Computer aided diagnosis using video from endoscopes

1 . A process for providing computer aided diagnosis from video data of an organ during an examination with an endoscope, comprising:

analyzing said video data to discard poor quality image frames to provide satisfying image frames from said video data;

enhancing said satisfying image frames;

detecting and diagnosing any lesions in said satisfying image frames;

wherein said analyzing, enhancing, and detecting and diagnosing steps are performed in real time during said examination.

2 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein said enhancing step comprises:

removing glint from said satisfying image frames;

detecting blur and discarding poor quality image frames that are not sufficiently clear;

enhancement of contrast in said satisfying image frames;

applying super resolution to said satisfying image frames; and

providing video stabilization to said satisfying image frames.

3 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting and diagnosing step comprises color calibration, color analysis, texture analysis and feature detection.

4 . A process according to claim 1 , further comprising:

reconstructing a still image of said organ in three dimensions from said satisfying image frames, wherein said reconstructing is performed in real time during said examination.

5 . A process according to claim 4 , wherein said reconstructing step comprises fisheye distortion correction, geometry calibration, image based modeling and three dimensional data stitching to form a reconstructed model;

wherein said detecting and diagnosing step further comprises recovering 3 dimensional shape and size information of any lesions in said organ from said reconstructed model.

6 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting and diagnosing includes analysis of blood vessels.

7 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting and diagnosing includes analysis of pit patterns.

8 . A process according to claim 1 , wherein said analyzing, enhancing and detecting and diagnosis steps are performed using an automated image processing system on a computer operably connected to said endoscope.

9 . A process for providing computer aided diagnosis from video data of an endoscope during a colonoscopy of a large intestine, comprising:

analyzing said video data to discard poor quality image frames to provide satisfying image frames from said video data;

enhancing said satisfying image frames;

detecting and diagnosing any polyps in said satisfying image frames;

wherein said analyzing, enhancing, and detecting and diagnosing steps are all performed in real time during said colonoscopy by software operating on a computer that is operably connected to receive video data from said endoscope.

10 . A process according to claim 9 , wherein said analyzing step comprises glint detection and elimination and focus analysis.

11 . A process according to claim 9 , wherein said enhancing step comprises contrast enhancement, super resolution and video stabilization.

12 . A process according to claim 9 , wherein said detecting and diagnosing step comprises color calibration, color analysis, texture analysis and feature detection.

13 . A process according to claim 12 , wherein said texture analysis includes analyzing blood vessels and pit patterns.

14 . A process according to claim 9 , further comprising:

reconstructing a still image of said large intestine in three dimensions from said satisfying image frames to form a reconstructed model, wherein said reconstructing is performed in real time during said colonoscopy;

wherein said detecting and diagnosing step further comprises recovering 3 dimensional shape and size information of any polyps in said colon from said reconstructed model.

15 . A process according to claim 14 , wherein said reconstructing step comprises fisheye distortion correction, geometry calibration, image based modeling and three dimensional data stitching.

16 . A process for providing computer aided diagnosis from video data of an organ during an examination with an endoscope, comprising:

analyzing said video data to discard poor quality image frames to provide satisfying image frames from said video data;

removing glint from said satisfying image frames;

detecting blur and discarding poor quality image frames that are not sufficiently clear;

enhancement of contrast in said satisfying image frames;

applying super resolution to said satisfying image frames;

providing video stabilization to said satisfying image frames. detecting and diagnosing any lesions in said satisfying image frames;

wherein said detecting and diagnosing step is performed in real time during said examination using an automated image processing system on a computer operably connected to said endoscope.

17 . A process according to claim 16 , further comprising:

reconstructing a still image of said organ in three dimensions from said satisfying image frames to form a reconstructed model; and

recovering 3 dimensional shape and size information of any lesions in said organ from said reconstructed model;

wherein said reconstructing step is performed in real time during said examination.