DEVICE AND METHOD FOR UNIFORM IN VIVO ILLUMINATION

• US 20100010312A1
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pascal, Amit, Gilad, Zvika
• Granted Patent: US 8,262,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00167 Details of optical fibre bundles, e.g. shape or fibre distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres

Abstract

An in vivo imaging device comprises a viewing window, an illumination unit, a lens holder and a light guide. The light guide may be positioned to create uniformly dispersed illumination and to eliminate backscatter from the viewing window. The light guide may guide light from the illumination unit to a desired position within the in vivo device. In one embodiment, the light guide may be embedded into the lens holder.

Claims

1. A device for in vivo imaging comprising:

an image sensor;

a viewing window;

an illumination unit;

a lens holder; and

a light guide, to guide light from the illumination unit to a desired position within said device, wherein said light guide is to create uniformly dispersed illumination, and wherein said position is to eliminate backscatter from the viewing window.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the viewing window is structured as an ellipsoid, and wherein said position is on a focal curve of the ellipsoid to eliminate reflections from the viewing window.

3. The device according to claim 1 comprising a housing, wherein the illumination unit is contained within the housing and behind the viewing window.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide comprises optical fibers.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide comprises a light pipe.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said light pipe comprises a total internal reflection light pipe.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein said light guide is shaped to reduce a light exit area of the illumination unit.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination unit is a LED or an OLED.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said in-vivo imaging device is a swallowable capsule.

10. A method for manufacture of an in vivo imaging capsule, the method comprising the steps of:

installing a substrate and a light source behind a viewing window;

installing on the substrate a lens holder comprising a light guide, said light guide to direct illumination from said light source to a focal curve of the viewing window, thereby creating a consistent field of illumination; and

encapsulating the substrate in a housing of the in vivo imaging capsule.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising accurately positioning the lens holder in relation to an optical axis.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

reducing an exit area of the light source to achieve a nearly linear illumination exit.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

positioning the lens holder to support optical elements of the imaging capsule.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

centering optical elements of the imaging capsule along an optical axis of the imaging capsule.

15. A method for in vivo imaging, the method comprising:

guiding illumination from a light source within an imaging capsule to a position within the imaging capsule from which the light is substantially uniformly dispersed and backscatter is substantially eliminated.