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Capsule and method for treating or diagnosing conditions or diseases of the intestinal tract

  • US 9,414,768 B2
  • Filed: 08/22/2011
  • Issued: 08/16/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for diagnosing an inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder comprising:

  • providing an autonomous capsule comprising an impedance sensor for implementation within a gastrointestinal tract, wherein the impedance sensor is configured to detect an electrical impedance by providing a voltage across two electrodes of the sensor, the capsule further comprising a deployment mechanism wrapped at least partially around the capsule which is expandable to bring the two electrodes of the impedance sensor into contact with a wall of the gastrointestinal tract to detect the electrical impedance;

    sensing, with the impedance sensor, one or more impedances at a first impedance location within the gastrointestinal tract while the capsule is being tracked by providing at least one voltage across the two electrodes at the first impedance location, each at least one voltage having a frequency between 10 kHz and 100 Hz which is different from the other at least one voltages;

    sensing, with the impedance sensor, one or more impedances at a second impedance location within the gastrointestinal tract while the capsule is being tracked by providing the at least one voltage across the two electrodes at the second impedance location;

    determining, for each voltage of the at least one voltages, whether the sensed impedance at the first impedance location is different from the sensed impedance at the second impedance location by more than a predetermined difference; and

    in response to determining, for a voltage of the at least one voltages, that a sensed impedance at the first impedance location is different from a sensed impedance at the second impedance location by more than the predetermined difference, spraying, from the autonomous capsule, a marking agent on the second impedance location, the marking agent to pinpoint the second impedance location for at least one of diagnosis or surgery.

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