SYSTEM FOR MARKING A LOCATION FOR TREATMENT WITHIN THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
First Claim
1. A system for the delivery of a drug to a gastrointestinal tract, the system comprising:
- a capsule sized to pass through an intestinal tract of a patient;
an acoustic transmitter coupled to the capsule, the acoustic transmitter configured to transmit an acoustic tracking signal between the capsule and a location external to a patient'"'"'s body to track a linear position of the capsule within the patient'"'"'s intestinal tract as the capsule is passing through the intestinal tract;
a reference signal generator coupled to the capsule, the reference signal generator configured to generate and transmit a reference signal for identifying a time of tracking signal origination; and
a drug delivery mechanism for delivery of drug to the intestinal tract, the drug delivery mechanism comprising a drug delivery device and a controller configured to actuate the drug delivery device as the capsule is passing through the intestinal tract at a desired position in the intestinal tract based on the capsule position within the intestinal tract.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for mapping, diagnosing and treating the intestinal tract is provided using a capsule passing through the intestinal tract. Further, a capsule tracking system is provided for tracking a capsule'"'"'s location along the length of an intestinal tract as various treatment and/or sensing modalities are employed. In one variation, an acoustic signal is used to determine the location of the capsule. A map of sensed information may be derived from the pass of a capsule. Capsules may be subsequently passed through to treat the intestinal tract at a determined location along its length. One variation uses an electrical stimulation capsule to treat and/or diagnose a condition in the intestinal tract.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for the delivery of a drug to a gastrointestinal tract, the system comprising:
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a capsule sized to pass through an intestinal tract of a patient; an acoustic transmitter coupled to the capsule, the acoustic transmitter configured to transmit an acoustic tracking signal between the capsule and a location external to a patient'"'"'s body to track a linear position of the capsule within the patient'"'"'s intestinal tract as the capsule is passing through the intestinal tract; a reference signal generator coupled to the capsule, the reference signal generator configured to generate and transmit a reference signal for identifying a time of tracking signal origination; and a drug delivery mechanism for delivery of drug to the intestinal tract, the drug delivery mechanism comprising a drug delivery device and a controller configured to actuate the drug delivery device as the capsule is passing through the intestinal tract at a desired position in the intestinal tract based on the capsule position within the intestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification