Device, system and method for accoustic in-vivo measuring

• US 20030195415A1
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/365,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0051 by applying vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes

Abstract

A system and method senses an in-vivo lumen using ultrasonic elements typically arranged in a ring or other similar structure. Position information may be collected. A set of reflectance data may be collected and used to form an image or representation of the lumen. In one example, the data is collected by an in-vivo autonomous capsule. Additionally, ultrasonic elements may be arranged in order to receive a mechanical characteristic of the tissue (e.g., acoustic impedance) rather than an image or representation.

Claims

1. An in-vivo sensing device comprising:

a set of ultrasonic elements arranged in a ring; and

a controller capable of causing the set of ultrasonic elements to generate a pattern of ultrasonic energy.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising a transmitter.

3. The device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of rings of ultrasonic elements.

4. The device of claim 1 comprising a battery.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the pattern is moving.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the pattern moves in a ring.

7. The device of claim 1 comprising a set of ultrasonic receivers.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the set of ultrasonic elements includes an ultrasonic receiver.

9. The device of claim 1, comprising a position determining element.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is autonomous.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a swallowable capsule.

12. An in-vivo sensing platform comprising:

a processor capable of receiving a set of ultrasonic data, the set of ultrasonic data representing a body lumen, the set of ultrasonic data including reflectances received by a ring of ultrasonic receivers, and, in response, generating a representation of the body lumen.

13. The platform of claim 12 comprising a memory.

14. The platform of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic data is collected by a swallowable capsule.

15. The platform of claim 12, wherein the data is received from a sensor device, and wherein processor is further capable of accepting data describing the position of a sensor device within the body lumen.

16. The platform of claim 12, wherein the data is received from a sensor device, and wherein processor is further capable of accepting data describing the location of a sensor device within the body lumen.

17. The platform of claim 16, wherein the processor is capable of combining the data describing the location with the set of ultrasonic data to generate the representation.

18. The platform of claim 12, wherein the data is received from a sensor device, and wherein processor is further capable of determining the location of a sensor device within the body lumen.

19. A method of creating a representation of a body lumen, the method comprising:

accepting a set of ultrasonic data, the ultrasonic data including sets of radial reflectances;

accepting a set of position data, each ultrasonic datum corresponding to an ultrasonic datum;

creating a set of images from the set of ultrasonic data; and

associating each image with a position datum.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the ultrasonic data is collected by a swallowable capsule.

21. The method of claim 19, comprising generating a representation from the data.

22. An in-vivo sensing device comprising:

a ring of ultrasonic elements;

a position determining element; and

a controller.

23. An in-vivo sensing device comprising:

a set of ultrasonic element means for transmitting ultrasonic energy; and

a controller means for controlling the set of ultrasonic elements to generate a pattern of ultrasonic energy.

24. An in-vivo imaging platform comprising:

a processor means for receiving a set of ultrasonic data, the set of ultrasonic data representing a body lumen, the set of ultrasonic data including reflectances received by a ring of ultrasonic receivers, and, in response, generating a representation of the body lumen.

25. An in-vivo sensing platform comprising:

a processor capable of receiving a set of ultrasonic data and a set of position data, the set of ultrasonic data representing a gastrointestinal tract, the set of ultrasonic data including reflectances received by a ring of ultrasonic receivers in an autonomous capsule, and, in response, generating a representation of the body lumen.

26. A method of creating an image of a gastrointestinal track, the method comprising:

accepting a set of ultrasonic data collected by an autonomous capsule, the ultrasonic data including sets of radial reflectances;

accepting a set of position data, each ultrasonic datum corresponding to an ultrasonic datum;

creating a set of images from the set of ultrasonic data, each image corresponding to a section of the gastrointestinal tract; and

associating each image with a position datum.