System and method for determining in vivo body lumen conditions

• US 7,901,366 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foreman; Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US12/275,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20090076370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 600/117, 600/118, 600/160, 600/310, 600/343, 600/473, 600/476, 600/562, 600/573, 600/575, 600/582, 600/584, 600/587, 600/593, 128/903
• US Class Current: 600/584
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

Provided are a system and method for in vivo and in situ detection of body lumen conditions. The system comprises at least one interaction chamber for containing an endo-luminal sample, the interaction chamber comprising at least one indicator; at least one light source for illuminating the interaction chamber; and at least one optical detector for detecting in vivo optical changes occurring in the interaction chamber. The reaction between the indicator and sample may result in an optical change, which is detected and possibly imaged by the optical detector.

Claims

1. An in-vivo imaging device for determining an in vivo condition, the imaging device comprising:

an illumination source;

an interaction chamber comprising first and second openings, wherein the first opening allows an endo-luminal sample to enter and the second opening allows discharge of the endo-luminal sample; and

an optical detector for capturing an image of at least the interaction chamber,

wherein the optical detector is positioned on the opposite side of the interaction chamber from said illumination source, and

wherein the interaction chamber and the optical detector are positioned behind an optical window.

2. The in-vivo imaging device according to claim 1 wherein the interaction chamber includes a capillary.

3. The in-vivo imaging device according to claim 1 wherein the interaction chamber is etched into a slab of glass.

4. The in-vivo imaging device according to claim 1 wherein the interaction chamber includes an indicator configured to react with the endo-luminal sample.

5. The in-vivo imaging device according to claim 4, comprising first and second membranes configured to restrict the indicator to the interaction chamber.

6. The device according to claim 4,

wherein said interaction chamber comprises a first interaction chamber and said indicator comprises a first indicator;

wherein said device further comprises a second interaction chamber comprising a second indicator configured to react with at least the endo-luminal sample, and

wherein each of said first and second interaction chambers comprises first and second openings, wherein each first opening allows an endo-luminal sample to enter the respective chamber and each second opening allows discharge of the endo-luminal sample from the respective chamber.

7. The in-vivo imaging device according to claim 1, comprising first and second membranes configured to selectively enable passage of the endo-luminal sample.

8. The in-vivo imaging device according to claim 1, comprising an optical system.

9. The in-vivo imaging device according to claim 1 comprising a transmitter to transmit the captured image to an external receiving system.

10. The in-vivo imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the optical detector is configured for capturing an image of the interaction chamber and a gastrointestinal tract wall.

11. An in-vivo imaging device for determining body lumen conditions in-vivo, the in-vivo device comprising:

an illumination source, an interaction chamber, an optical detector and an optical window,

wherein said interaction chamber and said imager are positioned within said imaging device behind said optical window, said optical detector is positioned on the opposite side of the interaction chamber from said illumination source, and said optical detector captures images of said interaction chamber;

a first opening of the in-vivo interaction chamber through which an endo-luminal sample may enter, the interaction chamber having immobilized therein an indicator configured to react with at least the endo-luminal sample, said reaction occurring within the interaction chamber, and the reaction resulting in an optical change; and

a second opening of the interaction chamber through which the endo-luminal sample may be discharged.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said optical detector captures an image of a gastrointestinal wall.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein said optical detector captures images of said body lumen in addition to said interaction chamber.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein said optical detector captures images of optical changes that occur within the interaction chamber.

15. The device according to claim 11, further comprising an illumination source to illuminate said interaction chamber wherein at least a portion of the interaction chamber is transparent in a wavelength of illumination.

16. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a transmitter to transmit images to an external receiver.

17. The device according to claim 11,

wherein said interaction chamber comprises a first interaction chamber and said indicator comprises a first indicator;

wherein said device further comprises;

a second interaction chamber comprising a second indicator configured to react with at least the endo-luminal sample,

a first opening in the second in-vivo interaction chamber through which an endo-luminal sample may enter, and

a second opening in the second in-vivo interaction chamber through which the endo-luminal sample may be discharged.