Parallel computing for real time gauze detection in laparoscopy images

Automatic systems are crucial for expanding the capabilities of surgeons, especially in minimally invasive surgery. In this paper we present an image processing system that detects in real time the surgical sponges in the video captured by the endoscope. This application is the first part of an automatic system to avoid the risk of inadvertent retention of gauzes in the patient body after the operation. The detection algorithm present real time capabilities using an affordable multicore hardware.