An image processing device includes: a specific candidate area extracting unit configured to extract a specific candidate area that satisfies a predetermined condition from an intraluminal image captured inside a body lumen; a reference area setting unit configured to set a reference area that includes at least a part of the specific candidate area; a local area extracting unit configured to extract local areas based on the reference area; a local feature data calculator configured to calculate local feature data that is feature data of each of the local areas; a weight setting unit configured to set a weight depending on each of the local areas based on the specific candidate area; and a feature data integrating unit configured to integrate the local feature data.

An ultra-small camera module with wide field of view includes (a) a wafer-level lens system for forming, on an image plane, an image of a wide field-of-view scene, wherein the wafer-level lens system includes (i) a distal planar surface positioned closest to the scene and no more than 2.5 millimeters away from the image plane in direction along optical axis of the wafer-level lens system, and (ii) a plurality of lens elements optically coupled in series along the optical axis, each of the lens elements having a curved surface, and (b) an image sensor mechanically coupled to the wafer-level lens system and including a rectangular array of photosensitive pixels, positioned at the image plane, for capturing the image, wherein cross section of the ultra-small camera module, orthogonal to the optical axis, is rectangular with side lengths no greater than 1.5 millimeters.

In-vivo devices, systems and methods for the detection of blood within in-vivo bodily fluids. The methods include irradiating in-vivo fluids passing through a gap in a housing of an in-vivo device introduced to the GI tract of a subject with a plurality of illumination sources positioned on a first side of a gap; detecting with at least one light detector positioned on the opposite side of the gap and facing the illumination sources, light irradiated by the illumination sources; transmitting a plurality of values representing the light detected over time; converting these values to blood concentration values over time, and comparing the blood concentration values to a predetermined threshold value. Based on the comparison, the method includes determining the type of bleeding profile, such that if a plurality of blood concentration values measured consecutively is above the threshold value, the bleeding profile indicates bleeding.

Various embodiments are described herein for a device, system, and method for identifying a location of an ingestible device within a gastrointestinal tract of a body. In some embodiments, the ingestible device includes a sensing unit with an axial optical sensing sub-unit located proximal to at least one end of the device, and a radial optical sensing sub-unit located proximal to a radial wall of the device, and may autonomously identify a location within the gastrointestinal tract. In some embodiments, the ingestible device includes optical illumination sources and detectors that operate at a plurality of different wavelengths, and may discern regions of a gastrointestinal tract by using the reflection properties of organ tissue and occasional particulates. In some embodiments, the ingestible device may sample fluid or release medicament based on a detected device location.

An endoscope system includes a capsule endoscope that includes an imaging section, a first processing section that causes the imaging section to operate in a first mode or a second mode, and a first communication section that transmits the captured images to an external device, and the external device that includes a second processing section that outputs a mode switch instruction based on the captured images, and a second communication section that transmits the mode switch instruction, wherein the first processing section causes the imaging section to operate in the second mode from a halfway position of the small intestine, and also operate in the second mode in the large intestine based on the mode switch instruction.

An image processing device includes: an HDR image generating unit configured to generate an HDR image signal by first high dynamic range combining of a first signal including first image data and a second signal including second image data; a tone compressing unit configured to generate a first tone-compressed image signal to be displayed by performing tone compression processing on the HDR image signal generated by the HDR image generating unit; and a color correcting unit configured to generate a second tone-compressed image signal by second high dynamic range combining of at least the first and second signals based on the first tone-compressed image signal.

An image pickup apparatus includes an image forming optical system having an aperture stop, a first lens, and a second lens, and an imager having a light-receiving surface that is curved to be concave toward the image forming optical system, and a relative partial dispersion for a medium of the first lens differs from a relative partial dispersion for a medium of the second lens, and when a straight line indicated by θgF.sub.LA=α×υd.sub.LA+β.sub.LA (where α=−0.00163) has been set, θgF.sub.LA and υd.sub.LA for the medium of the first lens are included in both of an area determined by the following conditional expression (1) and an area determined by the following conditional expression (2), and

the following conditional expression (3) is satisfied:

0.68<β.sub.LA   (1),

υd.sub.LA<50   (2), and

0<|f/R.sub.img|≦1.5   (3).

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.

An in vivo capsule has a cauterization element that may be deployed by physician while in vivo for cauterizing a lesion, such as bleeding. Energy is transferred from outside of the patient's body to the capsule and specifically to the ablating element, such as via a resonance circuit. Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for precisely cauterizing or ablating tissue in-vivo. Embodiments of the invention may provide an in-vivo device having a cauterization or ablation element incorporated therein and a system and method for controlled navigation of the in-vivo cauterization device through a body lumen.

A system and method for wirelessly transmitting a video image signal from an endoscopic camera to a receiver or control unit for storage and/or display on a video monitor. Use of a frame-specific, variable compression algorithm capable of progressively encoding a data stream provides for a better performing and higher quality wireless endoscopic camera system capable of generating images at varying resolutions. Use of a short-range, high-performance wireless technology, such as Ultrawideband (UWB), improves the performance capabilities of the system, while minimizing power consumption and extending battery life. Implementations of error correcting codes, as well as the use of multiple transmitting and receiving antennas, further improve the fidelity of the wireless communication.