Method of using, and determining location of, an ingestible capsule
First Claim
1. A method of determining the real-time location of a capsule in a tract of a mammal, comprising the steps of:
- providing a capsule, said capsule having sensors to determine at least a first physiological parameters of said tract and a second physiological parameter of said tract that is different from said first physiological parameter, said capsule also having a transmitter operatively arranged to transmit a signal reflecting such sensed parameters;
inserting said capsule into said tract;
transmitting a first said signal from said transmitter;
receiving said first transmitted signal exteriorly of said tract;
determining the value of said first sensed parameters;
determining the phase or amplitude of said first signal;
determining a first location of said capsule within said tract as a function of both (i) said determined phase or amplitude of said received signal and (ii) said determined value of said first sensed parameter;
transmitting a second said signal from said transmitter;
receiving said second transmitted signal exterior of said tract;
determining the value of said second sensed parameter;
determining the phase or amplitude of said second signal; and
determining a second location of said capsule within said tract as a function of both (i) said determined phase or amplitude of said received signal and (ii) said determined value of said second sensed parameter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention broadly provides an improved ingestible capsule (28) that is arranged to sense one or more physiological parameters within a mammalian body, an to transmit such parameters to an extra-corporeal receiver (50). In use, the capsule and receiver perform the method of determining the real-time location of the capsule within a tract of a mammal. This method includes the steps of providing the capsule, the capsule having one or more sensors, ingesting the capsule, transmitting a signal from the capsule, receiving the transmitted signal, and determining the real-time location of the capsule within the tract as a function of the received signal. The received signal may also indicate the value of one or more sensed parameters.
148 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of determining the real-time location of a capsule in a tract of a mammal, comprising the steps of:
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providing a capsule, said capsule having sensors to determine at least a first physiological parameters of said tract and a second physiological parameter of said tract that is different from said first physiological parameter, said capsule also having a transmitter operatively arranged to transmit a signal reflecting such sensed parameters; inserting said capsule into said tract; transmitting a first said signal from said transmitter; receiving said first transmitted signal exteriorly of said tract; determining the value of said first sensed parameters; determining the phase or amplitude of said first signal; determining a first location of said capsule within said tract as a function of both (i) said determined phase or amplitude of said received signal and (ii) said determined value of said first sensed parameter; transmitting a second said signal from said transmitter; receiving said second transmitted signal exterior of said tract; determining the value of said second sensed parameter; determining the phase or amplitude of said second signal; and determining a second location of said capsule within said tract as a function of both (i) said determined phase or amplitude of said received signal and (ii) said determined value of said second sensed parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of determining the real-time location of a capsule in a tract of a mammal, comprising the steps of:
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providing a capsule, said capsule having at least a first sensor operatively arranged to determine a first physiological parameter of said tract and a second sensor operatively arranged to determine a second physiological parameter of said tract that is different from said first physiological parameter, said capsule also having a transmitter; inserting said capsule into said tract; transmitting from said transmitter a first signal; receiving said first transmitted signal exteriorly of said tract; determining the value of said first sensed physiological parameter of said tract; determining the phase or amplitude of said first signal; determining the location of said capsule within said tract as a function of both (i) said determined phase or amplitude of said first received signal and (ii) said determined value of said first sensed parameter; transmitting from said transmitter a second signal; receiving said second transmitted signal exterior of said tract; determining the value of said second sensed parameter; determining the phase or amplitude of said second signal; and determining a second location of said capsule within said tract as a function of both (i) said determined phase or amplitude of said received second signal and (ii) said determined value of said second sensed parameter. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of determining the value of a physiological parameter in a tract of a mammal, comprising the steps of:
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providing an MRI-compatible capsule, said capsule having a first sensor operatively arranged to determine a first physiological parameter of said tract and a second sensor operatively arranged to determine a second physiological parameter of said tract that is different from said first physiological parameter, said capsule also having a transmitter operatively arranged to transmit a signal reflecting such sensed parameters; inserting said capsule into said tract; transmitting a first said signal from said transmitter; receiving said first transmitted signal exteriorly of said tract; determining the value of said first sensed parameter; determining the phase or amplitude of said first signal; and determining the location of said capsule within said tract as a function of both (i) said determined phase or amplitude of said first received signal and (ii) said determined value of said first sensed parameter; transmitting a second said signal from said transmitter; receiving said second transmitted signal exterior of said tract; determining the value of said second sensed parameter; determining the phase or amplitude of said second signal; and determining a second location of said capsule within said tract as a function of both (i) said determined phase or amplitude of said received second signal and (ii) said determined value of said second sensed parameter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification