Optical capsule and spectroscopic method for treating or diagnosing the intestinal tract
First Claim
1. A system for diagnosing a gastrointestinal condition comprising:
- an autonomous capsule sized to pass through the intestinal tract of a patient, the capsule comprising;
a light source configured to emit light from the capsule; and
a sensor configured to sense light of at least one predetermined wavelength at a first location within the intestinal tract and to output a signal representative of light sensed by the sensor at the at least one predetermined wavelength;
a processor coupled to the sensor to receive a signal representative of light of the at least one predetermined wavelength sensed by the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to control the light source to emit light, determine at least one condition of;
a presence of a substance, an absence of a substance, and a condition of tissue of the intestinal tract based at least in part on the signal representative of light sensed by the sensor;
a capsule tracking system configured to track a location of the capsule within the intestinal tract independent of capsule orientation, via an acoustic signal transmitted between the autonomous capsule and a location external a patient'"'"'s body, anda battery disposed within the capsule for powering the light source, the sensor, and portions of the capsule tracking system as the capsule is moving through the intestinal tract, the battery configured to allow the capsule to emit and sense light along a substantial length of the intestinal tract while transmitting the acoustical tracking signal so as to develop a map of sensed optical characteristics along a substantial length of the intestinal tract, wherein the capsule tracking system comprises;
a plurality of acoustic transducers at the capsule, each of the plurality of acoustic transducers being arranged to emit an acoustic signal detectable externally of a patient'"'"'s body as the capsule passes through at least a portion of the intestinal tract; and
at least one external acoustic receiver configured to sense the acoustic signal transmitted by the capsule,wherein the acoustic signal of each of the plurality of acoustic transducers provides information from which the location of the capsule may be derived.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for mapping, diagnosing and treating disorders or other diseases, disorders or conditions (e.g., bleeding, ischemic or necrotic tissue, and presence of certain chemicals or substances) of the intestinal tract is provided using a capsule passing through the intestinal tract and sensing optical characteristics as the capsule passes through. 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 optical characteristics 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.
-
Citations
40 Claims
-
1. A system for diagnosing a gastrointestinal condition comprising:
-
an autonomous capsule sized to pass through the intestinal tract of a patient, the capsule comprising;
a light source configured to emit light from the capsule; and
a sensor configured to sense light of at least one predetermined wavelength at a first location within the intestinal tract and to output a signal representative of light sensed by the sensor at the at least one predetermined wavelength;a processor coupled to the sensor to receive a signal representative of light of the at least one predetermined wavelength sensed by the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to control the light source to emit light, determine at least one condition of;
a presence of a substance, an absence of a substance, and a condition of tissue of the intestinal tract based at least in part on the signal representative of light sensed by the sensor;a capsule tracking system configured to track a location of the capsule within the intestinal tract independent of capsule orientation, via an acoustic signal transmitted between the autonomous capsule and a location external a patient'"'"'s body, and a battery disposed within the capsule for powering the light source, the sensor, and portions of the capsule tracking system as the capsule is moving through the intestinal tract, the battery configured to allow the capsule to emit and sense light along a substantial length of the intestinal tract while transmitting the acoustical tracking signal so as to develop a map of sensed optical characteristics along a substantial length of the intestinal tract, wherein the capsule tracking system comprises; a plurality of acoustic transducers at the capsule, each of the plurality of acoustic transducers being arranged to emit an acoustic signal detectable externally of a patient'"'"'s body as the capsule passes through at least a portion of the intestinal tract; and at least one external acoustic receiver configured to sense the acoustic signal transmitted by the capsule, wherein the acoustic signal of each of the plurality of acoustic transducers provides information from which the location of the capsule may be derived. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A system for treating or diagnosing the intestinal tract of a patient comprising:
-
encapsulation means for moving through a portion of an intestinal tract; means for determining a location of the encapsulation means within a portion of the intestinal tract via an acoustic means transmitted between the capsule means and a location external a patient'"'"'s body; light emitting means for emitting a light of at least one wavelength; optical sensing means for sensing an optical characteristic of the intestinal tract; tracking means for tracking the encapsulation means at a plurality of locations and for tracking a sensed optical characteristic at the plurality of locations; means for electrical power storage for powering the light emitting means, sensing means and portions of the tracking means as the encapsulation means is moving through the intestinal tract so as to allow the capsule to emit and sense light along a substantial length of the intestinal tract while transmitting the acoustical means so as to develop a map of sensed optical characteristics along a substantial length of the intestinal tract; and a processing means for determining a condition within the portion of the intestinal tract based at least in part on the optical characteristic sensed at the plurality of locations, wherein the tracking means comprises; a plurality of acoustic transducers at the encapsulation means, each of the plurality of acoustic transducers being arranged to emit an acoustic signal detectable externally of a patient'"'"'s body as the encapsulation means passes through at least a portion of the intestinal tract; and at least one external acoustic receiver configured to sense the acoustic signal transmitted by the encapsulation means, wherein the acoustic signal of each of the plurality of acoustic transducers provides information from which the location of the encapsulation means may be derived. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method for diagnosing a condition of a gastrointestinal tract comprising:
