Self-stabilized encapsulated imaging system

a self-stabilized, imaging system technology, applied in the field of gastrointestinal organ imaging, can solve problems such as preventing meaningful interpretation of acquired images
US20140378764A1Inactive Publication Date: 2014-12-25UTI LLP
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
UTI LLP
Publication Date
2014-12-25
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

Wireless capsule endoscope technology has been used to image portions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly the small bowel. However in other GI organs, especially those having larger-lumens, the capsule may become destabilized and tumble, precluding meaningful interpretation of the acquired images. The present invention describes a method and apparatus for permitting capsule imaging of organs having larger-lumens without tumbling, and includes an outer shell surrounding the capsule that targets the colon, as an example. Once the colon has been reached, the shell breaks or dissolves, and allows expansion of expandable materials attached to each end of the capsule, thereby stabilizing the capsule in the targeted organ, while permitting it to be moved by peristalsis and / or other means for locating the capsule. Imagers and light emitting diodes (LEDs) are activated during the expansion process, and enable overlapping of images. The capsule is moved through the colon, taking images at chosen frame rates with data being wirelessly transmitted by means of an RF transmitter, and is eventually expelled from the body.
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Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of United States provisional patent application No. 60 / 650,278 filed Feb. 4, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to imaging of the gastrointestinal organs and, more particularly, to the imaging of gastrointestinal organs using a self-orienting, capsule-based imaging system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Recent advances in low-power complementary metal-oxide silicon (CMOS) imagers, mixed signal application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and white light emitting diodes (LEDs) has led to a swallowable video capsule for endoscopy [See, e.g., Arkady Clukhovsky, “Wireless Capsule Endoscopy” , Sensor Review, 23, no.2, pp. 128-133 (2003).]. Capsule-based imaging of gastrointestinal organs was introduced in 1997 [See, e.g., Iddan et al., “In Vivo Video Camera System”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,531, Feb. 18, 1997.], and has since become a preferred imaging ...

Claims

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