RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR ENDOSCOPIC (MEDICAL) IMAGES ENHANCEMENT

Abstract

Introduction. The modern technologies of virtual chromoendoscopy provide significant increase of diagnostic value of images considered by a doctor. The analysis of existing technologies shows that the existing solutions have significant disadvantages. Some of them require a complex preliminary calibration of the equipment for operation. Others use global transformations, making impossible consideration of local tissues characteristics and so on. In general, nowadays the technology of virtual chromoendoscopy, which suits the majority of potential users – doctors, does not exists, and, therefore, there it is a field for research.Objective. Development of the method for virtual chromoendoscopy, with regard to disadvantages identified within the frames of carried out analysis of similar methods.Methods and materials. For implementation of the research were used open endoscopic image data-bases, by the instrumentality of which, as a result of modeling and experiment, were evaluated quality characteris-tics of the proposed method.Results. The new method of virtual chromoendoscopy. The main feature of the method is usage of nonlinear local transformation functions in transformation of RGB channels, as well as absence of calibration procedure for obtaining the effect of virtual chromoendoscopy. The proposed method is completely based on the technology of digital image processing and includes image brightness correction, which provides the possibility to obtain the necessary visual information both from very dark and overexposed fragments; image sharpening, contrasting small details and vessels.Conclusion. The expert assessment of the obtained results shows that the visual effect of the proposed method corresponds, or in some cases, exceeds the visual effect of proprietary technologies of virtual endoscopy I-Scan and FICE.

Keywords

• virtual chromoendoscopy
• digital medical image processing
• nonlinear contrast enhancing