SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IN-VIVO MAGNETIC POSITION DETERMINATION

• US 20090131784A1
• Filed: 12/26/2006
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Betesh, Ido
• Application Number:
  US12/159,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131784A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• 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 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

Systems and methods for position detection of a in-vivo sensing device. A magnetic field generator generates magnetic fields which are measured by an antenna. The position of the in-vivo sensing device is determined from the magnetic field intensity values.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method for determining the position of an in-vivo sensing device comprising the steps of:

providing the in-vivo sensing device with an antenna;

generating magnetic fields external to the in-vivo sensing device;

detecting the magnetic fields by the antenna and measuring magnetic field values of the detected magnetic fields;

transmitting the measured magnetic field intensity values by the antenna from the in-vivo sensing device to an external unit; and

in the external unit, determining the position of the in-vivo sensing device from the measured magnetic field intensity values.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the magnetic fields are generated by at least one set of three mutually perpendicular transmitting antennas.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the antenna is also used as a voltage source for elements in the in vivo sensing device.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the antenna comprises a coil.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the antenna comprises three mutually perpendicular coils.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the position of the in-vivo device is determined from the difference in power induced in each coil by the magnetic fields.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the magnetic fields generated by the three transmitting antennas are generated at different times.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the magnetic fields generated by the three transmitting antennas are generated simultaneously with different frequencies

35. A system for determining the position of an in-vivo sensing device comprising:

an in vivo sensing device comprising a magnetic unit;

a magnetic field generator comprising at least one set of three mutually perpendicular coils, wherein the magnetic field generator is located external to the in-vivo sensing device;

a plurality of magnetic detectors included in an external image receiving system and positioned at known locations to detect magnetic field intensity values; and

a processor for determining the position of the in-vivo sensing device from the magnetic field intensity values, wherein the position is determined based on a difference in the magnetic field intensity values measured in each magnetic detector.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the magnetic unit is also used as a voltage source for elements in the in vivo sensing device.

37. The system according to claim 35, wherein voltage is applied to the magnetic unit in response to an external instruction

38. The system according to claim 35, wherein the magnetic unit is used as a voltage source for elements in the in vivo sensing device.

39. The system according to claim 35, wherein the magnetic unit comprises a conductive coil, and wherein the magnetic unit is alternately used as an antenna and as a DC-DC converter.

40. The system according to claim 35, wherein the magnetic unit comprises at least one set of three mutually perpendicular coils.