Displaying image data from a scanner capsule

摘要

An ingestible image scanning pill captures high resolution images of the GI tract as it passes through. Images communicated externally have exact location determination. Image processing software discards duplicate information and stitches images together, line scan by line scan, to replicate a complete GI tract as if it were stretched out in a straight line. A fully linear image is displayed to a medical professional as if the GI tract had been stretched in a straight line, cut open, laid flat out on a bench for viewing—all without making any incisions in a live patient.

主权项

1. An apparatus for displaying, a representation of a gastro intestinal (GI) tract of an animal, the apparatus comprising:
a memory that stores a plurality of annular images corresponding to a plurality of portions of the GI tract as an ingestible imaging pill passes through the GI tract; a processor configured to convert the plurality of annular mages to a plurality of rectilinear images and to merge a first image from among the plurality of annular images and a second image from among the plurality of annular images to provide a composite image, wherein the processor is further configured to apply the merge process only to a first region of the first image that overlaps a second region of the second image to average out differences between the first and the second regions.