Method, system and device for suction biopsy

• US 20050272972A1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J.
• Application Number:
  US11/146,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20050272972A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/102
• 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 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras

Abstract

A device, system and method for suction biopsy. An autonomous in-vivo device may include a suction chamber to store a sample; a plunger movable into an inner portion of said suction chamber, an imager to acquire in-vivo an image; and a transmitter to transmit said image.

Claims

1. An autonomous in-vivo device comprising:

a suction chamber to store a sample;

a plunger movable into an inner portion of said suction chamber;

an imager to acquire an image in-vivo; and

a transmitter to transmit said image.

2. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, comprising a blade to cut said sample from a lumen wall.

3. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, comprising a coil to move said plunger towards said inner portion of said suction chamber.

4. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 3, wherein said coil is activated by an electric current.

5. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, comprising a latch to hold said plunger at said inner portion of said suction chamber.

6. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 2, wherein said blade is activated by a movement of said plunger into said inner portion of said suction chamber.

7. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 2, comprising a spring to snap shut said blade over said suction chamber upon movement of said plunger into said inner portion of said suction chamber.

8. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 2, wherein said blade is held in place, prior to its activation, by said plunger.

9. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, wherein at least a circumferential edge of said plunger includes a lubricant.

10. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said plunger is surrounded by a sealant.

11. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, wherein a movement of said plunger is triggered by an external command.

12. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, comprising an in-vivo sensor to trigger a movement of said plunger.

13. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, wherein a movement of said plunger is triggered based on a location of said in-vivo device.

14. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of suction chambers to collect a plurality of samples, respectively.

15. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 14, wherein said plurality of suction chambers are positioned at a plurality of sides of said in-vivo device, respectively.

16. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 14, wherein a first of said suction chambers is to collect a first sample at a first time, and a second of said suction chambers is to collect a second sample at a second, different time.

17. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 14, wherein at least two of said suction chambers are to collect said samples substantially simultaneously.

18. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 14, comprising a rotatable wheel having at least two blades to cut said samples.

19. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, comprising an in-vivo sensor to sense a property of said sample stored in said suction chamber.

20. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, wherein said imager is to acquire an in-vivo image of a body lumen.

21. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, wherein said imager is to acquire an image of said sample stored in said suction chamber.

22. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 1, wherein said in-vivo device comprises a swallowable capsule.

23. A system comprising:

an in-vivo device including at least a suction chamber to store a sample, and a plunger movable into an inner portion of said suction chamber; and

a receiver to receive data transmitted from said in-vivo device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said in-vivo device further comprises a blade to cut said sample from a lumen wall.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said in-vivo device comprises:

an in-vivo sensor to sense a property of said sample stored in said suction chamber; and

a transmitter to transmit the sensed data.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said in-vivo device comprises:

an in-vivo imager to acquire an image of said sample stored in said suction chamber; and

a transmitter to transmit the image data.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein said in-vivo device comprises:

an in-vivo camera to acquire an image of a body lumen; and

a transmitter to transmit the image data.

28. A method comprising:

creating suction in a suction chamber of an in-vivo device;

drawing in a body tissue into said suction chamber using said suction;

cutting a sample of said tissue;

acquiring an image in-vivo; and

transmitting said image.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein acquiring comprises:

acquiring in-vivo an image of said sample.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein acquiring comprises:

acquiring in-vivo an image of a body lumen.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

sensing in-vivo a property of said sample.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

analyzing in-vivo said sample.