-
providing an autonomous capsule comprising a light source and an optical sensor configured to sense light of at least one predetermined wavelength and a battery for powering the light source as the capsule is moving through the intestinal tract; tracking a position of the autonomous capsule within the gastrointestinal tract via an acoustic signal transmitted between the autonomous capsule and a location external a patient'"'"'s body using a capsule tracking system, wherein the capsule tracking system comprises; a plurality of acoustic transducers at the capsule, each of the plurality of acoustic transducers emitting an acoustic signal detectable externally of a patient'"'"'s body as the capsule passes through at least a portion of the intestinal tract; and at least one external acoustic receiver sensing the acoustic signal transmitted by the capsule, wherein the acoustic signal of each of the plurality of acoustic transducers provides information from which the location of the capsule is derived; emitting light from the capsule in an intestinal tract utilizing power from the battery, the battery configured to allow emission of light along a substantial length of the intestinal tract while transmitting the acoustical tracking signal so as to develop a map of sensed optical characteristics along a substantial length of the intestinal tract; sensing light of the at least one predetermined wavelength with the optical sensor at a location within a portion of a gastrointestinal tract so as to determine an optical characteristic of tissue at the location within a portion of the gastrointestinal tract; and determining whether at least one condition exists at the location, the condition being selected from;
a presence of a substance, an absence of a substance, and a condition of tissue of the intestinal tract, and the condition determined at least in part from the signal representative of light sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (37)
-
-
38. A system for diagnosing a gastrointestinal condition comprising:
-
an autonomous capsule sized to pass through the intestinal tract of a patient, the capsule comprising;
a light source configured to emit light from the capsule; and
a sensor configured to sense light of at least one predetermined wavelength at a first location within the intestinal tract and to output a signal representative of light sensed by the sensor at the at least one predetermined wavelength;a processor coupled to the sensor to receive a signal representative of light of the at least one predetermined wavelength sensed by the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine at least one condition of;
a presence of a substance, an absence of a substance, and a condition of tissue of the intestinal tract based at least in part on the signal representative of light sensed by the sensor;a capsule tracking system configured to track a location of the capsule within the intestinal tract via an acoustic signal transmitted between the autonomous capsule and a location external a patient'"'"'s body; a battery disposed within the capsule for powering the light source, the sensor and portions of the capsule tracking system as the capsule is moving through the intestinal tract; and a voltage conversion device coupled to the battery for converting a battery voltage, wherein the tracking means comprises; a plurality of acoustic transducers at the capsule, each of the plurality of acoustic transducers being arranged to emit an acoustic signal detectable externally of a patient'"'"'s body as the capsule passes through at least a portion of the intestinal tract; and at least one external acoustic receiver configured to sense the acoustic signal transmitted by the capsule, wherein the acoustic signal of each of the plurality of acoustic transducers provides information from which the location of the capsule may be derived. - View Dependent Claims (39)
-
-
40. A system for diagnosing a gastrointestinal condition comprising:
-
an autonomous capsule sized to pass through the intestinal tract of a patient, the capsule comprising;
a light source configured to emit light from the capsule; and
a sensor configured to sense light of at least one predetermined wavelength at a first location within the intestinal tract and to output a signal representative of light sensed by the sensor at the at least one predetermined wavelength;a processor coupled to the sensor to receive a signal representative of light of the at least one predetermined wavelength sensed by the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to control the light source to emit light, determine at least one condition of;
a presence of a substance, an absence of a substance, and a condition of tissue of the intestinal tract based at least in part on the signal representative of light sensed by the sensor;a capsule tracking system configured to track a location of the capsule within the intestinal tract via an acoustic signal transmitted between the autonomous capsule and a location external a patient'"'"'s body, and a battery disposed within the capsule for powering the light source, the sensor, and portions of the capsule tracking system as the capsule is moving through the intestinal tract, the battery coupled directly to the processor, wherein the tracking means comprises; a plurality of acoustic transducers at the capsule, each of the plurality of acoustic transducers being arranged to emit an acoustic signal detectable externally of a patient'"'"'s body as the capsule passes through at least a portion of the intestinal tract; and at least one external acoustic receiver configured to sense the acoustic signal transmitted by the capsule, wherein the acoustic signal of each of the plurality of acoustic transducers provides information from which the location of the capsule may be derived.
-
Specification