Capsule-type endoscope having sensor and communication method thereof

• US 8,360,961 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: I3System Corp.
• Original Assignee: I3System Corp.
• Inventors: Jung, Han, Kim, Byung-Hyuk, Cha, Chul, Lee, Yong-Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US12/595,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging

Abstract

Disclosed is a capsule-type endoscope, including: a lens for obtaining an image inside the body, one or more sensors for obtaining information related to the inside of the body, a controller for interleaving the information detected by the one or more sensors with the image captured by the lens and encoding the image interleaved with the sensor data for signal output, and a transmitter for transmitting a signal from the controller.

Claims

1. A capsule-type endoscope, comprising:

a lens for capturing an image inside the body;

a plurality of sensors for obtaining information related to the inside of the body;

a controller for interleaving the information obtained by the plurality of sensors with the image captured by the lens, which is interleaved with the sensor data, and outputting a signal of the encoded image,

wherein the endoscope is configured to interleave the information into each frame of the image or each line of the image;

a transmitter for transmitting a signal from the controller; and

a switch for receiving information from the plurality of sensors in an alternate manner.

2. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are to measure at least one of a pH (potential of hydrogen), temperature, pressure, vibration, acceleration of the capsule-type endoscope, angular velocity of the capsule-type endoscope, elements of internal secretion or electrical impedance.

3. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises:

a sensor data processor for signal-processing an outputting information obtained by the plurality of sensors; and

an image sensor for receiving a signal from the sensor data processor, interleaving the signal with the image captured by the lens, encoding the image with which the signal is interleaved, and outputting the encoded image.

4. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 3, wherein the sensor data processor comprises:

the switch for receiving information from the plurality of sensors in an alternate manner; and

an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for converting the information from the switch into a digital data, and providing the converted digital data to the image sensor so as to be interleaved with the image captured by the lens.

5. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 4, wherein the controller controls a reference voltage applied to the ADC according to an external control signal.

6. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 3, wherein the image sensor comprises:

a pixel array for capturing an image through the lens and storing the captured image;

a reading unit for sequentially reading a signal for each pixel of the image stored in the pixel array; and

an encoding unit for interleaving the signal from the sensor data processor with the signal from the reading unit, encoding the interleaved signal, and outputting the encoded signal.

7. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 1, wherein the transmitter conducts the signal to the body by using electric potential difference through two transmitting electrodes.

8. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 1, wherein one frame of the encoded image includes both captured image information and non-image information.

9. A capsule-type endoscope, comprising:

a lens for capturing an image inside the body;

a plurality of sensors for obtaining information related to the inside of the body;

a sensor data processor for signal-processing an outputting information obtained by the plurality of sensors,

wherein the sensor data processor comprises a switch for receiving information from the plurality of sensors in an alternate manner;

an image sensor for receiving a signal from the sensor data processor, interleaving the signal with the image captured by the lens, encoding the interleaved image, and outputting a signal of the encoded image;

wherein the endoscope is configured to interleave the information into each frame of the image or each line of the image; and

a transmitter for transmitting the signal from the image sensor.

10. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 9, wherein the transmitter conducts the signal to the body by using electric potential difference through two transmitting electrodes.

11. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 9, wherein the sensor data processor further comprises:

an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for converting the information from the switch into a digital data, and providing the converted digital data to the image sensor so as to be interleaved with the image captured by the lens.

12. The capsule-type endoscope of claim 9, wherein one frame of the encoded image includes both captured image information and non-image information.

13. A communication method in a capsule-type endoscope, comprising:

capturing an image inside the body;

receiving information related to the inside of the body detected by a plurality of sensors;

switching the received information from the plurality of sensors in an alternate manner;

interleaving the detected information with the image,

wherein the detected information is interleaved into each frame of the image or each line of the image;

encoding the image interleaved with the information; and

transmitting the encoded image.

14. The communication method of claim 13, wherein the information detected by the plurality of sensors include at least one or more of a pH (potential of hydrogen), temperature, pressure, vibration, acceleration of the capsule-type endoscope, angular velocity of the capsule-type endoscope, elements of internal secretion or electrical impedance.

15. The communication method of claim 13, wherein the step of transmitting is conducting the signal of the image to the body by using electric potential difference through two transmitting electrodes.

16. The communication method of claim 13, wherein one frame of the encoded image includes both captured image information and non-image information.