Antenna for in-vivo imaging system

• US 7,801,586 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Khait, Semion, Muratayev, Alex, Bettesh, Ido
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernandez; Katherine L
• Application Number:
  US11/268,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/160, 600/109, 600/300, 600/476, 296/00
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/27 Spiral antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

The invention provides a device, and method for in vivo imaging, for example, using an in vivo imaging device including a circuit board having rigid sections and flexible sections. The circuit board may include one or more layers and an antenna may be embedded into one or more layers.

Claims

1. An in vivo imaging device comprising:

an antenna folded to form a three-dimensional antenna; and

a support, said support comprising at least one flexible portion comprising at least one layer, said at least one flexible portion interconnecting two rigid portions having at least one layer;

wherein said antenna is embedded within said at least one flexible portion of said support and within said two rigid portions of said support, and

wherein a transmitter is disposed on one of said rigid portions.

2. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1, wherein said support is a circuit board.

3. The in vivo imaging device of claim 2, wherein an illumination system is mounted on said circuit board.

4. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is an ASIC.

5. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1, comprising an imager.

6. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1, wherein said in vivo imaging device is autonomous.

7. An autonomous in-vivo imaging device comprising:

a housing;

an antenna to form a three-dimensional antenna; and

a circuit board, said circuit board comprising at least one flexible portion interconnecting two rigid portions;

wherein said antenna is embedded within said at least one flexible portion of said circuit board and within said two rigid portions of said circuit board inside said housing, and

wherein a transmitter is disposed on one of said rigid portions of said circuit board.

8. The in-vivo device according to claim 7, comprising an image sensor.

9. The autonomous in vivo imaging device of claim 7, comprising an imager.

10. A method of manufacturing an in-vivo device, the method comprising:

embedding an antenna folded to form a three-dimensional antenna within two rigid portions of a circuit board and a flexible portion of said circuit board, the flexible portion interconnecting the two rigid portions, said circuit board comprising at least one layer;

folding the circuit board into an in vivo imaging device housing; and

disposing a transmitter on one of said rigid portions of said circuit board.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising mounting an imager on the circuit board.