DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ORIENTING A DEVICE IN VIVO

• US 20100137686A1
• Filed: 02/04/2010
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arkady Glukhovsky, Gavriel Meron, Harold Jacob, Shlomo Lewkowicz
• Original Assignee: Arkady Glukhovsky, Gavriel Meron, Harold Jacob, Shlomo Lewkowicz
• Inventors: MERON, Gavriel, Jacob, Harold, Glukhovsky, Arkady, Lewkowicz, Shlomo
• Application Number:
  US12/700,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137686A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00149 using articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6886 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue

Abstract

An in vivo device, such as an in vivo imaging device or other sensing device, may include a device body and at least one appendage coupled to the device body. According to some embodiments the appendage(s) may be extended or expanded, or reduced or removed, in vivo, thereby altering the device geometry while in a body lumen.

Claims

1. An autonomous in-vivo device comprising:

a housing;

a sensor contained within the housing;

at least one illumination source contained within the housing, wherein said sensor and said at least one illumination source are covered by a common optical window; and

an expandable appendage coupled to and extending from the housing, distinct from said optical window, wherein said appendage when expanded is asymmetrical relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing and wherein the appendage when expanded is situated between the housing and a body lumen wall, wherein the appendage when expanded is situated so as to position the longitudinal axis of the housing at a non-zero angle relative to the body lumen wall and so that the housing is positioned at a distance away from the body lumen wall.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially rigid and the appendage is flexible.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the appendage is expandable or extendible.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the appendage is capable of detaching, collapsing, or disintegrating.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the appendage is selected from a group comprising one or more of the following:

wing shaped, disc shaped, cone shaped, capsule shaped or any combination thereof.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the appendage includes one or more of the following:

rubber, silicon, hydrocarbon.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the appendage includes a bimorph material.

8. The device according to claim 1 comprising a packaging surrounding the appendage.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the packaging is dissolvable.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the appendage is controlled based on sensing one or more of the following:

pressure, temperature, pH, and enzymatic activity.

11. The device according to claim 1 comprising a transmitter.

12. The device according to claim 1 comprising a receiver.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein the sensor includes an image sensor.

14. The device according to claim 1 comprising a location tracking device.

15. The device according to claim 1, comprising a set of substances which, when combined, produce gas.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the appendage includes at least a flexible and expandable covering.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing, when said device is inside a body lumen, does not require any physical connection to a unit external to said body lumen.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein said expandable appendage comprises at least two expandable appendages coupled to and extending from the housing.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein said expandable appendage comprises at least two expandable appendages coupled to and extending from the housing.

20. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said expandable appendage comprises at least two expandable appendages coupled to and extending from the body.