Assist device, endoscope system, assist method and computer-readable recording medium

An endoscope system comprising:

• an endoscope that is insertable into a lumen of a subject;
• a light source configured to emit excitation light that excites advanced glycation end products caused by performing thermal treatment on a living tissue;
• and
• a control device that is detachable from the endoscope,
• the endoscope including
• an imaging device configured to generate an imaging signal by capturing an image of fluorescence caused by the excitation light, and
• a cut filter that is provided on a side of a light receiving surface of the imaging device, the cut filter being configured to block light on a side of short wavelengths containing part of a wavelength band of the excitation light,
• the control device including an assist device that assists a practitioner, and
• the assist device including
• a processor configured to:
• generate a fluorescence image based on the imaging signal,
• calculate a fluorescence intensity based on the fluorescence image,
• based on the calculated fluorescence intensity and correlation information representing a previously measured correlation between a degree of invasion of the living tissue by an energy device and a fluorescence intensity, estimate a placement period during which a medical tool is placed in the lumen of the living tissue, and
• cause placement period information to be displayed together with an observation image of the living tissue to assist placement of the medical tool.

An assist method executed by an assist device, the method comprising:

• generating a fluorescence image based on an imaging signal that is generated by capturing an image of fluorescence caused by excitation light that is applied to a living tissue;
• calculating a fluorescence intensity based on the fluorescence image;
• based on the calculated fluorescence intensity and correlation information representing a previously measured correlation between a degree of invasion of the living tissue by an energy device and a fluorescence intensity, estimating a placement period during which a medical tool is placed in a lumen;
• and
• causing placement period information to be displayed together with an observation image of the living tissue to assist placement of the medical tool.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with an executable program stored thereon, the program causing an assist device to execute

• generating a fluorescence image based on an imaging signal that is generated by capturing an image of fluorescence caused by excitation light that is applied to a living tissue;
• calculating a fluorescence intensity based on the fluorescence image;
• based on the calculated fluorescence intensity and correlation information representing a previously measured correlation between a degree of invasion of the living tissue by an energy device and a fluorescence intensity, estimating a placement period during which a medical tool is placed in a lumen of the living tissue;
• and
• causing placement period information to be displayed together with an observation image of the living tissue to assist placement of the medical tool.

An assist device comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• generate a fluorescence image based on an imaging signal generated by capturing an image of fluorescence caused by an excitation light applied to a living tissue;
• calculate a fluorescence intensity based on the fluorescence image;
• based on the calculated fluorescence intensity and correlation information representing a previously measured correlation between a degree of invasion of the living tissue by an energy device and a fluorescence intensity, estimate a presence or absence of a medical tool in the living tissue;
• and
• cause information indicating the presence or absence of the medical tool to be displayed together with an observation image of the living tissue to assist placement of the medical tool.