Apparatus and methods for in vivo imaging

• US 7,877,134 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAURITZEN, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US10/485,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,099 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/476, 600/160, 600/109
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging

Abstract

An in vivo imaging device and method, the device including at least one illumination source; at least one image sensor; and at least two optical systems. The optical systems have different depths of focus. A first and second image are focused onto the image sensor.

Claims

1. An in vivo imaging device comprising:

an illumination source;

an image sensor;

at least two optical systems oriented in substantially the same direction, a first of said optical systems having a first depth of focus and configured to focus at least a first image onto said image sensor, a second of said optical systems having a second depth of focus and configured to focus a second image onto said image sensor; and

a first light switching unit interposed between the first of the at least two optical systems and the image sensor, and a second light switching unit interposed between the second of the at least two optical systems and the image sensor, wherein the first and second light switching units are operable to block or enable the passage of light therethrough; and

wherein said in vivo imaging device is a swallowable capsule.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the at least first and at least second image do not overlap.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the at least first and at least second image at least partially overlap.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein at least a first light switching unit is switched on during a first imaging time period and wherein a second light switching unit is switched on during a second imaging time period.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the first light switching unit is switched off after the first imaging time period and wherein the second light switching unit is switched off after the second imaging time period.

6. The device according to claim 1 comprising a controller to control the switching of at least one light switching unit.

7. The device according to claim 1 comprising a memory device.

8. The device according to claim 1 comprising a transmitter.

9. A method for obtaining in vivo images, the method comprising the steps of:

focusing light remitted from an in vivo site onto an image sensor through at least a first optical system having a first depth of focus;

focusing light remitted from the in vivo site onto said image sensor through at least a second optical system having a second depth of focus oriented in substantially the same direction as said first optical system;

wherein a first light switching unit is interposed between the first optical system and the image sensor, and a second light switching unit is interposed between the second optical system and the image sensor; and

controlling the first and second light switching units to block or enable the passage of light therethrough.

10. The method according to claim 9 comprising reading out image data into a memory device.

11. The method according to claim 9 further comprising transmitting image data from the memory device to an external receiving unit.

12. The method according to claim 9 further comprising a step of transmitting image data to an external receiving unit.

13. The method according to claim 9

wherein said step of focusing light remitted from an in vivo site by an image sensor through at least a first optical system having a first depth of focus is preformed during a first imaging time period;

and

wherein said step of focusing light remitted from the in vivo site by the image sensor through at least a second optical system having a second depth of focus oriented in substantially the same direction as said first optical system is preformed during a second imaging time period.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising reading image data into a memory device.

15. The method according to claim 13 comprising transmitting image data.