System and method for modeling a tracking curve of an in vivo device

• US 7,761,134 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Horn, Eli, Gat, Daniel, Rabinovitz, Raphael, Nitzan, Yaacov
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laryea; Lawrence N
• Application Number:
  US11/583,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 600/416, 600/407, 600104-107, 600/117, 600/109, 600/476, 600/424, 348/76, 348/4, 434/267
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots

Abstract

A system and method to model a tracking curve of an in-vivo device capturing in-vivo data of the colon is provided. Data analysis is performed on a raw tracking curve to identify one or more milestone data points that correspond to defined locations in the colon. A modeled path may be defined between and along the selected milestone data points. Raw tracking curve data may be translated to modeled data along the modeled path. The modeled tracking curve may be displayed alongside a streaming display of captured in-vivo image frames of the colon.

Claims

1. A system for modeling a raw tracking curve of an in-vivo device passing through a colon, the system comprising:

a data recorder unit to receive and store a plurality of in vivo signals sent from the in-vivo device passing through the colon;

a processor to construct the raw tracking curve based on the strength of the received signals, said raw tracking curve representing estimated location of the in-vivo device;

a colon section detector unit configured to identify milestone data on the raw tracking curve corresponding to defined locations in the colon and to translate the raw tracking curve to a modeled curve; and

a monitor configured to display a graphical presentation of the modeled tracking curve.

2. The system according to claim 1 comprising an RSSI unit to determine signal strength of data of the raw tracking curve.

3. The system according to claim 1 comprising:

a receiver to receive image data captured in-vivo, wherein the colon section detector unit is configured to analyze the image data received.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the defined locations in the colon include at least a flexure point.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the defined locations in the colon include at least a ceacum.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the defined locations in the colon include at least a transverse section of the colon.

7. The system according to claim 1 comprising a user input device configured to receive user input to identify the milestone data.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the colon section detector unit is configured to identify a section of the raw tracking curve that passes a mid-line axis of a body.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the colon section detector unit is configured to analyze a movement pattern of the in-vivo device.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the colon section detector unit is configured to project at least a portion of the raw tracking curve onto the modeled curve.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein said monitor is further configured to display a streaming display of image frames captured by the in-vivo device and a moving marker along the modeled curve to indicate a modeled location of the in-vivo device corresponding to a displayed image frame from the streaming display of the image frames.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the modeled curve has a pre-determined shape.