In-vivo imaging device providing constant bit rate transmission

• US 20050187433A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Horn, Eli, Zinaty, Ofra
• Application Number:
  US11/087,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187433A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/160
• 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 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/60 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A device, system and method may enable the obtaining of in-vivo images or other data from within body lumens or cavities, such as images of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where the data obtained at a variable bit rate may be transmitted at a constant bit rate. An in-vivo buffer or storage device may be used to store data prior to transmission.

Claims

1. An in-vivo imaging device for transmitting data comprising:

an imager;

a buffer to store image data wherein the buffer has a capacity that is smaller than a frame of image data; and

a transmitter.

2. The in-vivo device of claim 1, wherein the imager comprises a CMOS.

3. The in-vivo device of claim 1 wherein the image data is mosaic image data.

4. The in-vivo device of claim 1 comprising a data compression module.

5. The in-vivo device of claim 4 wherein the compression module has more than one mode of operation.

6. The in-vivo device of claim 1 wherein the buffer has a capacity of between 100 bytes and 2 kilobyte.

7. The in-vivo device of claim 1 wherein a mode of operation of the in-vivo device is updated based on occupancy of the buffer.

8. The in-vivo device of claim 1 wherein the buffer is integral to the imager.

9. The in-vivo device according to claim 1 wherein the buffer is integral to the transmitter.

10. The in-vivo device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is an RF transmitter.

11. The in-vivo device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is a constant bit rate transmitter.

12. An in-vivo device for transmitting in-vivo data comprising:

a sensor to sample in-vivo data;

a buffer to store data obtained at a variable bit rate; and

a transmitter.

13. The in-vivo device according to claim 12 wherein the sensor is an imager.

14. The in-vivo device according to claim 12 wherein the data is image data.

15. The in-vivo device according to claim 12 wherein the data is compressed image data.

16. The in-vivo device according to claim 12 wherein the capacity of the buffer is less than 20 kilobytes.

17. The in-vivo device according to claim 12 wherein the transmitter is to transmit data from the buffer.

18. The in-vivo device according to claim 12 wherein the transmitter is a constant bit rate transmitter.

19. A method for transmitting data from an in-vivo device, the method comprising:

obtaining data at a variable bit rate;

collecting in-vivo data;

passing the in-vivo data to an in-vivo buffer;

transmitting data from the buffer at a constant bit rate; and

changing mode of operation of the in-vivo device based on occupancy of the buffer.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the in-vivo data comprises image data.

21. The method according to claim 19 wherein the constant bit rate is 1 to 10 megabits/second.

22. The method according to claim 19 wherein the mode of operation comprises a mode of processing data.

23. The method according to claim 19 comprising encoding a marker indicating the mode of operation.

24. The method according to claim 19 comprising encoding a marker to indicate transmission of null values.

25. The method according to claim 19 comprising encoding a marker to indicate overflow of the buffer.

26. The method according to claim 19 comprising reducing the mode of operation when the buffer occupancy exceeds a given threshold.

27. The method according to claim 19 comprising increasing the mode of operation when the buffer occupancy is below a given threshold.

28. The method according to claim 19 wherein the step of passing data to a buffer comprises passing data that is less than an image frame.