Device, system and method for transfer of signals to a moving device

• US 7,866,322 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk; John P
• Application Number:
  US10/531,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20060169292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,645 Days
• Field of Search: 128/899, 600300-302, 600/309, 600/424, 600/549
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00034 rechargeable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence

Abstract

A system for transfer of a signal, such as an energizing signal, to a transmitting in vivo sensing device. The in vivo device includes at least one signal transmitter and at least one signal receiving unit. The system includes an external phased array antenna. The phased array antenna receives a signal from the sensing device and then transmits a signal to the device phased in the reverse order to that of receipt the signal from the sensing device.

Claims

1. A system for transferring an energizing signal to an in-vivo device, said system comprising:

an in-vivo sensing device, the in-vivo device comprising a signal transmitter configured to transmit a first signal, an energy storage unit, and a signal receiving unit for receiving a second signal for being stored in the energy storage unit; and

an external phased array antenna, the phased array antenna comprising two or more antennas for receiving the first signal in a reception order according to reception time(s),

wherein the two or more antennas are configured to transmit the second signal in a reversed order of the reception order of the first signal, such that the time difference between transmission of the second signal through a first antenna of the two or more antennas and transmission of the second signal through a second antenna of the two or more antennas equals to the time difference between the reception times of the first signal at the first antenna and the second antenna.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the phased array antenna is configured for surrounding a portion of a body.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device includes an image sensor.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device comprises a capacitor or a rechargeable battery.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the sensing device comprises at least one antenna.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the phased array antenna is configured to transmit a signal having an active portion and a silent interval.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the silent interval lasts for a period in the order of magnitude of 1 msec.

8. The system according to claim 6 wherein the active portion includes RF bursts.

9. The system according to claim 6 wherein the active portion includes bursts of about 1 milijoule.

10. The system according to claim 6 wherein the active portion includes bursts at a frequency of about 1 GigaHertz.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the phased array antenna is configured to transmit a modulated signal.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter comprises an RF ID tag.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the RF ID tag is adapted to transmit said first signal.

18. The system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said at least two antennas is an omni-directional antenna.

12. A method for transferring an energizing signal to an in vivo device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal transmitted from said in vivo device by a phased array antenna comprising two or more antennas;

recording a reception order according to reception time of said first signal through the phased array antenna; and

transmitting, by said phased array antenna, a second signal to said in vivo sensing device in a reverse order, such that the time difference between transmission of the second signal through a first antenna of the two of more antennas and transmission of the second signal through a second antenna of the two of more antennas equals to the time difference between the reception times of the first signal at the first antenna and the second antenna.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the order of receipt is a time array.

14. The method according to claim 12 comprising the steps of energizing at least one component of said in vivo sensing device.

15. The method according to claim 12 comprising the steps of:

transmitting a signal from the in vivo sensing device;

switching from transmit to receive mode;

receiving a signal which includes at least one active portion and at least one silent interval; and

switching from receive mode to transfer mode at an end of the active portion of the signal.