Device, system, and method for locating an in-vivo signal source

• US 20060183993A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Horn, Eli
• Application Number:
  US11/319,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20060183993A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for locating an in-vivo signal source. For example, a system for tracking an in-vivo image sensor includes: a location detecting unit to locate the in-vivo image sensor over time; and a data modifying unit to modify data sampled by the location detecting unit based on information sensed by the in-vivo image sensor.

Claims

1. A system for tracking an in-vivo image sensor, the system comprising:

a location detecting unit to locate the in-vivo image sensor over time; and

a data modifying unit to modify data sampled by the location detecting unit based on information sensed by the in-vivo image sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a signal strength detector.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of antennas, wherein the antennas are to receive a signal transmitted from the in-vivo image sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data modifying unit is to modify data in substantially real time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data modifying unit comprises a median filter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the in-vivo image sensor is to acquire in-vivo images.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data modifying unit comprises a motility detector.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the motility detector is to compare images acquired by the in-vivo image sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising a display unit to display tracking information of the in-vivo image sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the in-vivo image sensor is autonomous.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising a swallowable capsule including the in-vivo image sensor.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a swallowable capsule including at least the in-vivo image sensor and a transmitter to transmit image data;

an antenna array to receive signals transmitted from the transmitter; and

a recorder to record the received signals.

13. A method for tracking an in-vivo sensor, the method comprising:

sampling data points from a location detecting unit, wherein the location detecting unit is to detect the location of the in-vivo sensor over time in at least two dimensions; and

modifying the data based on information sensed by the in-vivo sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising determining the signal strength, from a plurality of locations, of a signal transmitted by the in-vivo sensor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is a radio frequency signal.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising performing median filtering on the sampled data points.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising determining a distance between the sampled data points.

18. The method of claim 13, comprising modifying a current data point if the distance of the data point from a previous data point is above a pre-determined threshold.

19. The method of claim 13, comprising re-sampling the data in a spatial plane.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the in-vivo sensor comprises an image sensor to acquire in-vivo images.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising comparing image frames captured by the in-vivo image sensor.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein comparing comprises comparing image frames to determine sensor motility.

23. The method of claim 13, comprising constructing a two dimensional tracking curve from the data points sampled.

24. The method of claim 13, comprising displaying tracking information of the in-vivo sensor.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying comprises displaying in substantially real time.

26. The method of claim 13, comprising:

receiving signals transmitted by the in-vivo sensor.

27. The method of claim 13, comprising:

receiving signals transmitted by an autonomous in-vivo device including the in-vivo sensor.

28. The method of claim 13, comprising:

receiving signals transmitted by a swallowable capsule including the in-vivo sensor.

29. A method for tracking the location of an ingestible in-vivo image sensor, the method comprising:

transmitting frames of in-vivo image data;

sampling data points from a location detecting unit, wherein the location detecting unit is to detect the location of the in-vivo sensor over time in at least two dimensions;

comparing frames of the in-vivo image data; and

modifying data sampled from the location detecting unit data based on the comparison.

30. The method of claim 29, comprising determining motility of the image sensor based on the comparison

31. The method of claim 29, wherein modifying comprises modifying the data points if the comparison indicates non-movement of the image sensor and the location detecting unit indicates movement of the image sensor.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein modifying comprises modifying in substantially real time and while the image sensor is in-vivo.

33. The method of claim 29, comprising displaying the sampled data.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein displaying comprises displaying a two dimensional display.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein displaying comprises displaying in substantially real time and while the image sensor is in-vivo.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein transmitting comprises:

transmitting frames of in-vivo image data by an autonomous in-vivo device including the in-vivo image sensor.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein transmitting comprises:

transmitting frames of in-vivo image data by a swallowable capsule including the in-vivo image sensor.