Energy management of a video capsule

• US 7,104,952 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J., Meron, Gavriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/860,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/117, 600/118, 600/160, 600/407, 600/476, 348/65, 348/76
• US Class Current: 600/118
• 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 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/067 using accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence

Abstract

An energy saving method for acquiring in vivo images of the gastro-intestinal tract is provided. A device, such as an autonomous capsule, includes at least one imaging unit; a control unit connected to the imaging unit and a power supply connected to the control unit. The control unit includes a switching unit and an axial motion detector connected to the switching unit. The axial motion detector detects the axial movement of the device and if the axial acceleration is below a pre-determined threshold, disconnects the power supply thereby preventing the acquisition of redundant images. A method for operation and use of the device is provided.

Claims

1. A method for reducing in-vivo image acquisition by an in-vivo imaging device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting motion of the device;

if said motion is below a pre-determined threshold, disconnecting an imaging unit within said device; and

wirelessly transmitting images outside of the body.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of reconnecting said imaging unit if said detected motion is above a pre-determined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a swallowable capsule.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion detected is the axial motion of the device.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising imaging the gastrointestinal tract.

6. A method for reducing power consumption by an in-vivo imaging device, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring in-vivo images;

detecting the motion of the imaging device;

if said motion is below a pre-determined threshold, disconnecting a power supply to said imaging device; and

wirelessly transmitting images outside of the body.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of reconnecting the power supply if said motion is above said pre-determined threshold.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the device is a swallowable capsule.

9. The method of claim 6, comprising imaging the gastrointestinal tract.

10. The method of claim 6, comprising detecting movement from a motion detector external to the body being examined.

11. The method of claim 6, comprising detecting axial movement.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the device includes a power supply.