FPGA-based three-dimensional endoscope system using a single CCD camera

Endoscopic surgery is indispensable from the current surgical procedures. Conventional endoscope systems produce two-dimensional (2D) colored video images which do not provide surgeons an actual depth perception of the scene, while the current existing three-dimensional(3D) endoscope mainly adopts a dual-CCD camera structure with the size of 10mm or more. In this paper, a Ø5-mm, 3D endoscope system is presented which using a single 1/10-inch CCD camera as front-end image acquisition model and using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform as a real-time video processor. The system makes use of image parallax theory and pneumatic vibration mechanism. An overview of the system architecture is given,including some details of the front-end endoscope structure design, the FPGA implementation of actual image processing and 3D display. Viewers can use polarized glasses to experience stereoscopic display effect. The design features smaller size, low-cost, high-performance and strong portability. The 3D endoscope system can solve the stereo visualization and real-time display demands for endoscopic surgery and significantly decrease the risk of damage to surgical body cavity.