Device, system and method of displaying in -vivo images at variable rate

• US 20080051642A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Krupnik, Hagai
• Application Number:
  US11/508,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051642A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for displaying in-vivo images at variable rate. For example, a system includes a processor to gradually increase a frame display rate of an in-vivo image stream based on a similarity among two or more in-vivo frames of the in-vivo image stream.

Claims

1. A system for viewing an in-vivo image stream of a body lumen, the system comprising:

a processor to gradually increase a frame display rate of the in-vivo image stream based on a similarity among two or more in-vivo frames of the in-vivo image stream.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is to gradually increase the frame display rate until a pre-defined maximum frame display rate is reached.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is to non-gradually decrease the frame display rate upon detection of a difference between the two or more in-vivo frames.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is to reset the frame display rate from an accelerated frame display rate to a non-accelerated frame display rate upon detection of the difference.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is to reset the frame display rate from an accelerated frame display rate to a non-accelerated frame display rate in response to a command to begin displaying the in-vivo image stream from a selected point.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is to detect the similarity based on a comparative analysis of two or more of the in-vivo frames.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is to perform the comparative analysis during a time period in which at least a portion of the in-vivo image stream is displayed.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the in-vivo image stream comprises a non-processed in-vivo image stream.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit to display the in-vivo image stream at the frame display rate.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the display unit is to display an indication that the in-vivo image stream is displayed at an accelerated frame display rate.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an in-vivo imaging device comprising an imager to acquire the plurality of in-vivo frames.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the in-vivo imaging device is autonomous.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the in-vivo imaging device comprises a swallowable capsule.

14. A method for displaying a stream of in-vivo image frames captured from a body lumen, the method comprising:

gradually increasing a frame display rate of an in-vivo image stream based on a similarity among two or more in-vivo frames of the in-vivo image stream.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein gradually increasing comprises:

gradually increasing the frame display rate until a pre-defined maximum frame display rate is reached.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

non-gradually decreasing the frame display rate upon detection of a difference between the two or more in-vivo frames.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

resetting the frame display rate from an accelerated frame display rate to a non-accelerated frame display rate upon detection of the difference.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising:

resetting the frame display rate from an accelerated frame display rate to a non-accelerated frame display rate in response to a command to begin displaying the in-vivo image stream from a selected point.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting the similarity based on a comparative analysis of two or more of the in-vivo frames.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising:

performing the comparative analysis during a time period in which at least a portion of the in-vivo image stream is displayed.