a case where the difference is in the first range, and
the correction degree set by the circuitry is a correction degree indicating that the brightness of the defective pixel is made to be the same as the brightness of the discrimination area in the defect correction process in a case where the difference is in the second range.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the correctiondegree set by the circuitry is increased as the difference is increased in a case where the difference is in the first range, and
the correction degree set by the circuitry is a correction degree indicating that the brightness of the defective pixel is made to be the same as the brightness of the discrimination area in the defect correction process in a case where the difference is in the second range.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the correction degree set by the circuitry is a correction degree indicating that the brightness of the defective pixel is not changed in the defect correction process in a case where the difference is in the first range, and
the correction degree set by the circuitry is increased as the difference is increased in a case where the difference is in the second range.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the correction degree set by the circuitry is increased as the difference is increased in the range from the lower limit value to the upper limit value of the difference between the brightness of the detective pixel and the brightness of the discrimination area.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A medical observation system comprising:
an observation apparatus configured to generate a captured image obtained by capturing an image of a subject; and
the medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 which is connected to the observation apparatus and processes the captured image.