Ingestible Capsule Exit Detection Using Pressure and Temperature Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the location and exit of ingestible capsules from the gastrointestinal tract are inaccurate due to signal interference, patient movement, and other limitations, such as those using RF signals or accelerometers.
Innovation Solution
An ingestible capsule equipped with pressure and temperature sensors that record measurements as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract, transmitting these to a processor outside the body, where an increasing pressure sequence and temperature drop are analyzed to determine the capsule's exit time, using regression analysis and correlation coefficients to confirm the exit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If RF signals or accelerometers are used to determine capsule location, then location determination is attempted, but accuracy deteriorates due to signal interference, tissue impact, patient movement, drift, and rotational inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electromagnetic (RF) signals and mechanical accelerometers with a pressure sensing system. The pressure sensor detects pressure changes within the gastrointestinal tract, providing a more reliable basis for location determination that is not susceptible to signal interference, tissue attenuation, or patient movement artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from RF signal strength or accelerometer data to intraluminal pressure. By monitoring pressure variations and comparing them against reference pressure profiles for different gastrointestinal regions, the system achieves more accurate and reliable location determination.
2Measurement precision
If multiple antennas are used for RF signal triangulation, then location determination capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex multi-antenna RF triangulation system with a single pressure sensor. The pressure sensor measures pressure variations that naturally occur as the capsule moves through different gastrointestinal regions, eliminating the need for multiple antennas and complex signal processing.
3Speed
If accelerometers are used to determine capsule location, then movement detection is improved, but accuracy deteriorates due to drift and non-linear progression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces accelerometers with a pressure sensing system. Instead of integrating acceleration data (which accumulates drift errors), the system directly measures pressure at each moment and compares it to reference profiles, providing accurate location determination without drift or non-linear progression errors.
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 method provides a reliable and accurate determination of the capsule's exit from the gastrointestinal tract by identifying specific pressure and temperature patterns, reducing errors associated with previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
providing an ingestible capsule having a pressure sensor, having a subject ingest the capsule, recording measurements from the pressure sensor as the capsule passes through at least an end portion of a gastrointestinal tract of the subject
Implementation Method 2
The ingestible capsule may further comprise a temperature sensor and the method may further comprising the steps of recording measurements from the temperature sensor as the capsule passes through the end portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining body exit of an ingestible capsule comprising the steps of providing (40) an ingestible capsule (20) having a pressure sensor (23), having (41) a subject ingest the capsule, recording (42a) measurements from the pressure sensor as the capsule passes through at least an end portion of a gastrointestinal tract of the subject, transmitting (44) the measurements to a processor (31) outside of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, identifying (47) an increasing pressure sequence (65) in the measurements between a selected start time (62) and a transmission end time (63), comparing (48) the sequence to a reference (66), and using the comparison to make a determination (52) regarding the capsule exiting the gastrointestinal tract of the subject. The increasing pressure sequence may be the longest increasing pressure sequence in the measurements. The reference may be a logarithmic regression of the measurements. The ingestible capsule may further comprise a temperature sensor (22) and the method may further comprising the steps of recording (42b) measurements from the temperature sensor as the capsule passes through the end portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, transmitting (43) the measurements to the processor, analyzing (46) the temperature measurements for a substantial drop (68) in the temperature measurements, and using the analysis of the temperature measurements to make the determination regarding the capsule exiting the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.