Optical capsule and spectroscopic method for treating and diagnosing the intestinal tract

• US 8,617,070 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entrack, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Entrack, Inc.
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Towa, Rene
• Application Number:
  US13/752,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20130137993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 600/302, 600309-312, 600/314, 600/35, 600/407, 600/424, 600/431, 600/437, 600/476, 600/587
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00482 Digestive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/162 Capsule shaped sensor housings, e.g. for swallowing or implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• 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 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 : invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 : for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 : invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 : Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4233 : oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 : Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 : combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 : specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6873 : Intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 : Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 : of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 : Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

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.

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, the capsule tracking system comprising a plurality of acoustic transducers disposed within the capsule, each of the plurality of the acoustic transducers being arranged to emit an acoustic signal detectable by at least one acoustic transducer external to the patient'"'"'s body as the capsule passes through at least a portion of the intestinal tract;

wherein the acoustic signal of each of the plurality of acoustic transducers provides information from which the location of the capsule may be derived; 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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source emits light at the at least one predetermined wavelength.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule further comprises a filter coupled to the sensor, wherein the filter is configured to filter light into the sensor of the at least one predetermined wavelength.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule tracking system is configured to track location of the capsule within a three-dimensional coordinate system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is coupled to the capsule tracking system to receive information on the location of the capsule within the intestinal tract, and

wherein the processor is arranged to identify the first location of the at least one condition within the portion of the intestinal tract.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule tracking system is configured to track location of the capsule along a length of a portion of the intestinal tract.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule further comprises:

a telemetry device configured to transmit a telemetry signal corresponding to the light sensed by the sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule further comprises a marking mechanism configured to mark an identified location of a sensed condition within the intestinal tract.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the marking mechanism comprises a substance release mechanism.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the substance release mechanism comprises a dye release mechanism.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the marking mechanism comprises a position anchoring mechanism.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the presence of a substance comprises a presence of blood.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the absence of a substance comprises an absence of blood in tissue.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the presence of a substance comprises a presence of ischemic tissue or necrotic tissue.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined wavelength is within a range of wavelengths of between about 540 nanometers and about 620 nanometers.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of acoustic transducers is coupled to an acoustic backing material positioned adjacent an interior surface of the capsule.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of acoustic transducers is positioned adjacent an interior surface of the capsule.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of acoustic transducers is positioned adjacent an interior end of the capsule.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising an acoustic backing material positioned between the at least one acoustic transducer and a surface of the interior end, the backing configured to absorb any acoustic transmissions in a direction opposite to the interior end.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of acoustic transducers are arranged in combination within the capsule to transmit acoustic signals omni-directionally.