Medical signal processing apparatus and medical observation system

Abstract

A medical signal processing apparatus processes image signals input from an imaging device. The image signals corresponds to a result of examining a subject, and the imaging device sequentially outputs the image signals from multiple pixels arrayed in a matrix according to a raster to the medical signal processing apparatus. The medical image signal processing apparatus includes: a signal divider configured to divide the image signals according to the raster sequentially output from the imaging device into first divided image signals each according to a pixel group consisting of multiple pixels arrayed in connected multiple columns; and a plurality of pre-processors configured to process, in parallel, sets of pixel information of the multiple first divided image signals divided by the signal divider.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical signal processing apparatus, comprising:
 pre-processor circuitry configured to process image signals of an image input and to transmit pixel information corresponding to the image;   a memory to receive the pixel information transmitted from the pre-processor circuitry and to store in parallel as stored data the pixel information processed by the pre-processor circuitry; and   a plurality of post-processor circuitries configured to read from the memory a plurality of divided image signals each corresponding to a plurality of regions in a whole image area of the pixel information for one frame and to perform image processing on the plurality of divided image signals in parallel,   wherein the plurality of divided image signals have overlap between regions adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The medical signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing performed by the pre-processor circuitry executes, in parallel, sets of detection processing for controlling a camera which captures the image signals based on the pixel information of the plurality of divided image signals. 
     
     
         3 . The medical signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing performed by the pre-processor circuitry executes, in parallel, sets of detection processing for calculating operation parameters used in image processing performed on the image signals based on the pixel information of the plurality of divided image signals. 
     
     
         4 . The medical signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a camera to capture the image, the image containing a subject image from an endoscope,   the medical signal processing apparatus further comprises signal divider circuitry configured to divide the image signals from multiple pixels corresponding to two unnecessary areas excluding the subject image in a captured image into two of the plurality of divided image signals, and   the pre-processor circuitry is configured to remove the two divided image signals from the multiple pixels corresponding to the two unnecessary areas among the plurality of divided signals and process, in parallel, the pixel information of the plurality of divided image signals excluding the two divided image signals.   
     
     
         5 . A medical observation system comprising:
 a camera configured to image a subject and sequentially output image signals from multiple pixels arrayed in a matrix according to a raster; and   the medical signal processing apparatus according to  claim 1  configured to process the image signals according to the raster that is sequentially output from the camera.   
     
     
         6 . A medical signal processing apparatus, comprising:
 means for pre-processing configured to process, in parallel, pixel information of a plurality of divided image signals and to transmit the pixel information that was preprocessed;   a memory to receive the pixel information transmitted from means for pre-processing and store in parallel as stored data the pixel information processed by the means for pre-processing; and   a plurality of means for post-processing to receive in parallel the stored data as pixel information from the memory which includes the pixel information processed in parallel by the means for pre-processing and execute, in parallel, image processing on the pixel information from the memory, adjacent sets of the pixel information from the memory overlapping each other.   
     
     
         7 . The medical signal processing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the processing performed by the means for pre-processing executes, in parallel, sets of detection processing for controlling a camera which captures the image signals based on the pixel information of the plurality of divided image signals. 
     
     
         8 . The medical signal processing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the processing performed by the means for pre-processing executes, in parallel, sets of detection processing for calculating operation parameters used in image processing performed on the image signals based on the pixel information of the plurality of divided image signals. 
     
     
         9 . The medical signal processing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 a camera to capture the image, the image containing a subject image from an endoscope,   the medical signal processing apparatus further comprises signal divider circuitry configured to divide the image signals from multiple pixels corresponding to two unnecessary areas excluding the subject image in a captured image into two of the plurality of divided image signals, and   the means for pre-processing is configured to remove the two divided image signals from the multiple pixels corresponding to the two unnecessary areas among the plurality of divided signals and process, in parallel, the pixel information of the plurality of divided image signals excluding the two divided image signals.   
     
     
         10 . A medical observation system comprising:
 a camera configured to image a subject and sequentially output image signals from multiple pixels arrayed in a matrix according to a raster; and   the medical signal processing apparatus according to  claim 6  configured to process the image signals according to the raster that is sequentially output from the camera.