Methods, device and system for in vivo diagnosis

• US 20050288594A1
• Filed: 11/30/2003
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Meron, Gavriel, Lewkowicz, Shlomo
• Application Number:
  US10/536,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/478
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for in vivo diagnosis are provided. A composition consisting of at least a marking agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is administered to a patient and an autonomous in vivo device, which includes an illumination source and an image sensor, is used to obtain endo luminal images of the patient.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A method of imaging diagnostic information on the GI tract, the method comprising:

administering to a patient a composition comprising a fluorescent dye;

flashing illumination within the GI tract, thereby providing a light period and a dark period;

obtaining a fluorescent image of the GI tract tissue during the dark period; and

transmitting image data.

25. The method of claim 24 comprising obtaining, on an image sensor within an ingestible capsule, a real image of the tissue during the light period.

26. The method of claim 25 comprising obtaining the fluorescent image and the real image on the same image sensor.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein flashing comprises alternately illuminating with white light.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein transmitting is wireless

29. The method of claim 24 comprising focusing light remitted from the GI tract tissue onto an image sensor within an ingestible capsule.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein flashing comprises alternately illuminating with monochromatic light and white light.

31. The method of claim 25 comprising processing the real image and the fluorescent image to obtain diagnostic information.

32. A system for imaging a GI tract, the system comprising an ingestible imaging device, the device comprising:

a polychromatic illumination source;

a monochromatic illumination source;

an image sensor to receive a real image and a fluorescent image; and

a transmitter to transmit image data to an external receiving unit

33. The system of claim 32 comprising an optical system to focus light remitted from the GI tract onto the image sensor.

34. The system of claim 32 comprising a receiving unit for receiving and processing the image data.

35. A method comprising:

staining cells of an endo-luminal wall;

illuminating said cells with an in vivo illumination device from within a lumen;

capturing light remitted from said cells.

36. The method as in claim 35, wherein said illumination comprises a polychromatic illumination and a monochromatic illumination.

37. The method as in claim 35, wherein said capturing comprises capturing a real image and a fluorescent image.