Device, system and method for temperature sensing in an in-vivo device

• US 20040109488A1
• Filed: 08/19/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J., Meron, Gavriel, Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Granted Patent: US 7,140,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/120
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/30 using thermal noise of resistances or conductors

Abstract

A device, method and system for sensing the temperature or temperature change of an environment. A typically in-vivo device includes an image sensor. The device may sense the dark current noise of the image sensor, and calculate the temperature or a temperature change of the image sensor.

Claims

1. A method for sensing a temperature change in an environment, the method comprising:

introducing into the environment an image sensor having an image sensing module;

sensing the dark current noise of the image sensing module;

obtaining a dark current data sample; and

comparing a dark current data sample to a previous sample.

2. A system for sensing a temperature change in an environment comprising:

an image sensor;

an integrating unit; and

a change detector;

said image sensor being introduced into an environment; and

said integrating unit receiving dark current noise samples from the image sensor, and said change detector detecting changes between dark current noise samples.

3. A method for sensing a temperature change in an environment, the method comprising:

introducing into the environment an image sensor;

sensing the dark current noise of the image sensor;

obtaining a dark current data sample; and

determining a change in temperature.

4. A device for sensing a temperature change in an environment, the device comprising:

an image sensor;

a controller to accept the dark current noise of the image sensor, to obtain a dark current data sample, and to determine a change in temperature.