In-vivo sensing system

• US 8,449,452 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J., Gilad, Zvika
• Primary Examiner(s): TOWA, RENE T
• Application Number:
  US10/529,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,528 Days
• Field of Search: 600/549, 600/101, 600/104, 600/106, 600/109, 600114-117, 600/143, 600/151, 600/160
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means

Abstract

An in-vivo sensing system incorporating a sensing device movably disposed within a housing such that the orientation of the sensing device may be moved or changed in response to substantially small forces. The in-vivo sensing device may be ingested and may naturally traverse a lumen such as the GI tract or may be anchored at a surgical site. In a preferred embodiment, the in vivo sensing system is an imaging system (100) incorporating a sensing device such as an imaging device (112) suspended in a liquid (114) encapsulated in an covering or housing (110).

Claims

1. A method for imaging an in vivo site comprising the steps of:

inserting within a body lumen an in-vivo imaging device comprising a magnet, said in-vivo imaging device being disposed within a housing without being mounted thereto so as to be freely movable within the housing in any rotational direction, and said in-vivo imaging device being surrounded by a friction reducing material within said housing;

changing orientation of said in vivo imaging device to any direction with respect to said housing in a friction-reduced manner by application of an external force to said in-vivo imaging device; and

capturing images from any of said orientations.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the external force is selected from the group consisting of:

electromagnetic force torque generating fields, magnetic torque generating fields, and gravitational force.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein applying an external force includes repositioning a patient.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

transmitting data from the in vivo imaging device.

5. The method according to claim 1 comprising the steps of:

reviewing transmitted data; and

applying an external force to change the direction of the imaging device based on the reviewed transmitted data.