Device and method for in-vivo illumination

• US 20070167840A1
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pascal, Amit
• Application Number:
  US11/604,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20070167840A1
• 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, where 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.

12. The device according to claim 1, comprising at least two light sources, each light source being provided with a beam shaping element, the resultant combined luminance distribution of light being uniform.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the resultant combined luminance distribution of light is uniform in a field of view of the device.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the field of view is in the near field of view, in the range of 0-5 cm from an optical window of the device.

15. 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.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein installing a beam shaping unit comprises installing a refractive optical element.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising installing a diffractive optical element above said refractive optical element.

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

19. The method according to claim 15, providing a transmitting unit.

20. The method according to claim 15, providing a power source.

21. The method according to claim 15, providing a control unit.