DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING IN-VIVO PATHOLOGY

• US 20090312631A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: SELLA-TAVOR, Osnat, RABINOVITZ, Elisha, PASCAL, Amit, EMANUEL, Noam
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/431
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for detecting in vivo pathology are provided. An in vivo sensing device comprises a reacting layer with at least one type of binding agent attached thereon, a sensor configured for sensing an optical change occurring on the reacting substrate, and at least one illumination source. In-vivo fluids are in constant contact with the reacting substrate so that in vivo marker indicating pathology may bind to the binding agent attached onto the reacting layer and may be viewed by the sensor.

Claims

1. An in-vivo sensing device for detecting in-vivo pathology comprising:

a device body enclosing;

a reacting layer having at least one type of binding agent attached thereon;

a sensor configured to sense an optical change on said reacting layer; and

at least one illumination source configured to illuminate said reacting layer;

said sensor and illumination source facing said reacting layer such that rays from the illumination source impinge on the reacting layer and are then emitted to the sensor;

wherein the device body comprises at least two openings to allow in vivo fluids to flow through said device body and over said reacting layer.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the optical change is selected from a group consisting of:

a change of color, a change of hue, a change of brightness, a change of optical density, a change of transparency, a change of light scattering or any combination thereof.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a white LED.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a monochromatic illumination source.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising more than one illumination source, wherein each of the more than one illumination source has a different illumination spectra.

6. The in-vivo sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said reacting layer includes a substance selected from a group consisting of:

silicon, glass, and plastic.

7. The in-vivo sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said reacting layer is positioned at the end of the device body, perpendicular to a forward sensing direction.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said openings are shaped so as to induce continuous flow of fluids in and out of the device body.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device body comprises a reference background positioned over said reacting layer.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said reference background comprises a mirror.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein said openings allow in vivo fluids to flow through and beneath said reference background.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises an array of light sensitive elements having differing spectrum sensitivities.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is a swallowable capsule.

15. The method according to claim 11, where said in-vivo marker is excreted from an in-vivo lumen into in-vivo fluids flowing inside a lumen.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising administering to a patient a binding agent with a tag, wherein said tagged binding agent has an affinity for the marker when it is bound to the binding agent.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said tag is selected from the group of gold particles, beads, nano-containers, and fluorescence emitting molecules.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said reacting layer is included in a swallowable capsule.

14. A method for detecting in-vivo pathology comprising the steps of:

administering an in vivo sensing device comprising a reacting layer and a background;

contacting the reacting layer having at least one type of binding agent attached thereon, with a flow of endo-luminal content; and

viewing the reacting layer upon the background to detect an optical change occurring due to binding of the binding agent to a marker in vivo.

18. A method for detecting in-vivo pathology comprising the steps of:

contacting a reacting layer having a first and second binding agent attached thereon, with endo-luminal content, wherein said first and second binding agents have attached thereon a first and second fluorescent , respectively; and

viewing the reacting layer upon a background to detect emitted fluorescence from said second fluorescent molecule.

20. An in-vivo sensing device for detecting in-vivo pathology comprising:

a device body enclosing;

a reacting layer comprising;

a binding agent attached thereon;

a fluorophore attached to the binding agent; and

a quencher attached to the binding agent,

a sensor configured to sense an optical change on said reacting layer; and

at least one illumination source configured to illuminate said reacting layer;

said sensor and illumination source facing said reacting layer such that rays from the illumination source impinge on the reacting layer and are then emitted to the sensor;

wherein the device body comprises at least two openings to allow in vivo fluids to flow through said device body and over said reacting layer, and wherein said quencher is drawn apart from said fluorophore when an in-vivo marker flowing in in-vivo fluids binds to said binding agent, to enable an optical change to occur.

21. An in-vivo sensing device for detecting in-vivo pathology comprising:

a device body enclosing;

a reacting layer comprising;

a binding agent attached thereon; and

at least two fluorophores attached to the binding agent in high proximity to each other to inhibit fluorescence emission;

a sensor configured to sense an optical change on said reacting layer; and

at least one illumination source configured to illuminate said reacting layer;

said sensor and illumination source facing said reacting layer such that rays from the illumination source impinge on the reacting layer and are then reflected to the sensor;

wherein the device body comprises at least two openings to allow in vivo fluids to flow through said device body and over said reacting layer, and wherein said at least two fluorophores are drawn apart when an in vivo marker binds to said binding agent, to enable an optical change to occur.

22. An in-vivo sensing device for detecting in-vivo pathology comprising:

a device body enclosing;

a reacting layer comprising;

a noble metal film; and

a binding agent attached to the noble metal film;

a sensor configured to detect an angle shift of illumination emitted from the reacting layer due to binding of an in-vivo marker to the binding agent; and

at least one illumination source configured to illuminate said reacting layer at a predetermined angle;

said sensor and illumination source facing said reacting layer such that rays from the illumination source impinge on the reacting layer and are then reflected to the sensor;

wherein the device body comprises at least two openings to allow in vivo fluids to flow through said device body and over said reacting layer.

23. The in-vivo sensing device according to claim 22 wherein said sensor is a vector detector.