Device, system and method for determining orientation of in-vivo devices

• US 7,604,589 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Blijevsky, Alex, Meron, Gavriel, Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laryea; Lawrence N
• Application Number:
  US10/950,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 600/476, 600/473, 600/309, 600/542, 600/160, 600/350, 348/74, 731/78.R, 73/54.3, 333/66
• US Class Current: 600/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging

Abstract

A system and method may determine the orientation of an in-vivo imaging device relative to the earth'"'"'s gravitation field. Some embodiments may enable indication of specific locations where other methods provide non-satisfactory imaging coverage. The system may include an in-vivo imaging system with a container or shell containing an orientation object. The container may be placed in at least one optical dome or optical field of an in-vivo imaging device, such as an autonomous capsule. The location of the orientation object'"'"'s image on the in-vivo imaging device imager, as well as size of the image, may be determined as functions of the location of the orientation object inside the container, for each image acquired.

Claims

1. An in vivo imaging system comprising:

an in-vivo device including at least an orientation indication apparatus and an imager configured to produce an image, wherein the orientation indication apparatus is positioned in the field of view the imager; and

a processor, wherein said processor is configured to measure a size of said orientation indication apparatus and to calculate an angle of said orientation indication apparatus relative to the imager and to determine the orientation of the imager relative to gravitational force therefrom.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said orientation indication apparatus comprises a container.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said orientation indication apparatus comprises an orientation object.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said orientation object is selected from the group consisting of:

a mass, a bob, a ball, a weight, a bubble and a droplet.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said orientation object is suspended from a fixed point.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said orientation indication apparatus is located in an optical dome, and wherein the imager collects images via the optical dome.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said orientation indication apparatus includes a viewable object.

8. The system according to claim 1 comprising a transmitter.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said in-vivo device is a swallowable capsule.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the orientation indication apparatus is to indicate an orientation of the device relative to earth'"'"'s gravitational force.

11. A system for determining orientation of an in-vivo device, said system comprising:

an in-vivo device, said in-vivo device including at least an orientation indication apparatus and an imager configured to produce an image wherein the orientation indication apparatus is positioned in the field of view the imager;

a reception unit; and

a processor unit, wherein said processor unit is configured to measure a size of said orientation indication apparatus and to calculate an angle of said orientation indication apparatus relative to the imager and to determine the orientation of the imager relative to gravitational force therefrom.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said orientation indication apparatus includes an orientation object.

13. A method for determining orientation of an in-vivo device, the method comprising:

acquiring an image via an imager in an in-vivo device including at least an orientation indication apparatus and an imager, said image including at least the orientation object;

measuring the size of said orientation object; and

calculating an angle of said orientation object relative to the imager and determining the orientation of the imager relative to gravitational force therefrom.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising determining a location of said orientation object.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising analyzing a plurality of image frames, said image frames include image data of said orientation object.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising indicating hidden pathologies based on said analyzing a plurality of image frames.

17. The method according to claim 14, comprising determining a location of said orientation object.