System for storing and activating an in vivo imaging capsule

• US 7,931,149 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Roytenburd, Vitaly, Gilad, Zvika
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett; J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANO, ERNESTO ARTURIO
• Application Number:
  US12/473,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 206/530, 206/528, 206/205, 206/210, 206/534, 206/539, 206/363, 206/438, 206/350, 206/818, 206/446, 206/439, 206/486, 206/488, 206/477, 206/478, 206/482, 206/480, 206/560, 600/109, 600/7, 600/114, 348/76, 348/77
• US Class Current: 206/530
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00144 Hygienic packaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging

Abstract

A storage unit is provided for removably storing an in vivo imaging capsule. The capsule may have a housing and an optical dome. The storage unit may include a recessed space formed for accepting the capsule. A magnet for magnetically activating and deactivating the capsule may be provided in the storage unit, for example in the lid. The storage unit may also include a capsule holding unit comprising at least two protruding elements to removably hold the capsule in the storage unit, wherein the protruding elements are positioned to grip the capsule housing.

Claims

1. A storage unit storing an in vivo imaging capsule, the in vivo imaging capsule being removable from the storage unit and having at least a housing and an optical dome, said storage unit comprising:

a recessed space accepting the in vivo imaging capsule, said recessed space comprising;

a recessed portion substantially in the shape of the in vivo imaging capsule; and

two recessed sections, each recessed section adjacent to the recessed portion and positioned to allow removal of the in vivo imaging capsule from the storage unit substantially by the action of the fingers of a user grabbing the housing of the in vivo imaging capsule without touching the optical dome;

a magnet for magnetically activating and deactivating the in vivo is imaging capsule; and

a capsule holding unit comprising at least two protruding elements to hold the in vivo imaging capsule in the storage unit until removal, said at least two protruding elements positioned to grip the housing of the in vivo imaging capsule and to allow removal of the in vivo imaging capsule from the storage unit by the action of the fingers of a user grabbing the housing of the in vivo imaging capsule without touching the optical dome;

a lid comprising at least two fastening elements positioned such that when the lid is in a closed position, the at least two fastening elements press the at least two protruding elements inward towards the in vivo imaging capsule;

the in vivo imaging capsule holding unit being positioned substantially within the recessed space.

2. The device of claim 1, the magnet being positioned on the lid, such that the in vivo imaging capsule is activated when the lid is open, and the in vivo imaging capsule is deactivated when the lid is closed.

3. The device of claim 1, the magnet being embedded into the fastening element.

4. The device of claim 2, the lid having at least a portion made of a transparent material.

5. The device of claim 1, the protruding elements being positioned substantially symmetrically across from each other on opposite sides of the recessed space.

6. The device of claim 1, the holding unit comprising two capsule gripping units, each capsule gripping unit comprising two protruding elements positioned substantially symmetrically across from each other on opposite sides of the recessed space.

7. The device of claim 6, the capsule gripping units being positioned substantially one centimeter apart from each other.

8. A storage device for storing a swallowable capsule, the swallowable capsule comprising a housing and an optical dome, the storage device comprising:

a container base comprising a recessed space for placing the swallowable capsule;

a capsule holding unit positioned substantially within the container base, the capsule holding unit comprising at least two protruding elements positioned to removably hold the swallowable capsule around its housing, the protruding elements being positioned across from each other on opposite sides of the recessed space; and

a lid for covering the container base, the lid comprising a magnet, wherein the magnet is positioned to activate the swallowable capsule when the lid is open, and to deactivate the swallowable capsule when the lid is closed, and the lid comprising at least two fastening elements to apply pressure to the at least two protruding elements, such that when the lid is closed the at least two fastening elements press the at least two protruding elements inward, towards the swallowable capsule, thereby providing an additional pressure for holding the swallowable capsule in the capsule holding unit.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a liner assembled into the container base.

10. The device of claim 8, the magnet being embedded into one of the at least two fastening elements.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the lid is made of a transparent material.

12. The device of claim 8, the protruding elements being positioned substantially symmetrically across from each other.

13. An apparatus for storing and activating a swallowable in vivo device comprising a dome a housing, the apparatus comprising:

a container base comprising a recessed space, the recessed space formed to accept the swallowable in vivo device and comprising;

a recessed portion substantially in the shape of the swallowable in vivo device; and

two or more recessed sections, adjacent to the recessed portion, positioned to allow removal of the swallowable in vivo device from the storage unit by the action of the fingers of a user grabbing the housing of the swallowable in vivo device without touching the optical dome;

a device holding unit comprising at least two protruding elements to removably hold the swallowable in vivo device in the apparatus, said at least two protruding elements positioned to grip the housing of the swallowable in vivo device and to allow removal of the swallowable in vivo device from the storage unit by the action of the fingers of a user grabbing the housing of the swallowable in vivo device without touching the dome;

a lid for covering the container base, the lid being attached to said container base by a pivot member acting as a reusable pivot for opening and closing the lid,

the lid comprising at least two fastening elements to apply pressure to the at least two protruding elements, such that when the lid is closed the at least two fastening elements press the at least two protruding elements inward, towards the swallowable in vivo device, thereby providing an additional pressure for holding the swallowable in vivo device in the device holding unit; and

a magnet positioned in the lid to activate the swallowable in vivo device when the lid is open and deactivate the swallowable in vivo device when the lid is closed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, said magnet being curved so that no specific orientation of the swallowable in vivo device is required to activate or de-activate the swallowable in vivo device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, said device holding unit comprising a positioning element shaped to hold an end of the swallowable in vivo device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, said dome of the swallowable in vivo device being positioned at a first end of the housing and said swallowable in vivo device further comprising a non-domed end positioned at a second end of said housing, said positioning element holding the non-domed end of the swallowable in vivo device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, said positioning element shaped as a half-dome.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, said positioning element shaped to cover the end of the swallowable in vivo device being held.