Encapsulated image acquisition devices having on-board data storage, and systems, kits, and methods therefor

• US 9,912,913 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnivision Technologies Incorporated (Will Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Shanghai)
• Original Assignee: Omnivision Technologies Incorporated (Will Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Shanghai)
• Inventors: Johnson, Gregory E., Dowski, Jr., Edward R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mesa, Jose
• Application Number:
  US13/961,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 348 68
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000094 extracting biological structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000095 for image enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0002 provided with data storages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00064 Constructional details of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0661 Endoscope light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method of one aspect may include receiving an encapsulated image acquisition device having an internal memory. The internal memory may store images acquired by the encapsulated image acquisition device. The images may be transferred from the internal memory to an external memory that is external to the encapsulated image acquisition device. An image analysis station may be selected from among a plurality of image analysis stations to analyze the images. The images may be analyzed with the selected image analysis station. Other methods, systems, and kits are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An encapsulated image acquisition device comprising:

a housing having a transparent portion;

a light source enclosed within the housing, the light source to transmit light through the transparent portion of the housing;

a camera within the housing, the camera to obtain images of surfaces illuminated by the light from the light source;

an image processor, disposed in the encapsulated image acquisition device, including image compression circuitry coupled to receive the images from the camera and compress the images obtained by the camera;

a memory disposed within the housing and coupled to receive the images from the image processor to store the images; and

analysis level specifying information stored in the memory, the analysis level specifying information specifying a level of analysis to be used to analyze the images, wherein the level of analysis to be used to analyze the images is selected by a patient wherein the analysis level specifying information specifies that one of a plurality of different levels of analysis are to be used to analyze the images, the plurality of different levels of analysis including at least a first level of analysis and a second level of analysis that involves more analysis than the first level of analysis, wherein the housing is sealed within a container including a conductive lining surrounding the housing at least in part to protect the memory from static electricity, wherein the container includes a pouch with the conductive lining including a metal foil so that the housing is at least in part surrounded by the metal foil, and wherein the pouch also includes a padding disposed on inner walls of the pouch.

2. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the analysis level specifying information specifies that a plurality of redundant analysis is to be used to analyze the images.

3. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, further comprising person identification information stored in the memory, the person identification information identifying a person who is to use the encapsulated image acquisition device.

4. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, included within a kit comprising a pre-addressed return device, the pre-addressed return device pre-addressed with an address of an analysis facility that is to analyze the images.

5. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, included within a delivered mailing device having at least one of a postmark and a cancellation of a postage, the delivered mailing device having an address of a person who is to use the encapsulated image acquisition device.

6. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the data storage comprises at least 64 gigabytes of NAND flash.

7. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the light source includes a plurality of at least one of light emitting diodes, or vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, disposed in the transparent portion of the housing.

8. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 7, wherein the light sources are configured to emit at least one of ultraviolet or infrared wavelengths through the transparent portion of the housing in the encapsulated image acquisition device.

9. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 8, wherein the images collected by the camera include non-visible spectrum images.

10. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the memory disposed within the housing includes magneto-resistive random access memory.

11. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, further comprising encryption circuitry disposed in the encapsulated image acquisition device and coupled to encrypt the images stored in the memory.

12. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, where the housing of the encapsulated image acquisition device is dissembled to extract the memory from the image acquisition device and recover the images.

13. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, further comprising pre-programmed delay information stored in the memory to instruct the camera to delay capture of the images for at least one hour after the encapsulated image acquisition device is activated.

14. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the memory further includes patient information including patient name, patient date of birth, patient age, patient sex, patient weight, and patient insurance information.

15. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 14, wherein the memory further includes information including patient blood type, and patient pre-existing medical conditions.

16. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the images collected include a combination of black and white images.

17. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the housing is one of cubic shaped, elongated cubic shaped, spherical shaped, or spheroidal shaped.

18. The encapsulated image acquisition device of claim 1, wherein the transparent portion of the housing is included in only a portion of the housing.