Device, System and Method of In-Vivo Electro-Stimulation

• US 20080108868A1
• Filed: 12/04/2005
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mills, Timothy Noel, Swain, Christopher Paul, Mosse, Charles Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/792,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20080108868A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

An autonomous in-vivo device (140) includes: an in-vivo electro-stimulation unit (190, 192) to electro-stimulate at least a portion of a body lumen; and an imager (146) to acquire in-vivo images.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. An autonomous in-vivo device comprising:

an in-vivo electro-stimulation unit to electro-stimulate at least a portion of a body lumen,

an indicator operatively coupled to the in-vivo electro-stimulation unit, to indicate movement of said device; and

at least an imager to acquire in-vivo images.

20. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 19, wherein the indicator indicates a direction of movement of said device.

21. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 19, further comprising:

a receiver to receive a signal representing an in-vivo electro-stimulation command.

22. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 19, further comprising:

a power source to selectively provide power to the in-vivo electro-stimulation unit based on a received signal.

23. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 19, further comprising:

a power source to selectively provide power to the in-vivo electro-stimulation unit based on a pre-programmed in-vivo electro-stimulation scheme.

24. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 19, wherein the in-vivo electro-stimulation unit is located in a non-obscuring location relative to a field-of-view imaged by the imager.

25. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 19, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator.

26. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 19, wherein the indicator comprises at least one illumination source.

27. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 19, wherein the indicator provides a visual indication upon operation of the in-vivo electro-stimulation unit.

28. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 19, wherein the in-vivo electro-stimulation unit comprises:

a front in-vivo electro-stimulation unit located at a front side of the autonomous in-vivo device; and

a back in-vivo electro-stimulation unit located at a back side of the autonomous in-vivo device.

29. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 28, further comprising:

a first indicator operatively coupled to the front in-vivo electro-stimulation unit; and

a second indicator operatively coupled to the back in-vivo electro-stimulation unit.

30. The autonomous in-vivo device of claim 29, wherein the first indicator is to generate a visual indication having a first color, and the second indicator is to generate a visual indication having a second color, wherein the first color is different than the second color.

31. A system comprising:

an autonomous in-vivo imaging device including at least an imager to acquire in-vivo images;

an autonomous in-vivo electro-stimulation device including at least an electro-stimulation unit, and at least one indicator operatively coupled to the electro-stimulation unit to indicate movement of the system; and

a connector to connect the in-vivo imaging device and the in-vivo electro-stimulation device.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the indicator indicates a direction of movement of the system.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the imager is to acquire an in-vivo image including at least a portion of the indicator.

35. A method comprising:

receiving a signal representing an in-vivo electro-stimulation command;

based on the in-vivo electro-stimulation command, operating an in vivo device comprising an in-vivo electro-stimulation unit; and

indicating movement of the in-vivo device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of indicating movement comprises indicating a direction of movement of the in vivo device.

37. The method of claim 35, comprising:

acquiring in-vivo images.

38. The method of claim 35, comprising:

transmitting image data.

39. The method of claim 35, comprising:

selectively activating or de-activating the in-vivo electro-stimulation unit.