System and method for controlling in vivo camera capture and display rate

• US 6,709,387 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Adler, Doron, Meron, Gavriel, Glukhovsky, Arkady, Avron, Jerome, Zinati, Ofra
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/571,326
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 600/103, 600/105, 600/117, 600/118, 600/160, 348/22, 348/65, 348/220.1, 348/399.1, 348/412.1, 348/415.1
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00002 Operational features of endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• 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 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00055 for alerting the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Systems and methods which vary the frame capture rate of the camera and/or frame display rate of the display unit of in vivo camera systems are discussed. The capture rate is varied based on physical measurements related to the motion of the camera. Alternatively, the frame capture rate is varied based on comparative image processing of a plurality of frames. The frame display rate of the system is varied based on comparative image processing of a multiplicity of frames. Both the frame capture and the frame display rates of such systems can be varied concurrently.

Claims

1. An in vivo camera system comprising:

an imager having a variable frame capture rate for producing frames;

a storage device for storing frames captured by said imager;

an image processor for calculating the required frame capture rate from at least two frames; and

a controller for providing said calculated frame capture rate to said imager.

2. An in vivo camera system according to claim 1 further comprising a display system comprising:

a frame storage unit for storing at least two frames of output of said camera system;

an image processor for correlating at least two frames of said output to determine the extent of their similarity and for generating a frame display rate correlated with said similarity, wherein said frame display rate is slower when said frames are generally different and faster when said frames are generally similar; and

a display unit for displaying said frames received from said frame storage at said frame display rate.

3. A method for varying the frame capture rate of a series of frames generated by an in vivo camera system, the system comprising an imager, the method comprising the steps of:

storing said frames in a storage device;

correlating changes in the details of at least two frames;

changing said frame capture rate to a predetermined frame capture rate according to the degree of change between said at least two frames; and

communicating said required frame capture rate to said imager.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said at least two frames are consecutive frames.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein said at least two flames are non-consecutive frames.