Capsule Coating for Image Capture Control
First Claim
1. A method of image capture control for a capsule device with a camera and a light source enclosed in a capsule housing, wherein a coating on outer surface of the housing to cover a field of view of the camera and the coating is dissolvable depending on a factor of an intraluminal environment, the method comprising:
- administering the capsule device to a living subject;
determining a first image corresponding to a coating image that the capsule device captures with the coating present;
capturing a second image using the camera and the light source at a first frame rate substantially below a target frame rate;
determining whether first information related to the first image matches with second information related to the second image;
if the first information matches with the second information, repeating said capturing the second image and said determining whether the first information related to the first image matches with the second information related to the coating image; and
if the first information does not matches with the second information, configuring the camera to capture third images at the target rate after said declaring that the coating has dissolved.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capsule device and a method for the capsule device remain in a very low power state and monitor whether it enters a desired section of the gastrointestinal track. The capsule device is coated with an enteric material that is expected to dissolve after it enters the small bowel. In the monitoring state, the capsule device captures a first image using the camera and the light source at a first frame rate substantially below a target frame rate. The capsule device compares first information related to the first image with second information related to a coating image corresponding to the coating. If the first information does not matches the second information, the capsule device declares that the coating has dissolved and the capsule device configures the camera to capture third images at the target rate after declaring that the coating has dissolved.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of image capture control for a capsule device with a camera and a light source enclosed in a capsule housing, wherein a coating on outer surface of the housing to cover a field of view of the camera and the coating is dissolvable depending on a factor of an intraluminal environment, the method comprising:
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administering the capsule device to a living subject; determining a first image corresponding to a coating image that the capsule device captures with the coating present; capturing a second image using the camera and the light source at a first frame rate substantially below a target frame rate; determining whether first information related to the first image matches with second information related to the second image; if the first information matches with the second information, repeating said capturing the second image and said determining whether the first information related to the first image matches with the second information related to the coating image; and if the first information does not matches with the second information, configuring the camera to capture third images at the target rate after said declaring that the coating has dissolved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A capsule device adapted to be swallowed by a patient for imaging gastrointestinal (GI) track of the patient, the capsule device comprising:
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an image sensor for capturing images projected on the image sensor; a light source; a capsule housing to enclose the image sensor and the light source; a coating on outer surface of the capsule housing covering at least an area corresponding a field of view to be imaged by the sensor, wherein the coating is dissolvable depending on a factor of an intraluminal environment; and a processing unit configured to; (a) determine a first image corresponding to a coating image that the image sensor captures with the coating present; (b) capture a second image using the image sensor and the light source at a first frame rate substantially below a target frame rate; and (c) determine whether first information related to the first image matches with second information related to the second image; (d) if the first information related to the first image matches with the second information related to the second image, repeat steps (a) to (c); and (e) if the first information related to the first image does not match with the second information related to the second image, configure the capsule device to capture third images at the target rate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27)
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25. The capsule device of claim 244, wherein a material for the enzymatic coating is selected from an enzymatic group consisting of Encode, azo crosslinked polymers such as methacrylic acid and/or acrylic acid copolymers, carboxmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, methacryloxy azobenzene HEMA, diisocyanate crosslinked dextran.
Specification