In vivo imaging device

• US 7,637,865 B2
• Filed: 12/25/2003
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J., Gilad, Zvika
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P
• Application Number:
  US10/540,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20060056828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 600/130, 600/160, 600/109, 600/173, 600/407, 600/476, 600/302, 348/65
• US Class Current: 600/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A substantially spherical in vivo imaging device (40) may be used for imaging body lumens in the GI tract. The imaging device (40) may include for example a ballast or weight (74) for setting a preferred orientation of the device within the body lumen. The substantially spherical shape (52) of the in vivo imaging device (40) may facilitate capturing steady streams of imaging data in large body lumens. A method of manufacture is presented.

Claims

1. An in vivo imaging device comprising:

a substantially spherical housing comprising;

a support having a first and second face, the first face having thereon an antenna and an imager for viewing in vivo; and

the second face of the support having thereon a transmitter; and

a ballast weight positioned such that the center of gravity of the in vivo imaging device is opposite the direction of view with respect to a geometric center of the housing.

2. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the support is selected from a group consisting of:

PCB, plastic board and plastic sheet.

3. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1 wherein the antenna is selected from a group consisting of:

a single ring and a coil.

4. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is mounted around the periphery of the support.

5. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1, comprising an optical isolation element.

6. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the optical isolation element is selected from a group consisting of:

plastic, polymer, or ABS.

7. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the optical isolation element is selected from a group consisting of:

an opaque barrier, a translucent barrier, a light trap, and an optical filter.

8. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 5 wherein the optical isolation element is an extension of a component of said in vivo imaging device.

9. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 8 where in the component is selected from a group consisting of:

a dome, a lens, an illumination source, the imager, and the support.

10. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the optical isolation element is to support an optical system.

11. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1 wherein the imager is selected from a group consisting of:

CCD and CMOS.

12. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1 comprising an optical system with a focal distance between 0 to 40 mm.

13. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1 comprising an optical system with a field of view between about 80 and 140 degrees.