ENDOSCOPIC SMART PROBE AND METHOD

• US 20150112160A1
• Filed: 09/02/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Original Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Inventors: Gazdzinski, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US14/475,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20150112160A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0002 provided with data storages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 : Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 : Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 : Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 : combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 : Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 : involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 : using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 : Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 : for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 : Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 : involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 : Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 : Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 : the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 : Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1726 : the body parameters being measured at, or proximate to, the infusion site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/07 : Proteins
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/10 : with powered movement mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 : with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 : using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1042 : Alimentary tract A61M2210/0618 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 : Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 : using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 : in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1005 : with asymmetrical radiation pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 : Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1014 : Intracavitary radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/004 : by using forward error control H04L1/0618 takes precedence; coding, decoding or code conversion, for error detection or correction H03M13/00

Abstract

An improved endoscopic device which is introduced into, for example, the intestinal tract of a living organism and which operates autonomously therein, adapted to obtain and store or transmit one or more types of data such as visual image data, laser autofluorescence data, pressure data, or ultrasonic waveform data. In one embodiment, the device includes one or more pressure sensing apparatus configured to enable measurement of pressure resulting from, for instance, peristaltic contractions within the intestinal tract, including transmission of pressure data as a function of time off of the device via a wireless interface while the device is within the intestinal tract.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. An electronic probe for use within a human being, said electronic probe comprising:

a housing with an exterior shape and at least one an exterior surface;

at least one pressure sensing apparatus in communication with at least a portion of the housing; and

circuitry in signal communication with the at least one pressure sensing apparatus and configured to generate data based at least in part on a pressure being applied to said at least one pressure sensing apparatus while said probe is within said human being.

17. The probe of claim 16, wherein the use within a human being comprises use within an intestinal tract of the human being, and the probe is configured to perform said generation of data based on sensing one or more peristaltic contractions within said intestinal tract.

18. The probe of claim 17, further comprising a wireless transmitter in communication with said circuitry and configured to generate radio frequency energy encoding at least a portion of said generated data.

19. The probe of claim 18, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a transmitter complaint with an RFID (radio frequency identification) standard.

20. The probe of claim 16, further comprising a wireless apparatus in communication with said circuitry and configured to transmit radio frequency energy encoding at least a portion of said generated data.

21. The probe of claim 20, wherein the wireless apparatus comprises a passive radio frequency device configured to backscatter at least a portion of radio frequency energy incident thereon, the backscatter comprising the encoded at least portion of the generated data.

22. The probe of claim 20, further comprising an energy source, and wherein the wireless apparatus comprises an active passive radio frequency device configured to transmit the encoded at least portion of the generated data using electrical energy generated by the energy source.

23. The probe of claim 16, wherein said data comprises a plurality of digital data representative of at least one pressure value as a function of time.

24. The probe of claim 17, wherein said data comprises a plurality of digital data representative of at least one pressure value resulting from at least one peristaltic contraction by said intestinal tract.

25. The probe of claim 16, wherein said at least one pressure sensing apparatus comprises a piezoelectric device.

26. The probe of claim 16, wherein said at least one pressure sensing apparatus comprises a plurality of pressure sensors disposed so that an active face of each communicates at least in part with said exterior surface.

27. The probe of claim 20, wherein said wireless apparatus is configured to communicate with an external wireless interface, the external wireless interface configured for use external to the human being and having:

(i) at least a receiver capable of receiving the radio frequency energy encoding at least a portion of said generated data; and

(ii) a radio frequency device capable of at least wirelessly transmitting the at least portion of the generated data encoded in the received radio frequency energy to a portable electronic device.

28. The probe of claim 20, further comprising an external wireless interface configured to operate external to the human being, the external wireless interface having (i) at least a receiver capable of receiving the radio frequency energy encoding at least a portion of said generated data;

and (ii) a radio frequency device capable of at least wirelessly transmitting the at least portion of the generated data encoded in the received radio frequency energy to a portable electronic device.

29. The probe of claim 20, further comprising an external wireless interface configured to operate external to the human being and communicate wirelessly with the wireless apparatus, the external wireless interface having (i) at least a receiver capable of receiving the radio frequency energy encoding at least a portion of said generated data;

and (ii) a storage device and computerized logic configured to store the at least portion of the generated data encoded in the received radio frequency energy.

30. An electronic probe for use within an intestinal tract of a human being, said electronic probe comprising:

a housing with a substantially cylindrical exterior shape so as to enable passage through the intestinal tract;

pressure sensing apparatus in communication with at least a portion of the housing;

data processing apparatus in communication with the pressure sensing apparatus;

a wireless transmitter in data communication with the data processing apparatus; and

storage apparatus in communication with the data processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program configured to, when executed on the data processing apparatus;

obtain data from the pressure sensing apparatus, the data generated based at least in part on a pressure being sensed by said pressure sensing apparatus while said probe is within said human being; and

cause transmission of at least a portion of the generated data via the wireless transmitter to a receiver disposed external to the human being.

31. The probe of claim 30, further comprising a data storage device in data communication with the data processing apparatus and configured to store at least a portion of the generated data prior to said transmission.

32. The probe of claim 31, wherein the probe further comprises at least one data processing algorithm, the at least one algorithm configured to, when executed on said data processing apparatus, process at least a portion of said generated data prior to said transmission.

33. The probe of claim 32, wherein the processing of at least a portion of said generated data prior to said transmission comprises filtration of at least a portion of the data.

34. The probe of claim 32, wherein the pressure sensing apparatus comprises a plurality of pressure sensors, and the processing of at least a portion of said generated data prior to said transmission comprises statistical analysis of at least a portion of the data obtained from each of the plurality of sensors.

35. An electronic probe for use within an intestinal tract of a human being, said electronic probe comprising:

a housing with a substantially cylindrical exterior shape so as to enable passage through the intestinal tract;

pressure sensing apparatus configured to sense pressure applied to at least a portion of the housing due to peristaltic contractions of the intestinal tract;

analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) apparatus in signal communication with the pressure sensing apparatus, the ADC apparatus configured to convert analog signals generated by the pressure sending apparatus over time to a digital bitstream;

data processing apparatus in data communication with the ADC apparatus;

data storage apparatus in data communication with said data processing apparatus;

a wireless transmitter in data communication with the data processing apparatus; and

storage apparatus in communication with the data processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program configured to, when executed on the data processing apparatus;

obtain the digital bitstream, the bitstream generated from signals produced based at least in part on a pressure sensed by said pressure sensing apparatus as a result of said peristaltic contractions;

store the obtained bitstream at least temporarily in the data storage apparatus; and

cause transmission of at least a portion of the stored bitstream via the wireless transmitter to a receiver disposed external to the human being, the transmitted portion being useful for at least producing a representation of the peristaltic contractions as a function of time for use by a clinician or caregiver of the human being.