IN VIVO SENSING DEVICE WITH A FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT BOARD AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY THEREOF

• US 20100326703A1
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: RUBIN, Nathan, GILAD, Zvika, MANN, Chen, KHAIT, Semion
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/254
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/042 Stacked spaced PCBs; Planar parts of folded flexible circuits having mounted components in between or spaced from each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10037 Printed or non-printed battery
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10121 Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/2009 Reinforced areas, e.g. for a specific part of a flexible printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49133 with component orienting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

A flexible circuit board for being inserted into an in-vivo imaging device is provided. The flexible circuit board may include a plurality of flexible installation units connected to one another through flexible connection units. The flexible installation units may be capable of having electrical components disposed thereon at a size suitable for being included in an in-vivo imaging device which may be inserted into a body lumen, e.g., a capsule endoscope. A method of assembling an in-vivo imaging device which may enclose such a full-flexible circuit board is also provided.

Claims

1. A flexible circuit board having a component side and a second side, said flexible circuit board comprising of:

a first flexible installation unit capable of having a first imager disposed thereon on a first side thereof;

a second flexible installation unit capable of having a second imager disposed thereon on a first side thereof; and

a third flexible installation unit capable of having a transmitter disposed thereon on a first side thereof;

wherein said third flexible installation unit is connected to the first installation unit capable and to the second installation unit through a flexible connection unit;

and wherein said third flexible installation unit is further connected through flexible connection units to;

a fourth flexible installation unit capable of having a first illumination source disposed thereon;

a fifth flexible installation unit capable of having a first battery contact disposed thereon; and

a sixth flexible installation unit capable of having an antenna disposed thereon,

and wherein said second flexible installation unit is further connected through flexible connection units to;

a seventh flexible installation unit capable of having a second illumination source disposed thereon; and

an eighth flexible installation unit capable of having a second battery contact disposed thereon.

2. The flexible circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said flexible connection units are foldable so that the second flexible installation unit capable of having a second illumination source disposed thereon and the seventh flexible installation unit capable of having a second battery contact disposed thereon which are connected to the second flexible installation unit capable of having a second imager disposed thereon, are stacked along a common longitudinal axis.

3. The flexible circuit board according to claim 2, wherein said flexible connection units are foldable so that the third flexible installation unit capable of having a transmitter disposed thereon along with the flexible installation units connected to it, are stacked along a common longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis passing substantially through the center of said flexible installation units.

4. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said first and second flexible installation units capable of having a first and second illumination source disposed thereon, respectively, are ring shaped.

5. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said first and second installation units capable of having a first and second imager disposed thereon, respectively, each have attached thereon a support on a second side thereof opposite to the side on which the imager is capable of being disposed.

6. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said third flexible installation unit capable of having a transmitter disposed thereon has attached thereon a support on a second side thereof opposite to the side on which a transmitter is capable of being disposed.

7. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein each flexible installation unit is capable of having an electrical component disposed thereon on a first side thereof, wherein the first side of each of said flexible installation units faces the same direction when said flexible circuit board is in an unfolded configuration.

8. A method for assembling an in-vivo imaging device comprising the steps of:

providing a flexible circuit board having a plurality of flexible installation units connected by a plurality of flexible connection units, wherein two of the flexible installation units are disposed on an imager on a first side thereof;

providing two optical assemblies;

attaching each of the two optical assemblies to the first side of a respective one of the two flexible installation units onto which an imager is disposed;

folding the flexible circuit board so that the flexible installation units are stacked along a common longitudinal axis to form two imaging assemblies facing in opposite directions;

providing a housing having two opposing open ends;

passing the folded flexible circuit board through the housing so that one imaging assembly is protruding from each open end;

placing a dome over each imaging assembly so as to orient the imaging assemblies in relation to the domes;

folding the flexible circuit board so that each one of the domes is positioned over a respective open end of the housing; and

bringing the domes into abutment with the housing so that the housing and the domes form a closed housing enclosing the imaging assemblies and the flexible circuit board.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of inserting a battery into the housing, prior to the step of folding the flexible circuit board, so that each one of the domes is positioned over a respective open end of the housing.