System, apparatus and method for measurement of motion parameters of an in-vivo device

• US 20050065441A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Application Number:
  US10/928,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20050065441A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method may measure motion parameters of an in-vivo device, utilizing for example surface or flow irregularities for calculation of movement, distance, velocity etc. There may be provided with an in-vivo imaging device a motion parameter measurement unit that may include one or more of illumination sources and a plurality of illumination detectors located on an in-vivo device, such as a swallowable capsule.

Claims

1. An in-vivo imaging system comprising:

an in-vivo device including at least a plurality of illumination sources and an

illumination detector, said illumination detector being connected to a processor,

said processor being configured to receive signals from the illumination detector and to calculate a rate of movement of the in-vivo device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processor is disposed within said in-vivo device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processor is external to the in-vivo device

4. The system according to claim 1 comprising a transmitter.

5. The system according to claim 1 comprising a power source.

6. The system according to claim 1, comprising an imager.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said illumination detector is an imager.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said in-vivo device is autonomous.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said in-vivo device is a swallowable capsule.

10. A system for determining motion parameters for an in-vivo device, said system comprising:

an in-vivo device, said in-vivo device including at least a measurement unit for receiving signals reflected from a body lumen tissue and a transmitter; and

a reception unit; and

a processor unit.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the energy output units are selected from the group consisting of:

illumination source;

electrical current source;

acoustic source.

12. A method for determining motion parameters of an in vivo device, the method comprising:

emitting signals from a plurality of energy output units disposed on an in-vivo device; and

recording reflections of the signals.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising calculating a distance moved by said in vivo device using the recorded reflections.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the energy units are illumination sources.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the energy units are selected from the group consisting of:

electric current sources;

acoustic energy sources.

16. The method according to claim 12 comprising comparing a first set of data of reflections from a first source to a second set of data of reflections from a second source.

17. The method according to claim 12, comprising analyzing reflection from a body lumen tissue using a cross-correlation function.

18. A measurement counter for activating or deactivating an in-vivo imaging device based on measurement parameters.

19. The measurement counter according to claim 18, wherein said measurement counter is located in an in vivo imaging device.

20. The measurement counter according to claim 18, wherein said measurement counter is connected to a processor.

21. A method comprising:

in an autonomous in-vivo device;

outputting an illumination signal;

recording a first reflected illumination signal; and

recording a second reflected illumination signal; and

determining, from the recorded signals, a movement of the in-vivo device.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising calculating a distance moved by said in vivo device using the recorded signals and a known distance between devices recording the reflected illumination signals.

23. The method of claim 21 comprising outputting illumination signals from multiple illumination sources.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the determination is performed in the in-vivo device.

25. The method of claim 21, comprising comparing the recorded signals using a cross-correlation function.

26. The method of claim 21, comprising collecting images via the in-vivo device.