Examining or Imaging an Interior Surface of a Cavity

Abstract

A method for examining an interior surface of a cavity includes the steps of capturing partial images of an interior surface of a cavity; joining the captured partial images to form a complete image of the interior surface of the cavity; and providing an warning if the joined partial images does not form a complete image of the interior surface of the cavity.

1 . A method for examining or imaging an interior surface of a body cavity, the method comprising the steps of:
 by imaging apparatus, capturing partial images of an interior surface of a body cavity;   based at least in part on location data describing the location of the imaging apparatus at the time of each partial image, and recongizeable common features of captured partial images, joining the captured partial images to form an integrated image of the interior surface of the body cavity.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body cavity is a tubular cavity, and wherein the step of joining the captured partial images includes:
 flattening the partial images of the interior surface of the tubular cavity; and   joining the flattened partial images to form a complete flat image of the interior surface of the tubular cavity.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body cavity is a tubular cavity, and wherein the step of joining the captured partial images includes
 analyzing the partial image for the difference in contrast between the lumen of the tubular cavity and the interior surface of the tubular cavity;   outlining the lumen of the tubular cavity in the partial image; and   excising the lumen from the partial image.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of:
 excising an outer edge of the tubular cavity in the partial image.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the outer edge of the excised partial image of the interior surface of the tubular cavity is larger than, but similar in shape to, the excised lumen. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
 flattening the excised partial image to create a rectangular image.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 identifying similar regions or corresponding key points between any two images.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
 calculating a suitable transformation matrix which brings the two images together such that the key points or similar regions overlap.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 joining the two images by meshing or overlapping the images as dictated by the transformation matrix.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 providing an warning if the joined partial images do not form a single complete image of the interior surface of the body cavity.   
     
     
         14 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing direction to an operator to reach the missing area.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of providing direction includes:
 using an on-screen navigation cue to direct the operator to the missing area.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the on-screen navigation cue includes an arrow and the missing area, both of which are displayed on a screen, and wherein the arrow directs the operator towards the missing area. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calculating a scanning speed. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of calculating the scanning speed includes identifying similar regions or corresponding key points between two images; calculating a distance by which a key point or corresponding area has moved from the earlier one of the two images to the later of the two images; and calculating the scanning speed by dividing the distance by the time lapsed between the two images. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of calculating the distance includes counting the number of image pixels by which the key point or corresponding area has moved. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing a warning if the scanning speed is greater than a threshold value calculated to ensure accuracy of coverage. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calculating an amount of time spent on examining a region of the interior surface of the body cavity. 
     
     
         27 - 60 . (canceled)