Capsule Coating Dissolution Detection for GI Tract Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-vivo imaging technologies, such as endoscopes and capsule endoscopes, face limitations including invasiveness, discomfort, high costs, and difficulty in reaching the small intestine, with existing methods for determining capsule location in the GI tract being unreliable, leading to inefficient data collection and battery life issues.
Innovation Solution
A capsule device with an enteric coating that dissolves when it enters the small bowel, allowing the system to transition from a low-power monitoring mode to active image capture mode, using image processing to determine coating dissolution and adjust frame rate and power consumption accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the capsule captures images continuously at high frame rate throughout the GI tract, then diagnostic coverage is improved, but battery life is reduced and unnecessary data is collected in non-targeted areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the coating dissolution event before initiating high-rate image capture. The coating is designed to dissolve at a specific location (small intestine entrance), and the capsule detects this dissolution event in advance, then activates high-frame-rate capture only after confirmation, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption in non-targeted areas
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule dynamically adjusts its image capture frame rate based on its location in the GI tract. It operates at low or zero frame rate during transit through the stomach and upper GI tract, then switches to high frame rate upon detecting coating dissolution at the small intestine entrance, optimizing energy usage while maintaining diagnostic quality
2Use of energy by moving object
If the capsule operates at low power monitoring mode throughout the entire GI tract, then battery life is extended, but diagnostic accuracy in targeted areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a low-power monitoring mode that continuously detects the coating dissolution event. Once the dissolution is detected (indicating arrival at the small intestine), the system preliminarily confirms the location and then activates high-power image capture mode, ensuring diagnostic accuracy is maintained in the targeted area while minimizing overall energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule employs feedback from the coating dissolution detection to control image capture power consumption. The low-power monitoring mode provides continuous feedback about the capsule's location status, and when the feedback indicates coating dissolution (small intestine arrival), the system responds by switching to high-power capture mode, optimizing the balance between battery life and diagnostic accuracy
3Device complexity
If unreliable location determination methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but data collection efficiency is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an enteric coating as an intermediary mechanism to determine capsule location. Instead of using complex sensors or systems to directly detect location, the coating serves as a passive mediator that dissolves at a specific pH threshold in the small intestine, providing a simple and reliable location indicator that triggers appropriate data collection without requiring complex determination systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach extends battery life, reduces unnecessary data collection, and ensures efficient image capture in targeted areas of the GI tract, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing patient discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
an enteric coating on the outer surface of the capsule housing and detects whether the coating has dissolved
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A capsule device and a method for the capsule device remain in a very low power state and monitor whether it enters a desired section of the gastrointestinal track. The capsule device is coated with an enteric material that is expected to dissolve after it enters the small bowel. In the monitoring state, the capsule device captures a first image using the camera and the light source at a first frame rate substantially below a target frame rate. The capsule device compares first information related to the first image with second information related to a coating image corresponding to the coating. If the first information does not matches the second information, the capsule device declares that the coating has dissolved and the capsule device configures the camera to capture third images at the target rate after declaring that the coating has dissolved.