Device and method for measurement of electrical characteristics of tissue

• US 7,142,908 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/440,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 600/593, 600/587
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 Intestines, colon or appendix

Abstract

Apparatus for measuring electrical characteristics of biological tissues includes an autonomous capsule with an external surface having openings, a plurality of electrodes located within the openings, and a processor in communication with the plurality of electrodes for generating electrical characteristics. A method for measuring electrical characteristics of biological tissues includes the steps of introducing into the digestive tract an autonomous electrode configuration, selecting sets of electrodes for measurement, introducing a current into the selected electrodes, collecting electrical data from the selected electrodes, and calculating electrical characteristics from the collected data.

Claims

1. A method for measuring electrical impedance of a biological lumen, the method comprising:

introducing into said biological lumen an autonomous device, said device including a plurality of electrodes;

collecting electrical data from said plurality of electrodes;

calculating electrical impedance from said collected data; and

selecting a maximum impedance value among a plurality of impedance values,

wherein said introducing of said device is accomplished by swallowing.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein device is a capsule.

3. A method as in claim 1 further comprising transmitting said calculated electrical impedance to a receiver.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said collecting electrical data includes recording a voltage.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein said calculating electrical impedance further includes calculating conductivity.

6. A method as in claim 1 further comprising measuring a time parameter.

7. A method as in claim 1 further comprising determining a distance within the lumen.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes at least four electrodes.

9. A method comprising:

selecting a pair of electrodes that are in contact with gastrointestinal tract in an autonomous in-vivo device including a plurality of electrodes;

collecting electrical data from the selected electrodes; and

selecting a maximum impedance value among a plurality of impedance values.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said device is a capsule.

11. The method of claim 9 comprising transmitting said data.

12. The method of claim 9 comprising recording a voltage between the selected electrodes.

13. Apparatus for measuring electrical characteristics of biological tissues, comprising:

a plurality of electrodes; and

a processor that receives a plurality of impedance values from said electrodes, said impedance values being received from at least two sets of electrodes, wherein the processor selects the a maximum impedance value among said plurality of impedance values, and

wherein said electrical characteristics include at least conductivity values.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising an imager.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said device is autonomous.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said apparatus is configured to enable said set of electrodes to be in contact with an interior portion of said biological tissue.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said apparatus is a capsule.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said biological tissue is an interior of any portion of a digestive tract.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said plurality of electrodes are selected from a group consisting of:

metallic rings, metallic spheres, and cup-shaped electrodes.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, comprising an external surface having openings;

and wherein the plurality of electrodes are located within said openings.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said openings are round.

22. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said electrodes are flush with an external surface of said apparatus.

23. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said electrodes protrude from an external surface of said apparatus.

24. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said processor comprises a multiplexer said multiplexer configured to select the set of electrodes.

25. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said processor comprises a microprocessor said microprocessor is configured to select a maximum value.

26. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said processor is configured to calculate impedance between said selected electrodes.

27. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said processor is configured to further calculate conductivity.

28. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said processor is configured to further determine a distance within a digestive tract.