# US 8,542,272 B2 · Image generating apparatus

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- Number: US 8,542,272 B2
- Document ID: US8542272B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/629,394
- Filed: 2009-12-02
- Published: 2010-03-25
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2007-06-20
- Assignees: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
- Applicants: Shunji Takei; Nobuyuki Doguchi; Kenji Yamazaki
- Inventors: Shunji Takei; Nobuyuki Doguchi; Kenji Yamazaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542272B2

## CPC

- A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
- A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements}
- A61B 1/043: {for fluorescence imaging}
- A61B 1/0638: {providing two or more wavelengths}
- A61B 1/0646: {with illumination filters}
- A61B 1/0655: {Control therefor}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An image generating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first light source unit that emits light in a first wavelength band to a subject; a second light source unit that emits light in a second wavelength band, which is a part of the first wavelength band, to the subject; an image pickup unit that picks up an image of the subject and outputs the image as an image pickup signal; a light cut filter unit that cuts light in the second wavelength band reflected from the subject; and a complementary processing unit that applies complementary processing to a component equivalent to the second wavelength band cut by the light cut filter unit in the image of the subject picked up by the image pickup unit in a state in which the subject is illuminated by the light in the first wavelength band.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image generating apparatus comprising:
a first light source unit that emits, as illumination light for illuminating a subject, light in a first wavelength band to the subject;
a second light source unit that emits light in a second wavelength band, which is a part of the first wavelength band, to the subject;
an image pickup unit that picks up an image of the subject and outputs the image as an image pickup signal;
a light cut filter unit that is provided between the subject and the image pickup unit and cuts light in the second wavelength band reflected from the subject; and
a complementary processing unit that applies, on the basis of the image pickup signal, complementary processing to a component corresponding to the second wavelength band cut by the light cut filter unit in the image of the subject picked up by the image pickup unit in a state in which the subject is illuminated by the light in the first wavelength band,
wherein the complementary processing unit performs, as the complementary processing, one of processing for reducing a black level in a luminance of the component corresponding to the second wavelength band, processing for eliminating a high frequency component in the component corresponding to the second wavelength band in one of two portions of the subject, and processing for correcting strength of hues between the two portions of the subject in accordance with the calculation results of optical power values of reflected light, which is generated when the light in the first wavelength band is irradiated to a predetermined living body structure, in a case where the reflected light passes through the light cut filter unit and in a case where the reflected light do not pass through the light cut filter unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a noise-reduction processing unit that performs, on the basis of the image pickup signal, noise reduction processing for reducing noise that occurs in an edge portion in an image of the subject picked up by the image pickup unit in a state in which the subject is illuminated by light in the first wavelength band.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength band is wavelength bands for each of red, green, and blue.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The image generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first wavelength band is wavelength bands for each of red, green, and blue.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The image generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second wavelength band is a predetermined wavelength band in the wavelength band for blue.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The image generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second wavelength band is a predetermined wavelength band in the wavelength band for blue.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The image generating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined wavelength band is a wavelength band in which autofluorescence can be generated in a living tissue as the subject.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The image generating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined wavelength band is a wavelength band in which autofluorescence can be generated in a living tissue as the subject.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined living body structure comprises capillaries.