Development of depth extraction algorithm for the stereo endoscopic image

This paper presents the development of depth extraction algorithm for the stereoscopic endoscope data using a stereo matching method. Generally, the purpose of existing stereo algorithms is to reconstruct stereo object surface and depth map. But the main purpose of the authors´ processing is to give exact depth feeling to the doctor showing depth information in some points. For this purpose, this paper presents two stereo matching algorithms which are to measure exact depth. One is a variable window-based algorithm, and the other is a reference points-based algorithm for fast processing