Magnetic levitation of intraluminal microelectronic capsule
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring one or more physiological characteristics or parameters in a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, comprising:
- a magnetic field generator positioned outside the patient'"'"'s body for producing a magnetic field inside the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract; and
a capsule comprising diamagnetic material of sufficient mass to stabilize the capsule in the magnetic field at a desired position in the gastrointestinal tract.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for magnetically levitating and further steering of an intraluminal device, such as a swallowable microelectronic capsule, for monitoring bodily functions is provided. The method comprises diamagnetically-stabilized levitation, followed by dynamic modification of the external magnetic field producing the said levitation, so that the levitating intraluminal device can be steered in desired direction. The said intraluminal device contains appropriate sensors and reports in real time the forces and pressures exerted on it, as well as its position, so that the levitation and the steering can be dynamically adjusted using appropriate dynamic control of external magnetic devices such as solenoids.
72 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for monitoring one or more physiological characteristics or parameters in a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, comprising:
-
a magnetic field generator positioned outside the patient'"'"'s body for producing a magnetic field inside the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract; and a capsule comprising diamagnetic material of sufficient mass to stabilize the capsule in the magnetic field at a desired position in the gastrointestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification