Diagnostic device, system and method for reduced data transmission

• US 7,664,174 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Avni, Dov, Horn, Eli, Zinaty, Ofra, Meron, Gavriel, Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/551,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20060262186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,150 Days
• Field of Search: 375/240.01
• US Class Current: 375/240.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/59 involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/445 by skipping some contiguous pixels within the read portion of the array

Abstract

A device, system and method may enable the obtaining of in vivo images from within body lumens or cavities, such as images the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where the data such as image data is typically transmitted or otherwise sent to a receiving system in compressed or diluted form. The image may be reconstructed and for example displayed to a user.

Claims

1. A system for reconstructing an image, the system comprising:

a controller to;

receive selected image data from an in-vivo device, wherein said selected image data has been selected using a dilution pattern, wherein said dilution pattern is repeated in every four rows of the image, such that every second green pixel is selected from a first row, every second blue pixel is selected from a second row, and every second red pixel is selected from a third row, and wherein said dilution pattern further includes averaging a selected pixel with a neighboring pixel of the same color;

pre-process the selected image data by applying error correction code, gradient evaluation, or detecting edges;

interpolate the selected image data to produce reconstructed image data, so that the reconstructed image data includes more data than the selected image data; and

post-process the reconstructed image data by applying a median filter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller interpolates by linear interpolation, quadratic interpolation, bicubic interpolation, polynomial interpolation, or weighted average interpolation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is to produce additional image data resulting in reconstructed image data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further to post-process the reconstructed image data by color suppression.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is to generate reconstructed image data based on said selected image data.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is to receive the selected image data from a swallowable capsule.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said selected image data is produced by an in vivo imager which captures a plurality of input data corresponding to an image.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said selected image data is transmitted from an in vivo device via a transmitter.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the dilution pattern used to select the selected image data is modified based on operating conditions of the in vivo device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the operating conditions are selected from a group consisting of:

position of the in vivo device, pH, temperature, ambient lighting or color conditions.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said dilution pattern further comprises selecting a same amount of red pixels and blue pixels and twice that amount of green pixels.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said dilution pattern further comprises selecting every second green pixel from said second row, and selecting no pixels from a fourth row.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said dilution pattern further comprises selecting every second red pixel from a fourth row, such that a same amount of green pixels and blue pixels are selected and twice that amount of red pixels are selected.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said in-vivo device comprises an imager, and said averaging is performed by said imager.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said in-vivo device comprises a control bit, and said averaging is activated or deactivated by said control bit.