Device and method for in-vivo illumination

• US 20070156051A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amit Pascal
• Original Assignee: Amit Pascal
• Inventors: Pascal, Amit
• Application Number:
  US11/319,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156051A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• 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

Abstract

An in vivo imaging device having an illumination unit, the illumination unit may include a light source and a beam shaping unit. The beam shaping unit may provide a high intensity focused illumination field that has a uniform appearance across the entire near field of view of the imaging device.

Claims

1. A device for in vivo imaging comprising an illumination unit, said illumination unit comprising a light source and a beam shaping unit.

2. The device according to claim 1 comprising a housing and a viewing window, wherein the illumination unit is contained within the housing and behind the viewing window.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said beam shaping unit comprises a refractive optical element.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said beam shaping unit comprises a diffractive optical element.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said beam shaping unit comprises an optical element said optical element including a refractive surface and a diffractive surface.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said light source is selected from the group consisting of:

a LED and an OLED.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is positioned on a support.

8. The device according to claim 1, comprising an imager.

9. The device according to claim 1 comprising a power source.

10. The device according to claim 1 comprising a transmitter.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said in-vivo imaging device is an autonomous capsule.

18. The method according to claim 2, providing a control unit.

12. A method for the manufacture of an in vivo imaging capsule, the method comprising the steps of:

printing electrical traces on a substrate;

disposing a light source on said electrical traces;

installing a beam shaping unit above said light source; and

inserting the substrate into a housing of the in vivo imaging capusle.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein installing a beam shaping unit comprises installing a refractive optical element.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising installing a diffractive optical element above said refractive optical element.

15. The method according to claim 12, providing an imager.

16. The method according to claim 12, providing a transmitting unit.

17. The method according to claim 12, providing a power source.