Navigation Using a Pre-Acquired Image

Imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a first endoscope configured to capture an initial image of a surface under investigation using a first endoscope;
• a second endoscope configured to capture a subsequent image of the surface under investigation;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• delineate within the initial image a target region of interest surrounded by an initial image peripheral region, the target region of interest having a location defined with respect to the initial image peripheral region,
• identify in the subsequent image, by comparison with characteristics of the initial image peripheral region, a subsequent image peripheral region corresponding to the initial image peripheral region, and
• compute the location of the target region of interest in the subsequent image in response to the identified subsequent image peripheral region.

A method for imaging, comprising:

• pointing to a target region of interest in a first image;
• storing image data of a peripheral region surrounding the target region of interest;
• identifying in a second image, by comparison with characteristics of the stored image data of the peripheral region, a region corresponding to the peripheral region of the first image;
• and
• marking a location of the target region of interest in the second image in response to the identified region in the second image.

A method for navigating an endoscope, comprising:

• capturing a first image of a surface under investigation using a first endoscope;
• pointing to a target region of interest in the first image;
• storing image data of a peripheral region surrounding the target region;
• capturing a second image of the surface under investigation using a second endoscope;
• identifying in the second image, by comparison with characteristics of the stored image data of the peripheral region, a region corresponding to the peripheral region;
• marking an indication of a location of the target region of interest in the second image in response to the identified region in the second image;
• and
• navigating the second endoscope toward the indication.