IN-VIVO DEVICE USING TWO COMMUNICATION MODES

• US 20160338615A1
• Filed: 02/18/2015
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: NISANI, Micha
• Granted Patent: US 10,143,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

An in-vivo device includes a first communication circuit to communicate with an external communication device by using a first communication protocol while the in- vivo device is in the gastrointestinal system of a subject, a communication condition monitoring (CCM) circuit to monitor communication conditions for the first communication circuit, a second communication circuit to communicate with the external communication device by using a second communication protocol, and a controller configured to receive, from the communication condition monitoring (CCM) circuit, a signal indicative of a communication condition of the communication via the first communication circuit, to compare the communication condition to prerequisite communication condition(s), and to activate the first communication circuit and concurrently deactivate the second communication circuit, or vice versa, based on the comparison result.

Claims

1. An in-vivo device comprising:

a first communication circuit to communicate with a receiver external to the in-vivo device by using a first communication protocol while the in-vivo device is in the gastrointestinal system of a subject;

a communication condition monitoring circuit to monitor an electrical parameter associated with communication via the first communication circuit, and to output a signal representative of a value of the monitored electrical parameter;

a second communication circuit to communicate with the receiver by using a second communication protocol; and

a controller to receive the signal from the communication condition monitoring circuit, and to activate the first communication circuit and concurrently deactivate the second communication circuit, or vice versa, based on the value of the electrical parameter.

2. The in-vivo device as in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to activate the first communication circuit and to concurrently deactivate the second communication circuit if a communication condition represented by the value of the electrical parameter complies with a prerequisite communication condition.

3. The in-vivo device as in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the first communication circuit and to concurrently activate the second communication circuit if a communication condition represented by the value of the electrical parameter does not comply with a prerequisite communication condition.

4. The in-vivo device as in claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to resume communication via the first communication circuit if, during communication via the second communication circuit, the communication condition via the first communication circuit complies with the prerequisite communication condition.

5. The in-vivo device as in claim 1, wherein the first communication circuit comprises electrical electrodes.

6. The in-vivo device as in claim 5, wherein communication via the first communication circuit is effected through contact of one or more of the electrodes with the body of the subject.

7. The in-vivo device as in claim 1, wherein the second communication circuit comprises a radio frequency circuit.

8. The in-vivo device as in claim 1, wherein the electrical parameter is an instantaneous electrical current (IEC) consumed by the first communication circuit.

9. The in-vivo device as in claim 1, wherein the electrical parameter is or represents:

(i) electrodes-body tissue conductivity, (ii) signal-to-noise ratio, (iii) RF noise level, (iv) duration of communication gaps (individually or collectively), (v) rate of communication gaps, and (vi) sense electrical current or sense voltage by which the first communication circuit can sense communication condition(s).

10. The in-vivo device as in claim 1, wherein the electrical parameter indicates an electrical state of the first communication circuit.

11. A communication method for an in-vivo system, comprising:

in an in-vivo device comprising a controller, a first communication circuit, a second communication circuit and a communication condition monitoring circuit, performing,

receiving by the controller, from the communication condition monitoring circuit, a signal indicative of an electrical parameter associated with communication between said first communication circuit and an external communication circuit; and

activating, by the controller, the first communication circuit and concurrently deactivating the second communication circuit, or vice versa, depending on a value or state of the electrical parameter.

12. The method as in claim 11, comprising initially activating the first communication circuit and concurrently deactivating the second communication circuit, and continuing to do so if, or while, the value of the electrical parameter complies with a prerequisite communication condition.

13. The method as in claim 11, comprising activating the second communication circuit and concurrently deactivating the first communication circuit if the value of the electrical parameter does not comply with a prerequisite communication condition.

14. The method as in claim 13, comprising resuming communication via the first communication circuit if, during communication via the second communication circuit, the value of the electrical parameter complies with the prerequisite communication condition.

15. The method as in claim 13, wherein transitioning of communication from the first communication circuit to the second communication circuit and transitioning of communication from the second communication circuit to the first communication circuit involves using different electrical parameters.

16. A communication method for an in-vivo system, comprising:

(i) activating a first communication circuit in an in-vivo device to communicate with an external communication device while the in-vivo device is in the gastrointestinal system of a subject, and monitoring a communication condition of the communication via the first communication circuit; and

(ii) deactivating the first communication circuit and concurrently activating a second communication circuit in the in-vivo device to maintain communication with the external communication device if the communication condition does not comply with a prerequisite communication condition.

17. The method as in claim 16, comprising:

(iii) reactivating the first communication circuit and concurrently deactivating the second communication circuit if, during communication via the second communication circuit, the communication condition via the first communication circuit, complies with the prerequisite communication condition; and

(iv) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) while the in-vivo device is in the gastrointestinal tract.

18. The method as in claim 16, wherein operating the second communication circuit comprises using a radio frequency (RF) circuit.

19. The method as in claim 16, wherein operating the first communication circuit comprises using electrical electrodes.

20. The method as in claim 19, comprising monitoring all or some of the electrical electrodes to evaluate the communication condition of the communication via the first communication circuit.