Method for delivering a device to a target location

• US 6,950,690 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1999
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J., Meron, Gavriel
• Primary Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/807,892
• Time in Patent Office: 2,168 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/473, 600/476, 600/424, 600/425, 600/427, 600/109, 600/111, 600/117, 600/118, 128/903, 128/899, 128/922, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/892.1, 604/93.01, 382/128, 382/133
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/922 including image analysis

Abstract

Capsule (60) moves through the gastrointestinal tract (62) in a first pass to generate a map of the gastrointestinal tract, and to identify a location of interest. In its second pass, capsule (60) moves through the gastrointestinal tract, and is controlled to perform a job at the identified location. Repeated localizations generate generate a map of the route taken by the capsule in the gastrointestinal tract (62). images displayed on the image monitor (61) are compared with the generated map displayed on the position monitor (63) to identify the location of a pathology (72).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recording a first set of images from a gastrointestinal tract using a swallowable imaging device;

identifying an image showing a location of interest;

recording a second set of images from the gastrointestinal tract using a swallowable imaging device; and

performing image analysis by comparing images from the first set with images from the second set to identify in the second set an image of interest corresponding to an image in the fist set, thereby determining the location of the imaging device relative to the location of interest.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is to generate data, and wherein the imaging device is a capsule comprising:

means for signal analysis of data generated in a first pass and a second pass; and

means for controlling the imaging device in a second pass according to said signal analysis; and

means for performing a job in the gastrointestinal tract.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

inserting the imaging device into the gastrointestinal tract in a first pass;

locating the imaging device; and

displaying the location on a position monitor.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of displaying the location of the imaging device two or three dimensionally.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the location of the imaging device is displayed as an overlay to a schematic presentation of the gastrointestinal tract.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of recording a first set of images using a swallowable imaging device comprises recording the first set of images in a first pass, and wherein the step of recording a second set of images using a swallowable imaging device comprises:

recording the second set of images from the gastrointestinal tract in a second pass;

performing image analysis by comparing images from the first pass and of images from in the second pass; and

determining the location of the imaging device relative to the location of interest.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first pass and the second pass are one or more passes.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location of interest is a location of a pathology.