Method and apparatus for size analysis in an in vivo imaging system

• US 20040127785A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Meron, Gavriel, Glukhovsky, Arkady, Davidson, Tal
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

A device, system and method for capturing in-vivo images allows for size or distance estimations for objects within the images. A scale may be overlayed on or otherwise added to the images and, based on a comparison between the scale and an image of an object, the size of the object and/or the distance of the object from an imaging device may be estimated or calculated.

Claims

1. A method for capturing in-vivo images, the method comprising:

capturing an in-vivo image; and

overlaying a scale on the in-vivo image.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying the image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of overlaying the scale is performed at a processing device external to an in-vivo device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of overlaying the scale and capturing the images are performed at an in-vivo device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scale comprises a set of lines.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising providing a size estimate of an object contained in an image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said image is captured with a distortion effect.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising compensating for said distortion effect.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising estimating a distance between an in-vivo imaging device and an object in said in-vivo image.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a first point in said in-vivo image and a second point in said in-vivo image.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising calculating a distance between said first point and said second point.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising comparing an object in the image to the scale.

13. An in-vivo imaging device comprising:

an imager; and

a transparent piece, the transparent piece including a scale.

14. The device of claim 13 comprising a transmitter.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the transparent piece is an optical dome.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the transparent piece is a filter.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is a swallowable capsule.

18. The device of claim 13, comprising a lens, the lens to produce a distortion effect on images captured by the imager.

19. An in-vivo imaging device comprising:

an imager; and

a circuit to add a scale to images collected by the imager.

20. The device of claim 19 comprising a transmitter.

21. A system comprising:

a controller to;

receive images from an in-vivo device; and

add a scale to the images.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller is to calculate an estimated size of objects in the images.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller is to compare an object in the images to the scale.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller is to receive a first point in an in-vivo image and a second point in said in-vivo image, and estimate a distance between the first point and the second point.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller is to estimate a distance between the in-vivo imaging device and an object in said images.

26. A system comprising:

a controller to;

receive images from an in-vivo device; and

estimate a distance between the in-vivo imaging device and an object in said images.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the controller is to receive a first point in an in-vivo image and a second point in said in-vivo image, and estimate a distance between the first point and the second point.

28. A system comprising:

an image capture means, to capture images in-vivo; and

a scale addition means, to add a scale to captured images.