Medical imagaing system

Abstract

A medical imaging system includes multiple illuminating endoscopes with cameras having image sensors exposure control and a frame memory. The exposure control of each camera activates the frame memory and light source for collection of selected frame images by the frame memory. A data link among the endoscopes synchronizes exclusive initiation of the exposure controls in recurring serial order for activation of each respective frame memory and light source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical imaging system comprising:
 a plurality of endoscopic video cameras, each endoscopic video camera further comprising:   a light source;
 an image sensor capable of sensing video frame images; and 
 a frame memory capable of collecting sensed video frame images; 
   a controller coupled to the plurality of endoscopic video cameras, the controller synchronizing the endoscopic video cameras for alternate illumination by the light sources, and for alternate collection of the video frame images by the frame memories such that at least one endoscopic video camera frame memory is deactivated when the frame memory of another endoscopic video camera is collecting video frame images.   
     
     
         2 . The medical imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the endoscopic video cameras so that at least endoscopic video camera light source is deactivated when the frame memory of another endoscopic video camera is collecting video frame images. 
     
     
         3 . The medical imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller activates the light source of one of the endoscopic video cameras for providing background lighting when the frame memory of another of the endoscopic video cameras is collecting video frame images. 
     
     
         4 . The medical imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller has a video capture profile of the image sensor frame rate, a sequence of the selected frame images and light source duration for the activation of each respective frame memory. 
     
     
         5 . The medical imaging system of  claim 4 , each endoscopic video camera further including a video output receiving the respective selected frame images. 
     
     
         6 . The medical imaging system of  claim 5  operating at a preselected video frame rate, each video output presenting the last received selected frame image from the respective frame memory at the preselected video frame rate, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The medical imaging system of  claim 6  further comprising
 at least one image display, each video output being coupled to the at least one image display, respectively. 
 
     
     
         8 . The medical imaging system of  claim 1 , the endoscopic video cameras each further comprising an exposure control, the exposure control controlling the respective image sensor, frame memory, and light source. 
     
     
         9 . The medical imaging system of  claim 8 , the exposure control modulating one or both of intensity and activation duration of the light source responsive to image brightness. 
     
     
         10 . The medical imaging system of  claim 1 , each endoscopic video camera further including a shutter selected from the group consisting of a global shutter, a rolling shutter, and a rolling shutter having a global reset. 
     
     
         11 . The medical imaging system of  claim 1  wherein the system comprises two endoscopic video cameras and each of the endoscopic video cameras has a rolling shutter having a global reset. 
     
     
         12 . The medical imaging system of  claim 1 , the controller including a camera control unit in each of the endoscopic video cameras and a data link therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . A process for using two endoscopic cameras in a medical procedure, each endoscopic camera including an image sensor capable of sensing video frame images, a video output for selected sensed video frame images, and a light source having a first mode of direct lighting, comprising the steps of
 positioning the endoscopic cameras at a surgical site;   synchronizing the endoscopic cameras for alternate first mode illumination by the light sources and for selecting video frame images from each endoscopic camera only during first mode illumination of the light source of that camera; and   communicating the selected video frame images to the respective video outputs.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the light sources of each endoscope further comprise a second mode of background lighting, and the process further comprises the step of
 activating the light sources so that the light source of at least one of the endoscopic cameras illuminates in the second mode of background lighting while the other endoscopic camera light source is illuminated in first mode illumination.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the light sources of each endoscope further comprise a second mode of background lighting, and the process further comprises the step of
 activating the light sources so that the light source of each of the endoscopic cameras illuminates in the second mode of background lighting while the other endoscopic camera light source is illuminated in first mode illumination.