Device, system and method for motility measurement and analysis

• US 8,401,262 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Glukhovsky, Arkady, Frisch, Mordechai, Gilad, Zvika, Levy, Daphna
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W
• Application Number:
  US12/687,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20100119133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/107, 382/128, 382/276, 382/286, 348/65, 600/101, 600/103, 600/117, 600/118, 600/160
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• 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 5/065 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

Abstract

A device, system and method for motility measurement and analysis. For example, a system includes a processor to determine contractile activity within a body lumen based on an analysis of data received from an autonomous in-vivo device.

Claims

1. A system for determining contractile activity within a body lumen, comprising:

a processor to determine contractile activity within a body lumen based on an analysis of data received from an autonomous in-vivo device; and

a monitor to display contractile activity values to a user;

wherein said processor determines said contractile activity based on analysis of at least one image captured by said in-vivo device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor determines said contractile activity based on a brightness level of said at least one image.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said processor determines said contractile activity based on identification of a pattern in the brightness level across a series of images.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein brighter images indicate a contraction and darker images indicate less contractile activity.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein an increase in the average brightness level across a series of images indicates a contraction.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor determines said contractile activity based on modulation of light intensity of a plurality of images acquired by said in-vivo device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said processor determines a frequency of the contractile activity based on the frequency of the modulation signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said processor is to determine a medical condition related to motility based on the frequency of the contractile activity.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said in-vivo device comprises a swallowable capsule.

10. A method of determining contractile activity within a body lumen comprising:

receiving data from an in-vivo device, the data including image data; and

determining, using a processor, contractile activity within a body lumen based on an analysis of at least one image captured by said in-vivo device; and

displaying contractile activity values to a user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising calculating average image intensity of a plurality of images.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying a pattern in the average image light intensity of the plurality of images, wherein determining the contractile activity comprises analyzing the pattern of average image light intensity.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a contraction based on an increase in the average brightness level across a series of images.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein determining said contractile activity comprises modulating light intensity of a plurality of images acquired by said in-vivo device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining the frequency of the contractile activity based on the frequency of the modulation signal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a medical condition related to motility based on the frequency of the contractile activity.