Capsule and method for treating or diagnosing conditions or diseases of the intestinal tract

• US 8,005,536 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Entrack, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Entrack, Inc.
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOEKSTRA, JEFFREY GERBEN
• Application Number:
  US10/744,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,801 Days
• Field of Search: 600/593, 600/302, 600/549, 600/547, 600/587, 600/300, 600/424, 600/458, 607/40, 607/61
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00482 Digestive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/162 Capsule shaped sensor housings, e.g. for swallowing or implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• 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 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• 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: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 : invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 : for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 : invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 : Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4233 : oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 : Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 : combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 : specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6873 : Intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 : Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 : of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 : Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

A device and method for mapping, diagnosing and treating inflammatory disorders (such as Crohn'"'"'s disease) or other diseases, disorders or conditions of the intestinal tract is provided using a capsule passing through the intestinal tract. Further, a capsule tracking system is provided for tracking a capsule'"'"'s location along the length of an intestinal tract as various treatment and/or sensing modalities are employed. In one variation, an acoustic signal is used to determine the location of the capsule. A map of sensed impedance and or temperature may be derived from the pass of a capsule to diagnose the disorder or disease. The capsule or subsequently passed capsules may treat, further diagnose or mark the intestinal tract at a determined location along its length.

Claims

1. A system for diagnosing an inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder comprising:

a capsule tracking system configured to track the location of a capsule within an intestinal tract via an acoustic signal transmitted between the autonomous capsule and a location external a patient'"'"'s body, the tracking system configured to be worn by a patient and track the location of the capsule within the intestinal tract using a 3 dimensional coordinate system defined in part by locations of the tracking system on the patient'"'"'s skin;

an autonomous capsule comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a first temperature at a first temperature location within the intestinal tract and a second temperature at a second temperature location within the intestinal tract, and an impedance sensor configured to sense a first impedance over multiple frequencies at a first impedance location and a second impedance over multiple frequencies at a second impedance location; and

a processor coupled to the temperature sensor to receive a signal representative of the first and/or second temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and coupled to the impedance sensor to receive a signal representative of the first and/or second impedance sensed by the impedance sensor, wherein the processor is coupled to the capsule tracking system, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a change in temperature between the first temperature location and the second temperature location, and a change in impedance between the first impedance location and the second impedance location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to diagnose a likelihood of Crohn'"'"'s disease.

3. A system for treating or diagnosing the intestinal tract of a patient comprising:

capsule means for moving through a portion of an intestinal tract;

means for determining location of the capsule means within a portion of the intestinal tract;

impedance sensing means for sensing impedance over multiple frequencies of the intestinal tract;

tracking means for tracking the capsule means via an acoustic signal transmitted between the capsule means and a location external a patient'"'"'s body at a plurality of locations and for tracking sensed impedance at the plurality of locations the tracking means configured to be worn by a patient and track the location of the capsule within the intestinal tract using a 3 dimensional coordinate system defined in part by locations of the tracking means on the patient'"'"'s skin; and

a processing means for determining a change in impedance within the portion of the intestinal tract.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the means for determining location of the capsule means comprises an acoustic means for determining location.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the means for determining location of the capsule means comprises means for determining location of the capsule means along a length of the portion of the intestinal tract.

6. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

temperature sensing means for sensing temperature of the intestinal tract, wherein the tracking means further comprises means for tracking temperature at a plurality of locations, and wherein the processing means comprises means for determining a change in temperature within the portion of the intestinal tract.

7. A system for treating or diagnosing the intestinal tract of a patient comprising:

capsule means for moving through a portion of an intestinal tract;

means for determining location of the capsule means within a portion of the intestinal tract;

temperature sensing means for sensing temperature of the intestinal tract;

tracking means for tracking the capsule means via an acoustic signal transmitted between the capsule means and a location external a patient'"'"'s body at a plurality of locations and for tracking sensed temperature at the plurality of locations the tracking means configured to be worn by a patient and track the location of the capsule within the intestinal tract using a 3 dimensional coordinate system defined in part by locations of the tracking means on the patient'"'"'s skin;

transmission means for intermittently transmitting a telemetry signal from an event memory corresponding to the temperatures sensed by the temperature sensing means; and

a processing means for determining a change in temperature within the portion of the intestinal tract.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the means for determining location of the capsule means comprises an acoustic means for determining location.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the means for determining location of the capsule means comprises means for determining location of the capsule means along a length of the portion of the intestinal tract.