Device and system for in vivo imaging

• US 9,432,562 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J., Avni, Dov, Glukhovsky, Arkady, Meron, Gavriel
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/337,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,871 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0016 using motor drive units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2733 Oesophagoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03866 using scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• 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 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 : Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for obtaining in vivo images. The system contains an imaging system and a transmitter for transmitting signals from a camera to a receiving system located outside a patient.

Claims

1. A swallowable capsule for in vivo imaging of the gastrointestinal tract, said capsule comprising a housing, including a single uninterrupted transparent dome shaped optical window, the housing enclosing at least:

an imaging camera;

a plurality of illumination sources for emitting light to a gastrointestinal tract site from the base of the single uninterrupted transparent dome shaped optical window;

a lens for receiving at the base of the single uninterrupted transparent dome shaped optical window light reflected from the gastrointestinal tract site onto the imaging camera, the lens and the illumination sources being separated from the single uninterrupted transparent dome shaped optical window, the imaging camera imaging the site via the single uninterrupted transparent dome shaped optical window and via the lens, and the illumination sources illuminating the site directly via the single uninterrupted transparent dome shaped optical window and not via the lens; and

a transmitter for transmitting an output of the imaging camera.

2. The swallowable capsule of claim 1, wherein the imaging camera comprises a CMOS imaging camera.

3. The swallowable capsule according to claim 2 wherein the CMOS imaging camera comprises active pixel circuitry.

4. The swallowable capsule according to claim 2 wherein the CMOS imaging camera comprises a correlated double sampler for processing an analog signal produced by the active pixel circuitry.

5. The swallowable capsule according to claim 2 wherein the CMOS imaging camera comprises an analog to digital converter having serial output.

6. The swallowable capsule according to claim 2 wherein the CMOS imaging camera comprises an encoding and randomizing unit for defining frame and row parameters and for priming digital signals for transmission.

7. The swallowable capsule according to claim 2 wherein the CMOS imaging camera comprises:

active pixel circuitry, said circuitry producing an analog signal;

a correlated double sampler for processing the analog signal produced by the active pixel circuitry;

an analog to digital converter having serial output for converting the analog signal to a digital signal; and

an encoding and randomizing unit for defining frame and row parameters and for priming the digital signal for transmission.

8. The swallowable capsule according to claim 1 wherein the illumination sources include white LEDs.

9. The swallowable capsule according to claim 1 wherein the illumination sources comprise a refracting crystal matrix having at least one blue LED chip integrated therein.

10. The swallowable capsule according to claim 1 wherein the lens comprises an aspherical focussing lens.

11. The swallowable capsule according to claim 1 wherein the lens comprises at least one collimator for collecting remittent light.

12. The swallowable capsule according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises an internal electronic switch for converting a logic of a normally open switch to a normally closed logic.

13. The swallowable capsule according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises a control block for controlling the imaging camera.

14. The swallowable capsule according to claim 13 wherein the control block is to control the illumination sources.

15. The swallowable capsule according to claim 13 wherein the control block is to send a shutdown signal to the imaging camera to inactivate the imaging camera and to the transmitter to inactivate main capsule subsystems.

16. The swallowable capsule according to claim 1 wherein a shutdown signal is sent from a control block for a period following activation of the capsule.

17. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the lens and imaging camera are aligned along a longitudinal axis of the capsule.

18. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the dome shaped optical window is aligned along a longitudinal axis of the capsule.

19. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the illumination sources are positioned in the proximity of the focal plane of the shape defined by the dome shaped optical window.