Displaying image data from a scanner capsule

• US 8,617,058 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innurvation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innurvation Incorporated
• Inventors: Arneson, Michael, Bandy, William R., Powell, Kevin J., Salsman, Kenneth E., Tirpack, Devon
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/500,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 600/160
• US Class Current: 600/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0004 for electronic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging

Abstract

An ingestible image scanning pill captures high resolution images of the GI tract as it passes through. Images communicated externally have exact location determination. Image processing software discards duplicate information and stitches images together, line scan by line scan, to replicate a complete GI tract as if it were stretched out in a straight line. A fully linear image is displayed to a medical professional as if the GI tract had been stretched in a straight line, cut open, laid flat out on a bench for viewing—all without making any incisions in a live patient.

Claims

1. A gastro intestinal (GI) tract imaging arrangement, comprising:

an ingestible imaging pill configured to illuminate and to capture a plurality of portions of a GI tract of an animal as the ingestible imaging pill passes through the GI tract, wherein the captured plurality of portions of the GI tract comprise a first plurality of portions captured after movement of the ingestible imaging pill in a first direction relative to the GI tract and a second plurality of portions captured after movement of the ingestible imaging pill in a second direction relative to the GI tract, the first direction being different from the second direction; and

an interactive signal processing device configured to merge the captured plurality of portions of the GI tract to form a substantially linear representation of the GI tract and to dynamically display the substantially linear representation in a manner dictated by a human operator.

2. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interactive signal processing device is configured to provide a “

fly through”

display of the GI tract.

3. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interactive signal processing device is further configured to permit the human operator to input comments related to a portion of the display the GI tract and to have those comments displayed in a manner related to the display of the GI tract.

4. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interactive signal processing device is further configured to display graphical user interface (GUI) controls that can be manipulated by the human operator to change the display so as to focus on a particular feature of the GI tract.

5. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interactive signal processing device is further configured to display a positional indicator identifying where along the GI tract a particular image being displayed represents.

6. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the ingestible imaging pill comprises:

a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imaging array configured to capture the plurality of portions of the GI tract as a plurality of ring images.

7. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the ingestible imaging pill is configured to illuminate the GI tract with at least one of:

white light, multi-spectrum light, narrow spectrum light, infra-red light, or ultra-violet light.

8. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of portions of the GI tract of the animal is approximated as a plurality of ring images coupled to each other, and wherein the ingestible imaging pill is configured to capture the plurality of ring images as the ingestible imaging pill passes through the GI tract of the animal by peristaltic action.

9. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the interactive signal processing device is further configured to form a plurality of rectangular depictions corresponding to the plurality of ring images.

10. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the interactive signal processing device is further configured to merge the plurality of rectangular depictions to form the substantially linear representation of the GI tract.

11. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interactive signal processing device is further configured to manipulate the plurality of portions of the GI tract to compensate for peristaltic action.

12. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the interactive signal processing device is further configured to compensate for at least one of:

axial rotation of the ingestible imaging pill;

tilt of the ingestible imaging pill;

yaw of the ingestible imaging pill;

or

a backward movement of the ingestible imaging pill toward the stomach.

13. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interactive signal processing device is further configured to determine an overlay position for each of the plurality of portions of the GI tract, the overlay position representing an amount of overlap between adjacent portions from among the plurality of portions of the GI tract.

14. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interactive signal processing device is further configured to average out indifferences between adjacent portions from among the plurality of portions of the GI tract.

15. An ingestible imaging pill, comprising:

an illuminator configured to illuminate a portion of a wall of a gastro intestinal (GI) tract of an animal as the ingestible imaging pill is being propelled through the GI tract by peristaltic action;

a scanner configured to capture ring images of the portion of the wall of the GI tract, wherein the ring images comprise a first of images captured after movement of the ingestible imaging pill in a first direction relative to the GI tract and a second plurality of images captured after movement of the ingestible imaging pill in a second direction relative to the GI tract, the first direction being different from the second direction;

a controller configured to control the illuminator and the scanner and to provide an image signal indicative of the ring images; and

a transmitter for transmitting the image signal outside of the animal.

16. An ingestible imaging pill according to claim 15, wherein the transmitter comprises at least one of:

a radio frequency transmitter;

or

an audio transmitter.

17. An ingestible imaging pill according to claim 15, wherein the illuminator is an ultrasonic audio generator, and

wherein the ingestible imaging pill further comprises:

sensors configured to respond to reflected audio signals to thereby generate an internal ultrasound image.

18. An ingestible imaging pill according to claim 15, wherein the seamier comprises:

a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imaging array configured to capture the ring image.

19. A gastro intestinal (GI) tract imaging arrangement, comprising:

an ingestible imaging pill configured to illuminate and to capture a plurality of portions of a GI tract of an animal as the ingestible imaging pill passes through the GI tract by peristaltic action; and

an interactive signal processing device configured to merge the captured plurality of portions of the GI tract to form a substantially linear representation of the GI tract and to dynamically display the substantially linear representation in a manner dictated by a human operator;

wherein;

the plurality of portions of the GI tract of the animal is approximated as a plurality of ring images coupled to each other,

the ingestible imaging pill is configured to capture the plurality of ring images as the ingestible imaging pill passes through the GI tract of the animal by the peristaltic action,

the interactive signal processing device is configured to form a plurality of rectangular depictions corresponding to the plurality of ring images, and

the interactive signal processing device is configured to convert the plurality of ring images to a plurality of isosceles trapezoids and to convert the plurality of isosceles trapezoids to the plurality of rectangular depictions.

20. A GI tract imaging arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the interactive signal processing device is configured to convert the plurality of ring images to the plurality of isosceles trapezoids by storing the plurality of ring images in an electronic element.

21. An ingestible imaging pill, comprising:

an illuminator configured to illuminate a portion of a wall of a gastro intestinal (GI) tract of an animal as the ingestible imaging pill is being propelled through the GI tract by peristaltic action;

a scanner configured to capture a ring image of the portion of the wall of the GI tract;

a controller configured to control the illuminator and the scanner and to provide an image signal indicative of the ring image;

a transmitter for transmitting the image signal outside of the animal; and

an electronic element configured to convert the ring image to an isosceles trapezoid by storing the ring image.

22. A method for displaying a substantially linear representation of a gastro intestinal (GI) tract of an animal, comprising:

receiving a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of portions of the GI tract as an ingestible imaging pill passes through the GI tract, wherein the plurality images comprise a first plurality of images captured after movement of the ingestible imaging pill in a first direction relative to the GI tract and a second plurality of images captured after movement of the ingestible imaging pill in a second direction relative to the GI tract, the first direction being different from the second direction;

merging the plurality of images to form the substantially linear representation of the GI tract; and

dynamically displaying the substantially linear representation in a manner dictated by a human operator.