Method for delivering a device to a target location

• US 7,822,463 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J., Meron, Gavriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abraham; Salieu M
• Application Number:
  US11/166,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,947 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/117, 600/160, 600/424, 600/476, 348/65, 348/76, 382/128
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/922 including image analysis

Abstract

An autonomous device that may include for example a camera, a transmitter for transmitting a signal from the camera and a storage compartment for retaining a substance in the device. A method of delivering a medicament to a patient including imaging a gastro intestinal tract with an autonomous device, identifying a target location in such tract, and releasing a medicament from the device at the target location.

Claims

1. A method for administering a medicament to a patient, the method comprising:

imaging a first set of images from an area of the gastrointestinal tract with a first autonomous swallowable device in a first pass through the gastrointestinal tract;

accepting identification of an image of a location of interest in the gastrointestinal tract, with an analyzing unit;

imaging a second set of images from an area of the gastrointestinal tract with the first or a second autonomous swallowable device in a second pass through the gastrointestinal tract;

accepting results of image analysis performed with the analyzing unit by comparing images from the first set with images from the second set to identify in the second set an image of the location of interest corresponding to an image of the location of interest in the first set; and

releasing a medicament from said first or second device at said location of interest in the gastrointestinal tract during said second pass through the gastrointestinal tract.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting the images obtained by the swallowable device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the release of the medicament from said first or second swallowable device during said second pass through the gastrointestinal tract is controlled by the analyzing unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the release of the medicament from said first or second swallowable device is controlled automatically by the device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the release of the medicament from said first or second swallowable device is controlled remotely by an external operator.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first or second autonomous device further comprises a sensor element selected from a group consisting of a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, a pressure sensor, and a sensor for sensing pathology.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting said images to an antenna array, said antenna array being outside a patient.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein imaging the first set of images is performed by the first autonomous swallowable device in the first pass through the gastrointestinal tract, and wherein imaging the second set of images is performed by the second autonomous swallowable device in the second pass through the gastrointestinal tract.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein imaging the first set of images in the first pass through the gastrointestinal tract and imaging the second set of images in the second pass through the gastrointestinal tract are both performed by the first autonomous swallowable device.

10. A method for image analysis of a gastrointestinal tract using at least one autonomous device comprising a camera system, a transmitter and an analyzing unit, said method comprising:

generating a first set of images in a first pass of a first autonomous imaging device through the gastrointestinal tract and a second set of images in a second pass of a second imaging device through the gastrointestinal tract, the second imaging device further having a storage compartment for retaining a substance therein;

transmitting the first set of images in the first pass in the gastrointestinal tract;

transmitting the second set of images in the second pass in the gastrointestinal tract;

analyzing the first set of images and bringing into conformity visual parameters of the set of images obtained in the first pass and visual parameters of the set of images obtained in the second pass, thereby recognizing in the second pass a location of interest in the gastrointestinal tract which has been identified in the first pass; and

releasing the substance from said storage compartment of the second imaging device at said location of interest during the second pass in the gastrointestinal tract.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said first or second autonomous device further comprises a sensor element selected from a group consisting of a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, a pressure sensor, and a sensor for sensing pathology.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the substance retained within said storage compartment is a medicament.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising transmitting said images to an antenna array, said antenna array being outside a patient.