System and method for modeling a tracking curve of and in vivo device

• US 20080147087A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Horn, Eli, Gat, Daniel, Rabinovitz, Raphael, Nitzan, Yaacov
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots

Abstract

A system and method to model a tracking curve of an in-vivo device capturing in-vivo data of the colon is provided. Data analysis is performed on a raw tracking curve to identify one or more milestone data points that correspond to defined locations in the colon. A modeled path may be defined between and along the selected milestone data points. Raw tracking curve data may be translated to modeled data along the modeled path. The modeled tracking curve may be displayed alongside a streaming display of captured in-vivo image frames of the colon.

Claims

1. A method for modeling a raw tracking curve of an in-vivo device passing through a colon, the method comprising:

identifying milestone data points on the raw tracking curve, the milestone data points corresponding to defined locations in the colon;

defining a modeled path between the milestone data points on the raw tracking curve; and

translating at least a portion of the raw tracking curve to a modeled tracking curve along the modeled path.

2. The method according to claim 1 comprising:

determining signal strengths of a received signals, wherein the received signals correspond to data points on the raw tracking curve; and

identifying the milestone data points based on the signal strengths of the received signals.

3. The method according to claim 1 comprising:

receiving image data captured in-vivo; and

performing image data analysis to identify at least one milestone data point from the milestone data points.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the defined locations in the colon include at least a flexure point.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the defined locations in the colon include at least a transverse section of the colon.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the defined locations in the colon include at least a ceacum.

7. The method according to claim 1 comprising receiving user input to identify at least one milestone data point from the milestone data points.

8. The method according to claim 1 comprising identifying a section of the tracking curve that crosses a mid-line axis of a body.

9. The method according to claim 1 comprising analyzing a movement pattern of the in-vivo device to identify at least one milestone data point from the milestone data points.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein analyzing a movement pattern includes at least analyzing speed of travel of the in-vivo device.

11. The method according to claim 1 comprising:

translating the milestone data points to modeled milestone data points; and

displaying the modeled path as a path connecting the modeled milestone data points.

12. The method according to claim 1 comprising projecting at least a portion of the raw tracking curve onto the modeled path.

13. The method according to claim 1 comprising displaying a graphical presentation of the modeled tracking curve.

14. The method according to claim 1 comprising:

displaying a streaming display of image frames captured by the in-vivo device; and

displaying a moving marker along the modeled path to indicate a modeled location of the in-vivo device corresponding to a currently displayed image frame from the streaming display of the image frames.

15. A system for modeling raw tracking curve of an in-vivo device passing through a colon, the system comprising:

the raw tracking curve of the in-vivo device passing through the colon;

a colon section detector unit configured to identify milestone data on the raw tracking curve corresponding to defined locations in the colon and to translate the raw tracking curve to a modeled curve; and

a processor control display of the modeled raw tracking curve.

16. The system according to claim 15 comprising an RSSI unit to determine signal strength of data of the raw tracking curve.

17. The system according to claim 15 comprising:

a receiver to receive image data captured in-vivo, wherein the colon section detector unit is configured to analyze the image data received.

18. The system according to claim 15 wherein the defined locations in the colon include at least a flexure point.

19. The system according to claim 15 wherein the defined locations in the colon include at least a ceacum.

20. The system according to claim 15 wherein the defined locations in the colon include at least a transverse section of the colon.

21. The system according to claim 15 comprising a user input device configured to receive user input to identify the milestone data.

22. The system according to claim 15 wherein the colon section detector unit is configured to identify a section of the raw tracking curve that passes a mid-line axis of a body.

23. The system according to claim 15 wherein the colon section detector unit is configured to analyze a movement pattern of the in-vivo device.

24. The system according to claim 15 wherein the colon section detector unit is configured to project at least a portion of the raw tracking curve onto the modeled path.

25. The system according to claim 15 comprising a monitor configured to display a graphical presentation of the modeled tracking curve.

26. The system according to claim 15 comprising a monitor configured to display a streaming display of image frames captured by the in-vivo device and a moving marker along the modeled path to indicate a modeled location of the in-vivo device corresponding to a displayed image frame from the streaming display of the image frames.

27. The system according to claim 15 wherein the modeled path has a pre-determined shape.