Method and device of imaging with an imager having a fiber plate cover

• US 7,251,383 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2003
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CONNELLY CUSHWA, MICHELLE R
• Application Number:
  US10/722,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20040115877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 385/120
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device

Abstract

There is provided an imager with, for example, a fiber plate cover capable of transferring to a sensor element an image of a sample that may be close to or in contact with such fiber plate cover, and imaging such sample. An imager may include a fiber plate cover capable of capturing images from a microarray analysis device. There is also provided a method of capturing images with an imager of a sample that is for example in contact with a fiber plate cover on such imager.

Claims

1. An autonomous in vivo device comprising:

an imager; and

a fiber plate cover disposed on sensor elements of said imager, said fiber plate cover to transfer to said sensor elements an image of an object in contact with said fiber plate cover while said in vivo device passes through a body lumen, said fiber plate cover configured to be contiguous with an outer wall surrounding said in vivo device.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein said fiber plate is configured to coherently transfer said image onto said set of sensor elements.

3. The device as in claim 1, wherein said fiber plate cover is to magnify the image transferred by said fiber plate cover.

4. The device as in claim 1, comprising an interaction chamber.

5. The device as in claim 4, comprising an indicator disposed in said interaction chamber, said indicator capable of reacting with a sample.

6. The device as in claim 5, wherein said imager is to detect a color produced by said reaction.

7. The device as in claim 1, comprising a battery.

8. The device as in claim 1, wherein said fiber plate cover is comprised of optical fibers aligned in parallel.

9. The device as in claim 1, wherein said fiber plate cover is to coherently transfer light onto said sensing element.