Magnetic levitation of intraluminal microelectronic capsule
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the intraluminal position of a capsule in an animal, the method comprising the steps of:
- magnetically levitating the capsule; and
controlling the capsule by an external magnetic field that levitates the capsule so that the capsule can be steered within lumens of internal organs of the animal or affixed at a stationary position within the lumens of the internal organs of the animal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for magnetically levitating and further steering of an intraluminal device, such as a swallowable microelectronic capsule, for monitoring bodily functions is provided. The method comprises diamagnetically-stabilized levitation, followed by dynamic modification of the external magnetic field producing the said levitation, so that the levitating intraluminal device can be steered in desired direction. The said intraluminal device contains appropriate sensors and reports in real time the forces and pressures exerted on it, as well as its position, so that the levitation and the steering can be dynamically adjusted using appropriate dynamic control of external magnetic devices such as solenoids.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the intraluminal position of a capsule in an animal, the method comprising the steps of:
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magnetically levitating the capsule; and
controlling the capsule by an external magnetic field that levitates the capsule so that the capsule can be steered within lumens of internal organs of the animal or affixed at a stationary position within the lumens of the internal organs of the animal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for monitoring one or more physiological characteristics or parameters in a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, comprising:
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a magnetic field generator positioned outside the patient'"'"'s body for producing a magnetic field inside the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract; and
a capsule comprising diamagnetic material of sufficient mass to stabilize the capsule in the magnetic field at a desired position in the gastrointestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A diamagnetially levitatable intraluminal microelectronic capsule, comprising:
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a housing of a size and shape suitable for swallowing by a human being;
a magnet carried by or forming part of the housing;
diamagnetic material carried by or forming part of the housing; and
a therapeutic or diagnostic element carried by or forming part of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification