Apparatus and Method for Light Control in an in-Vivo Imaging Device

• US 20070225560A1
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Published: 09/27/2007
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,149,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000095 for image enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00057 provided with means for testing or calibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes

Abstract

A device and method for operating an in vivo imaging device (10A) wherein the illumination produced by the device may be varied in intensity and/or duration, and/or the gain level or other parameters may be varied, according to, for example, the amount of illumination produced by the device which is reflected back to the device. In addition, a method is provided for detecting problematic pixels in an imaging device. This method may define and exclude non-functional pixels, based on for example an initial short exposure that enables a threshold saturation level to be reached only for problematic pixels. Moreover, a method is described for determining when an in vivo device enters the body, for example by calculating the progress of a dark frame, based on the light saturation threshold of the dark frame.

Claims

1-80. -80. (canceled)

81. An in vivo imaging device comprising:

a light source;

an imager; and

a controller, wherein the controller is to, during an imaging period, operate the light source, record the amount of light reflected to the imaging device, and control the image gain level of the imager.

82. The device of claim 81 comprising at least one light measuring element.

83. The device according to claim 82 wherein said at least one light measuring element includes at least a portion of a set of pixels.

84. The device according to claim 82 wherein the at least one light measuring element includes at least one photo detector.

85. The imaging device of claim 81, wherein said controller is to control at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of image gain level, illumination duration and illumination intensity.

86. An in vivo imaging device comprising:

a light source;

an imager; and

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to detect problematic pixels in said imager, and define said problematic pixels as non-functional.

87. The device of claim 86, wherein said imagers is configured to provide an exposure that is of a shorter duration than typically required for saturation of a functional pixel.

88. The device of claim 86, wherein said controller is to detect at least one pixel that reflects a saturation level above a threshold saturation level.

89. The device of claim 86, wherein the device is a swallowable capsule.

90. A method for operating an in vivo imaging device including at least one light source, the method comprising:

during an imaging period, operating at least one light source;

at a sampling instance, recording the amount of light reflected to at least one light measuring element; and

comparing an amount of light recorded at least one sampling instance within said imaging period to a determined light saturation threshold; and

controlling the imaging device'"'"'s gain factor in relation to the difference between said amount of light recorded and said light saturation threshold.

91. The method of claim 90, comprising controlling the operation of the light source in relation to the difference between said amount of light recorded and said light saturation threshold.

92. An in vivo imaging device comprising:

a light source;

an imager; and

a controller, wherein the controller is adapted to operate the light source to provide dark flames at determined flame intervals and record the amount of light reflected to the imager during said dark frame.

93. The imaging device of claim 92, wherein said dark flame includes a flame wherein a substantially inadequate amount of light is exposed by said light source.

94. The imaging device of claim 92, wherein said controller is capable of determining the location of the device according to said amount of light reflected to the imager during said dark frame.

95. The imaging device of claim 92, wherein said location of the device is determined to be at least one environment selected from the group consisting of outside the body, inside the body, in the mouth, in the throat, in the esophagus, and in the stomach.

96. The imaging device of claim 92, wherein the controller is configured to change the device operation mode in relation to said amount of light.

97. A method for changing the operation mode of an in vivo device, the method comprising:

measuring at least one environment parameter in at least one environment surrounding the device;

when an environmental change is determined, changing the operating mode of the device.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein said environmental change is at least one change selected from the group consisting of temperature change, pH level change and light level change.

99. The method of claim 97, wherein a controller determines when a significant environmental change is determined.

100. A method for changing the operation mode of an in vivo device, the method comprising:

measuring at least one environment parameter in at least one environment surrounding the device, using at least one environment measuring tool; and

when an environmental change is determined, changing the operating mode of the device.