Patent ID: 8581972
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An endoscopic apparatus comprising: an endoscope comprising: a light source device configured to supply illumination light to the endoscope, the light source device comprising a light source identification information storage unit configured to store light source identification information for identifying the light source device; a first white balance data storage unit provided in a processor to which the endoscope and the light source device are connected and configured to store one or more white balance data, wherein each of the white balance data stored in the first white balance data storage unit is associated with predetermined light source identification information for identifying a predetermined light source device and predetermined endoscope identification information for identifying a predetermined endoscope; a second white balance data storage unit provided in the endoscope, the second white balance data storage unit configured to store white balance data not associated with any light source identification information; a white balance data source determination unit configured to determine whether white balance data associated with the light source identification information for identifying the light source device and the endoscope identification information for identifying the endoscope exists in the first white balance data storage unit; a white balance processing unit configured to perform white balance processing on the image signal, wherein: a white balance switch for performing manual white balance processing; means configured to calculate white balance data and update the white balance data in the second white balance data storage unit, when the white balance switch is pressed; a second white balance data source determination unit configured to determine, when the white balance switch is pressed, whether white balance data, which corresponds to the endoscope identification information and the light source identification information at the time that the white balance switch is pressed, exists in the first white balance data storage unit; and means configured to, when corresponding white balance data does not exist in the first white balance data storage unit as a result of determination in the second white balance data source determination unit, store the white balance data updated in the second white balance data storage unit along with the endoscope identification information and the light source identification information, in the first white balance data storage unit, and configured to, when corresponding white balance data exists in the first white balance data storage unit, update the white balance data in the first white balance data storage unit by writing the white balance data updated in the second white balance data storage unit along with the endoscope identification information and the light source identification information over the white balance data in the first white balance data storage unit.