# US 2020/0394792 A1 · Methods and apparatus to detect bleeding vessels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0394792 A1 - Document ID: US20200394792A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/899,085 - Filed: 2020-06-11 - Published: 2020-12-17 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-13 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: George Wilfred DUVAL; Karim TARABEIN; Steven GLASER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200394792A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/2736: {Gastroscopes} - A61B 1/000094: {extracting biological structures} - A61B 1/000095: {for image enhancement} - A61B 1/00186: {with imaging filters} - G06T 5/40: using histogram techniques - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - G06T 2207/10024: Color image - G06T 2207/10068: Endoscopic image - G06T 2207/20024: Filtering details - G06T 2207/30092: Stomach; Gastric - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract According to one aspect, a processor device in communication with an endoscopic device obtains a spectrum image of bleeding in an upper gastrointestinal (GI) area of a patient. A filter is applied to the spectrum image to generate a pre-enhanced image. The filter enhances the spectrum image at one or more light wavelengths in the light spectrum. The pre-enhanced image is analyzed to identify an area of interest that represents a portion of the upper GI area with an active bleed. A contrast enhancement technique is applied to the area of interest in the pre-enhanced image to generate an enhanced contrast image. Spatial filters are applied to the enhanced contrast image to produce a final colorized image with defined blood vessels in the upper GI area of the patient. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for enhancing medical images, the method comprising: at a processor device in communication with an endoscopic device, obtaining from the endoscopic device a spectrum image of bleeding in an upper gastrointestinal (GI) area of a patient; at the processor device, applying a filter to the spectrum image to generate a pre-enhanced image, wherein the filter enhances the spectrum image at one or more light wavelengths in the light spectrum; analyzing the pre-enhanced image to identify an area of interest, wherein the area of interest represents a portion of the upper GI area with an active bleed; applying a contrast enhancement technique to the area of interest in the pre-enhanced image to generate an enhanced contrast image; and applying spatial filters to the enhanced contrast image to produce a final colorized image with defined blood vessels in the upper GI area of the patient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the filter to the spectrum image comprises applying the filter to the spectrum image at a light wavelength at which a light absorption rate of oxygenated hemoglobin differs from a light absorption rate of deoxygenated hemoglobin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein applying the filter to the spectrum image comprises applying the filter to the spectrum image at one or more of light wavelengths between 490 nanometers and 640 nanometers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the filter to the spectrum image comprises applying the filter to the spectrum image using a red-green-blue (RGB) color filter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the contrast enhancement technique comprises applying one of a Bayesian classifier enhancement technique, a histogram contrast algorithm, or a red-balanced hue filter (R-filter) to the area of interest. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein applying the R-filter to the area of interest comprises converting the area of interest to grayscale using the R-filter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the filter to the spectrum image comprises applying the filter to the spectrum image to generate the pre-enhanced image with the area of interest more visually enhanced than the spectrum image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the contrast enhancement technique comprises applying the contrast enhancement technique to the area of interest to generate the enhanced contrast image with the area of interest more visually enhanced than the pre-enhanced image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the spatial filters to the enhanced contrast image comprises applying the spatial filters to the enhanced contrast image to produce the final colorized image that represents a recolorization of the enhanced contrast image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the contrast enhancement technique comprises applying the contrast enhancement technique during real time imaging of the patient. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein applying the contrast enhancement technique comprises applying the contrast enhancement technique during post-processing after the spectrum image is obtained from the patient. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the pre-enhanced image comprises analyzing the pre-enhanced image to identify the area of interest that is a narrow field of visualization of the pre-enhanced image. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: obtaining from an endoscopic device a spectrum image of bleeding in an upper gastrointestinal (GI) area of a patient; applying a filter to the spectrum image to generate a pre-enhanced image, wherein the filter enhances the spectrum image at one or more light wavelengths in the light spectrum; analyzing the pre-enhanced image to identify an area of interest, wherein the area of interest represents a portion of the upper GI area with an active bleed; applying a contrast enhancement technique to the area of interest in the pre-enhanced image to generate an enhanced contrast image; applying spatial filters to the enhanced contrast image to produce a final colorized image with defined blood vessels in the upper GI area of the patient. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein applying the filter to the spectrum image comprises applying the filter to the spectrum image at a light wavelength at which a light absorption rate of oxygenated hemoglobin differs from a light absorption rate of deoxygenated hemoglobin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein applying the filter to the spectrum image comprises applying the filter to the spectrum image at one or more of light wavelengths between 490 nanometers and 640 nanometers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein applying the contrast enhancement technique comprises applying one of a Bayesian classifier enhancement technique, a histogram contrast algorithm, or a red-balance hue filter (R-filter) to the area of interest. ### Claim 17 A computer device for enhancing medical images, the computer device comprising: an interface unit; a memory storing instructions; and one or more processors configured to perform operations including: obtaining from an endoscopic device a spectrum image of bleeding in an upper gastrointestinal (GI) area of a patient; applying a filter to the spectrum image to generate a pre-enhanced image, wherein the filter enhances the spectrum image at one or more light wavelengths in the light spectrum; analyzing the pre-enhanced image to identify an area of interest, wherein the area of interest represents a portion of the upper GI area with an active bleed; applying a contrast enhancement technique to the area of interest in the pre-enhanced image to generate an enhanced contrast image; applying spatial filters to the enhanced contrast image to produce a final colorized image with defined blood vessels in the upper GI area of the patient. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer device of claim 17, wherein applying the filter to the spectrum image comprises applying the filter to the spectrum image at a light wavelength at which a light absorption rate of oxygenated hemoglobin differs from a light absorption rate of deoxygenated hemoglobin. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computer device of claim 18, wherein applying the filter to the spectrum image comprises applying the filter to the spectrum image at one or more of light wavelengths between 490 nanometers and 640 nanometers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The computer device of claim 17, wherein applying the contrast enhancement technique comprises applying one of a Bayesian classifier enhancement technique, a histogram contrast algorithm, or a red-balance hue filter (R-filter) to the area of interest.