Endoscopy capsule with site marking capability and application of the same

• US 20060173361A1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vanderbilt University
• Original Assignee: Vanderbilt University
• Inventors: Gorden, David Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/200,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/478
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• 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 2090/395 with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting

Abstract

A capsule dimensioned and shaped to move with the body of a living subject for identifying tissues related to at least one lesion along a gastrointestinal tract of the living subject. In one embodiment, the capsule has locating means for locating tissues related to at least one lesion along the gastrointestinal tract, and marking means for marking the tissues related to at least one lesion along the gastrointestinal tract with an identification material stored within the capsule, wherein the marking means is automatically triggered when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Claims

1. A method of identifying tissues related to at least one lesion along a gastrointestinal tract of a living subject, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a capsule for ingestion;

b. locating tissues related to at least one lesion along the gastrointestinal tract; and

c. marking the tissues related to at least one lesion along the gastrointestinal tract with an identification material stored within the capsule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the capsule has a sub-capsule for storing at least one identification material.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identification material comprises a dye.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the dye comprises at least one of methelyne blue, India ink, or the like.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the marking step further comprises the step of remotely releasing the identification material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the marking step further comprises the step of releasing the identification material when the capsule contacts with hemoglobin.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of illuminating the gastrointestinal tract via a light source within the capsule.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of illuminating the gastrointestinal tract is performed prior to the step of locating tissues related to at least one lesion along the gastrointestinal tract.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of illuminating the gastrointestinal tract is performed after the step of marking the tissues related to at least one lesion along the gastrointestinal tract with an identification material stored within the capsule.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of identifying the tissues marked with the identification material.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of performing a medical procedure related to the tissues marked with the identification material.

12. A capsule dimensioned and shaped to move with the body of a living subject for identifying tissues related to at least one lesion along a gastrointestinal tract of the living subject, comprising:

a. a chamber;

b. a sub-capsule formed within the chamber, wherein the sub-capsule is in communication with an opening formed on the chamber wall of the capsule and isolated from the chamber;

c. an identification material stored within the sub-capsule; and

d. a releasing mechanism for selectively releasing the identification material for marking the tissues related to at least one lesion along the gastrointestinal tract of the living subject.

13. The capsule of claim 12, wherein the identification material comprises a dye.

14. The capsule of claim 13, wherein the dye comprises at least one of methelyne blue, India ink, or the like.

15. The capsule of claim 12, wherein the releasing mechanism is remotely controllable.

16. The capsule of claim 15, wherein the releasing mechanism comprises a shutter that is movable between a first position and a second position.

17. The capsule of claim 15, wherein when the shutter is in the first position, the identification material is releasable to mark the tissues through the opening formed on the chamber wall, and wherein when the shutter is in the second position, the identification material is non-releasable to mark the tissues through the opening formed on the chamber wall.

18. The capsule of claim 12, wherein the releasing mechanism comprises a substance sensitive to a predetermined condition.

19. The capsule of claim 18, wherein the predetermined condition comprises hemoglobin, and when the capsule contacts with hemoglobin, the identification material is releasable to mark the tissues related to the predetermined condition through the opening formed on the chamber wall.

20. The capsule of claim 12, wherein the releasing mechanism comprises a biosensor.

21. A capsule dimensioned and shaped to move with the body of a living subject for identifying tissues along a gastrointestinal tract of the living subject, comprising:

a. locating means for locating tissues along the gastrointestinal tract; and

b. marking means for marking the tissues along the gastrointestinal tract with an identification material stored within the capsule.

22. The capsule of claim 21, further comprising a storing means within the capsule for storing at least identification material.

23. The capsule of claim 21, wherein the identification material comprises a dye.

24. The capsule of claim 23, wherein the dye comprises at least one of methelyne blue, India ink, or the like.

25. The capsule of claim 21, wherein the marking means is remotely controllable.

26. The capsule of claim 21, wherein the marking means is automatically triggered when a predetermined condition is satisfied.