Apparatus and method for light control in an in-vivo imaging device

• US 8,626,272 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Avni, Dov, Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/685,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20100110168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/273 for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/702 SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout

Abstract

A device and method for example operating an in vivo imaging device wherein the illumination is operated at a certain rate or range of rates, and images are transmitted from the device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a swallowable in-vivo imaging capsule, the capsule comprising a light source;

an imager comprising a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels comprising one or more control pixels which are a subset of the plurality of pixels, the method comprising across a plurality of imaging periods, each imaging period including an illumination period and a dark period, each illumination period including a control period;

operating the light source during the control period;

recording via the control pixels the amount of light reflected to the imager during the control period; and

based on the recorded amount of light, computing a duration of illumination required for the illumination period; and

providing an illumination period according to the computed duration.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the imager is a CMOS imager.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising scanning the imager to acquire an image.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the recording is performed at a different time than the scanning.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the recording does not reset the one or more control pixels.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein when the imager is scanned the one or more control pixels are read to acquire a portion of the image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control pixels are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the imager.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control pixels comprise analog photodiodes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of light recorded by the control pixels is computationally corrected to compensate for different control pixel exposure periods.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising recording, via each of at least two subsets of one or more control pixels, an amount of light reflected to a portion of the imager.

11. A swallowable in vivo imaging capsule comprising:

a light source;

an imager comprising a plurality of pixels; and

a controller to, across a plurality of imaging periods, each imaging period including an illumination period and a dark period, each illumination period including a control period;

operate the light source during the control period;

record, via one or more control pixels being a subset of the plurality of pixels, the amount of light reflected to the imager during the control period;

based on the recorded amount of light, compute a duration of illumination required for the illumination period; and

provide an illumination period according to the computed duration.

12. The capsule of claim 11 wherein the imager is a CMOS imager.

13. The capsule of claim 11 wherein the controller is to scan the imager to acquire an image.

14. The capsule of claim 13 wherein the recording the amount of light via the one or more control pixels is performed at a different time than the scanning to acquire an image.

15. The capsule of claim 11 wherein recording of the amount of light does not reset the one or more control pixels.

16. The capsule of claim 13, wherein when the imager is scanned to acquire an image the one or more control pixels are read to acquire a portion of the image.

17. The capsule of claim 11, wherein the one or more control pixels of the plurality of pixels are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the imager.

18. The capsule of claim 11, wherein the one or more control pixels comprise analog photodiodes.

19. The capsule of claim 11, wherein the amount of light recorded by the control pixels is computationally corrected to compensate for different control pixel exposure periods.

20. The capsule of claim 11, wherein the controller is to record, via each of at least two subsets of or more control pixels, an amount of light reflected to a portion of the imager.