Apparatus and method for light control in an in-vivo imaging device

• US 20060184039A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arkady Glukhovsky, Dov Avni
• Original Assignee: Arkady Glukhovsky, Dov Avni
• Inventors: Avni, Dov, Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Application Number:
  US11/295,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184039A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• 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 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/273 for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/702 SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout

Abstract

A device and method for for example operating an in vivo imaging device wherein the illumination is operated at a certain rate or range of rates, and images are transmitted from the device.

Claims

1. A method of operating an autonomous swallowable in-vivo imaging capsule, the method comprising:

illuminating a site and acquiring images using an imaging sensor within an in-vivo imaging capsule at a rate of from two to eight frames per second; and

transmitting the images from the imaging capsule.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising activating a light source for the illuminating step at a rate of from two to eight times per second.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising activating a plurality of light sources for the illuminating step.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising acquiring images using an imaging sensor at a rate of from about four frames per second.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising transmitting wirelessly.

6. An autonomous swallowable in vivo imaging capsule comprising:

a light source;

an imaging sensor configured to acquire images at a rate of from two to eight frames per second; and

a transmitter.

7. The capsule of claim 6 comprising more than one light source.

8. The capsule of claim 7 wherein the imaging sensor is configured to acquire images at a rate of about four frames per second.

9. The capsule of claim 8 wherein the transmitter is wireless.

10. The capsule of claim 9 wherein the light source includes an LED.