Design and Development of New Systems for Medical and Endoscopic Imaging Applications

该应用程序建议开发新的图像和视频处理算法以及用于医疗和内窥镜成像应用的低成本数字系统。一个关键领域是无线胶囊内窥镜检查，患者吞下一个集成了成像和传输功能的电子胶囊，它通过小肠传播，捕获并发送用于诊断胃肠道疾病的图像。商业产品的常见局限性是图像质量和帧速率低，肠道特征可见性差，工作时间短，导致诊断不准确和不完整。这项研究通过探索新的图像压缩算法和低成本架构来解决这些限制，这些算法和低成本架构导致图像质量的显著改善和有助于延长电池寿命的超低功耗。它还使用了新兴的窄带照明技术，有助于提高具有诊断重要性的肠道特征的可见性；因此，可以进行更准确的诊断，并可以检查更多的肠道区域。这种新一代内窥镜系统具有先进的自动化算法，可以检测内窥镜图像中的异常并对其进行分类，这将帮助医生快速识别可疑区域，并实现快速诊断。此外，没有针对马和狗等大型动物的内窥镜胶囊。这项研究将探索开发用于兽医内窥镜检查的无线胶囊的新技术。研究的另一个重点是探索新的压缩传感技术，以使用更少的输入样本高效地重建MRI、基于同步加速器的CT和Micro-CT图像。结果将缩短扫描时间，减少对患者的辐射剂量，这将潜在地改善医疗诊断的实践。因此，拟议的计划促进了跨学科互动，并具有巨大的行业合作潜力。研究结果将显著提高许多与健康相关的应用的效率和准确性，增强加拿大在医疗和内窥镜成像产品方面的作用。

The application proposes to develop new image and video processing algorithms and low-cost digital systems for medical and endoscopic imaging applications. A key area is the wireless capsule endoscopy where a patient swallows an electronic capsule, integrated with imaging and transmission capabilities, which travels through small intestine, captures and sends images that are used for diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. Common limitations of commercial products are low image quality and frame rate, poor visibility of intestinal features, and low working time that lead to inaccurate and incomplete diagnosis. The research addresses the limitations by exploring novel image compression algorithms and low-cost architectures that result in significant improvement of image quality and ultra-low power consumption that helps extend the battery life. It also uses emerging narrow-band lighting techniques that help improve the visibility of diagnostically important features of the intestine; as a result, more accurate diagnosis is possible and more intestinal area can be examined. This next-generation endoscopic system features advanced automated algorithms to detect and classify abnormalities in endoscopic images that will help physicians identify suspected areas quickly and enables speedy diagnosis. Besides, there is no endoscopic capsule for large animals such as horse and dog. The research will explore new technologies to develop wireless capsules for veterinary endoscopy. Another key focus of the research is to explore new compressed sensing techniques to efficiently reconstruct MRI, Synchrotron-based CT and micro-CT images using fewer input samples. The outcome will shorten scan time and reduce radiation dose to patient, which will potentially improve the practice of medical diagnosis. Thus, the proposed program facilitates interdisciplinary interaction and has huge potential for industry collaboration. The outcome of the research will significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of many health related applications, enhancing Canada's role in medical and endoscopic imaging products.