In vivo imaging device with two imagers

• US 7,833,151 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Khait, Semion, Gilad, Zvika
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P
• Application Number:
  US11/094,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/160, 600/302, 128/899, 348/76
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A substantially spherical in vivo imaging device may be used for imaging body lumens in the GI tract. The imaging device may include for example a ballast weight for setting a preferred orientation of the device within the body lumen. The substantially spherical shape of the in vivo imaging device may facilitate capturing steady streams of imaging data in large body lumens. A method of manufacture is presented.

Claims

1. A cylindrical swallowable in vivo imaging device comprising:

a first dome-shaped end and a second dome-shaped end, each dome-shaped end at an opposite end of the device;

a first imager imaging via the first dome-shaped end;

a first power contact and a second power contact for a power source to provide power to device components;

a first illumination source illuminating via the first dome-shaped end;

a second imager imaging via the second dome-shaped end;

a second illumination source illuminating via the second dome-shaped end;

a circuit board comprising a plurality of rigid circuit board sections connected by a plurality of flexible circuit board sections, the first imager and first power contact disposed on opposite sides of a first of the plurality of rigid circuit board sections and the second imager and second power contact disposed on opposite sides of a second of the plurality of rigid circuit board sections.

2. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1, comprising an antenna mounted on a rigid circuit board section, wherein the antenna is a single ring or a coil.

3. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1, comprising an antenna wherein the antenna is mounted on the periphery of a rigid circuit board section.

4. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1, comprising an isolation element.

5. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the isolation element is selected from a group consisting of:

an opaque barrier, a translucent barrier, a light trap, and an optical filter.

6. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 4 wherein the isolation element is attached to a component of said in vivo imaging device.

7. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the isolation element is a lens holder.

8. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the isolation element supports an optical system.

9. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 4, comprising an antenna embedded within said isolation element.

10. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 9, comprising an antenna coiled within said isolation element.

11. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 4, comprising an antenna wrapped around the isolation element.

12. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1 wherein the device is autonomous.

13. A cylindrical swallowable in vivo imaging device comprising:

a first dome-shaped end and a second dome-shaped end, each dome-shaped end at an opposite end of the device;

a first imager imaging via the first dome-shaped end;

a first power contact and a second power contact for a power source to provide power to device components;

a first illumination source illuminating via the first dome-shaped end;

a second imager imaging via the second dome-shaped end;

a second illumination source illuminating via the second dome-shaped end;

a circuit board comprising a plurality of rigid circuit board sections connected by a plurality of flexible circuit board sections; and

an antenna and a transmitter disposed on opposite sides of one of said plurality of rigid circuit board sections,

the first imager and first power contact disposed on opposite sides of a first of said plurality of rigid circuit board sections, and the second imager and second power contact disposed on opposite sides of a second of said plurality of rigid circuit board sections.

14. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 13, wherein the antenna is selected from a group consisting of:

a single ring and a coil.

15. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 13, wherein the antenna is mounted around the periphery of the rigid circuit board section on which it is mounted.