In-vivo imaging device, optical system and method

• US 7,996,067 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• 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, Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Tse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheng; Jacqueline
• Application Number:
  US10/879,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,596 Days
• Field of Search: 600/476, 600/160, 600/176
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00163 Optical arrangements A61B1/002, A61B1/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An in-vivo device may include an optical system, and a method for viewing in-vivo sites. A dome or cover may cover an end of the device, protecting optical elements such as illumination devices or imagers, which may be behind the dome. The dome may be forward projecting. The field of view of the imager may be for example forward looking. Illumination element(s) and a receiving unit or imager may be disposed behind a single optical window, which for example may enable obtaining of images free of backscatter and stray light.

Claims

1. An autonomous in-vivo imaging device comprising:

a device body, the device body having a longitudinal axis and a main body, wherein a portion of the main body is parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein an end of said parallel portion defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a dome shaped window positioned at said end of the parallel portion and defining a space between said dome shaped window and said plane, the dome shaped window having an uninterrupted transparent body that extends to said parallel portion of the main body of the device body;

a plurality of illumination sources providing illumination through the window;

a lens; and

a camera positioned within the device body on an axis of symmetry coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the device at an equal distance from each of said plurality of illumination sources and behind the lens, the camera imaging via the lens and the window, the field of view of the camera via the lens being along the longitudinal axis and towards the end of the parallel portion, wherein said camera, lens and illumination sources are located behind said space.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a capsule.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device travels in at least a forward direction, and wherein the camera is forward looking.

4. A method for in-vivo imaging, the method comprising:

illuminating with a plurality of illumination sources disposed within a capsule, the capsule having a capsule body, the capsule body having a longitudinal axis and a main body, wherein a camera is positioned on an axis of symmetry coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the capsule at an equal distance from each of said plurality of illumination sources, wherein a portion of the main body is parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein an end of said parallel portion defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

receiving images at said camera from a forward direction via a lens, the forward direction being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the capsule,

wherein the camera and illumination sources are covered by a convex dome shaped window positioned at said end of the parallel portion and defining a space between said dome shaped window and said plane, the window having an uninterrupted transparent body that extends to said parallel portion of the main body of the device body, the camera receiving images via the window and the illumination sources illuminating via the window, wherein said camera, lens and illumination sources are located behind said space.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the device is autonomous.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the dome shaped window extends from the main body in the direction of travel.

7. An in-vivo imaging device comprising:

a device body, the device body having a longitudinal axis and a main body, wherein a portion of the main body is parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein an end of said parallel portion defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a convex dome shaped window positioned at said end of the parallel portion and defining a space between said dome shaped window and said plane, the dome shaped window having an uninterrupted transparent body that extends to said parallel portion of the main body of the device body;

a camera imaging via a lens; and

a plurality of illumination sources, wherein said camera is positioned on an axis of symmetry coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the device at an equal distance from each of said plurality of illumination sources, the camera and the illumination sources being behind the dome shaped window, the camera accepting images via the dome shaped window, wherein said camera, lens and illumination sources are located behind said space.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is autonomous.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a capsule.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the device travels in at least a forward direction, and wherein the camera is forward looking.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the illumination source illuminates through the dome shaped window.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the dome shaped window is ellipsoid shaped.

13. An in-vivo imaging device comprising:

a device body, the device body having a longitudinal axis and a main body, wherein a portion of the main body is parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein an end of said parallel portion defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

plurality of illumination sources;

a camera positioned behind a lens and on an axis of symmetry coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the device at an equal distance from each of said plurality of illumination sources; and

a window being substantially dome-shaped positioned at said end of the parallel portion and defining a space between said window and said plane, said window having an uninterrupted transparent body that extends to said parallel portion of the main body of the device body, the camera accepting images via the window and the illumination source illuminating via the window, wherein said camera, lens and illumination sources are located behind said space.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is autonomous.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is a capsule.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the window projects from the main body of the device.

17. An in-vivo imaging method comprising:

collecting images via a camera imaging via a lens, the camera being in a device having a device body, the device body having a longitudinal axis and a main body, wherein a portion of the main body is parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein an end of said parallel portion defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the device having a window which is substantially convex, the window positioned at said end of the parallel portion and defining a space between said window and said plane, the window having an uninterrupted transparent body that extends to said parallel portion of the main body of the device body, the camera accepting images via the window, the device having a plurality of illumination sources illuminating via the window, wherein the camera is positioned on an axis of symmetry coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the device at an equal distance from each of said plurality of illumination sources, wherein said camera, lens and illumination sources are located behind said space.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising collecting images of objects in a generally forward direction from the end of the device.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising transmitting the images wirelessly.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the device is a capsule.

21. An in vivo imaging capsule comprising:

a capsule housing, said capsule housing having a longitudinal axis and a main housing, wherein a portion of the main housing is parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein an end of said parallel portion defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

at least a camera imaging via a lens; and

a plurality of illumination sources;

the lens and illumination sources being on a plane substantially at right angle with the longitudinal axis and coinciding with or behind said plane defined by the end of said parallel portion, wherein said camera and lens is positioned on an axis of symmetry coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the capsule at an equal distance from each of said plurality of illumination sources;

wherein said main housing is attached to a convex dome shaped window positioned at said end of the parallel portion and defining a space between said dome shaped window and said plane, the dome shaped window having an uninterrupted transparent surface that extends to said parallel portion of the main housing of the capsule housing, the camera imaging via the dome shaped window and the illumination sources providing illumination through the dome shaped window.