Self-stabilized encapsulated imaging system

Abstract

Wireless capsule endoscope technology has been used to image portions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly the small bowel. However in other GI organs, especially those having larger-lumens, the capsule may become destabilized and tumble, precluding meaningful interpretation of the acquired images. The present invention describes a method and apparatus for permitting capsule imaging of organs having larger-lumens without tumbling, and includes an outer shell surrounding the capsule that targets the colon, as an example. Once the colon has been reached, the shell breaks or dissolves, and allows expansion of expandable materials attached to each end of the capsule, thereby stabilizing the capsule in the targeted organ, while permitting it to be moved by peristalsis and / or other means for locating the capsule. Imagers and light emitting diodes (LEDs) are activated during the expansion process, and enable overlapping of images. The capsule is moved through the colon, taking images at chosen frame rates with data being wirelessly transmitted by means of an RF transmitter, and is eventually expelled from the body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of United States provisional patent application No. 60 / 650,278 filed Feb. 4, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to imaging of the gastrointestinal organs and, more particularly, to the imaging of gastrointestinal organs using a self-orienting, capsule-based imaging system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Recent advances in low-power complementary metal-oxide silicon (CMOS) imagers, mixed signal application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and white light emitting diodes (LEDs) has led to a swallowable video capsule for endoscopy [See, e.g., Arkady Clukhovsky, “Wireless Capsule Endoscopy” , Sensor Review, 23, no.2, pp. 128-133 (2003).]. Capsule-based imaging of gastrointestinal organs was introduced in 1997 [See, e.g., Iddan et al., “In Vivo Video Camera System”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,531, Feb. 18, 1997.], and has since become a preferred imaging ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a method for imaging gastrointestinal organs using a capsule that can obtain accurate and interpretable images. The capsule is introduced into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient and moved to the organ to be imaged where it is stabilized. The capsule then sends the images to an external image processor. The technical effects of this invention include the ability to capture detailed images of the interior of a targeted gastrointestinal organ without the need for surgery or other invasive procedures.

Problems solved by technology

Application of this technology to other gastrointestinal organs, including the esophagus, the stomach, the duodenum, and the colon exposes the difficulty that, for organs having significantly larger lumens than the small intestine, the average diameter of which is about 2.5 cm, the imaging capsule may tumble during its passage through a larger-lumen organ since the capsule lacks a mechanism for laterally stabilizing itself, thereby precluding meaningful interpretation of the acquired images.

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