System and method for in vivo imager with stabilizer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An in vivo camera system comprising:
- a capsule having a stabilizing mechanism configured to orient the capsule in a consistent orientation relative to an internal organ; and
a panoramic imager encased within the capsule and configured with a field of view that includes substantially all directions perpendicular to the principle direction of in vivo camera system travel for capturing a peripheral image of tissue surface surrounding the capsule on a single image plane.
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Abstract
A swallowable capsule with a camera and a memory for imaging the colon. Standard semiconductor memory (memories made of standard memories processes or processes modified from standard process by adopting comprehensible silicon planar technology process steps) is used. This is made possible by the use of an optimal type of image compression that can be performed with limited processing power and limited memory (e.g., without requiring a full size frame buffer). Also, controls on the number of images taken are used in one embodiment.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. An in vivo camera system comprising:
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a capsule having a stabilizing mechanism configured to orient the capsule in a consistent orientation relative to an internal organ; and
a panoramic imager encased within the capsule and configured with a field of view that includes substantially all directions perpendicular to the principle direction of in vivo camera system travel for capturing a peripheral image of tissue surface surrounding the capsule on a single image plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An in vivo camera system comprising:
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a capsule having at least one balloon configured to inflate and orient the capsule in a consistent orientation relative to an internal organ wherein, upon inflation, the overall length of the in vivo camera system, in a direction substantially parallel to the predominant direction of camera motion, is increased; and
an imager encased within the capsule. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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24. An in vivo camera system according to claim C6, further comprising a release valve configured to actuate and deflate the at least one balloon when the motion detector determines that the capsule has not progressed significantly over the course of some number of sequential image captures.
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30. A method for in-vivo imaging, comprising:
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providing a device having a stabilization mechanism for stable panoramic in-vivo imaging of an internal organ onto a single image plane;
guiding the device within an organ using the stabilization mechanism;
emitting electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range from the device; and
receiving reflections of the electromagnetic radiation from tissue surfaces for use in forming a panoramic image of the tissues from a field of view that includes substantially all directions perpendicular to the principle direction of travel. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55)
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31. Deploying the stabilization mechanism
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35. A method for in-vivo imaging, comprising:
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providing a device having at least one balloon for stable in-vivo imaging of an internal organ inflating the at least one balloon upon the occurrence of at least one event, wherein the overall length of the device, in a direction substantially parallel to the principle direction of camera motion, is increased;
guiding the device within an organ using the stabilization mechanism;
emitting electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range from the device; and
receiving reflections of the electromagnetic radiation from tissue surfaces for use in forming an image of the tissues. - View Dependent Claims (36, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification