# US 11,298,010 B2 · Imaging and collection device and related systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,010 B2 - Document ID: US11298010B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/481,541 - Filed: 2018-01-31 - Published: 2019-12-26 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-31 - Assignees: University of Kansas; Department of Veterans Affairs - Applicants: University of Kansas; The United States Government as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs - Inventors: Ajay Bansal; Lane Christenson; Nick Baker; Ryan Baskins; John Stark; Nourouddin Sharifi; Hadi Kh A Kh Alzuabi; Parker Gill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298010B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/041: {Capsule endoscopes for imaging} - A61B 1/00082: {Balloons} - A61B 1/00087: {Tools (A61B17/00234 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/00094: {Suction openings} - A61B 1/00133: {Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope} - A61B 5/6861: {Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting} - A61B 10/0096: {Casings for storing test samples (A61B10/0038, A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/10; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30)} - A61B 10/04: Endoscopic instruments, e.g. catheter-type instruments - A61B 1/00147: {Holding or positioning arrangements} - A61B 2010/0216: {Sampling brushes} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Disclosed herein are devices having both imaging components and cell collection apparatuses. More specifically, the various embodiments disclosed herein include swallowable capsules having deployable collection structures, expansion structures to deploy the collection structures, and imaging components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A swallowable capsule comprising: (a) a core component; (b) a plurality of deployment structures operably coupled to the core component, wherein the deployment structures are configured to move between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration; (c) at least one collection structure coupled to each of the plurality of deployment structures; (d) an expansion component disposed within the core component, wherein expansion of the expansion component urges the plurality of deployment structures toward the deployed configuration; (e) an outer casing comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of deployment structures, wherein the plurality of openings are configured to receive the at least one collection structures when the deployment structures are disposed in the deployed configuration such that the at least one collection structures protrude out of the openings; and (f) an imaging component disposed on the capsule. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The swallowable capsule of claim 1, wherein the deployment structures are deployment struts or deployment rods. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The swallowable capsule of claim 1, wherein the at least one collection structure is coupled to each of the plurality of deployment structures such that the at least one collection structure extends radially outward from the deployment structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The swallowable capsule of claim 1, wherein the expansion component is an inflatable balloon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The swallowable capsule of claim 1, further comprising a transparent shell disposed at a distal end of the capsule, wherein the imaging component is disposed therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The swallowable capsule of claim 1, wherein the at least one collection structure comprises a brush or a collection member comprising an opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The swallowable capsule of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of deployment structures is coupled at a proximal end to the core component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The swallowable capsule of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of deployment structures is coupled at each end to the core component. ### Claim 9 A swallowable capsule comprising: (a) a capsule body comprising an outer casing; (b) a plurality of deployment structures disposed within the body, wherein the deployment structures are configured to move between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration; (c) at least one collection structure coupled to each of the plurality of deployment structures; (d) a plurality of openings defined in the outer casing, wherein the plurality of openings correspond to the plurality of deployment structures, wherein the plurality of openings are configured to receive the at least one collection structures when the deployment structures are disposed in the deployed configuration such that the at least one collection structures protrude out of the openings; (e) an expansion component disposed within the capsule body adjacent to the plurality of deployment structures, wherein expansion of the expansion component causes the plurality of deployment structures to move toward the deployed configuration; and (f) an imaging component disposed on the capsule body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The swallowable capsule of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of deployment structures is coupled at a proximal end to an interior portion of the capsule body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The swallowable capsule of claim 10, wherein the at least one collection structure is disposed at a distal end of each of the plurality of deployment structures. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The swallowable capsule of claim 9, wherein the at least one collection structure comprises a blade. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The swallowable capsule of claim 9, further comprising at least one porous insert positioned adjacent to the at least one collection structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The swallowable capsule of claim 9, wherein the at least one collection structure is coupled to each of the plurality of deployment structures such that the at least one collection structure extends radially outward from the deployment structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The swallowable capsule of claim 9, wherein the expansion component is an inflatable balloon. ### Claim 16 A method of diagnosing a condition of the esophagus or the stomach of a patient, comprising: positioning a swallowable capsule in the esophagus or stomach of the patient, the swallowable capsule comprising: (a) a capsule body comprising an outer casing; (b) a plurality of deployment structures disposed within the body; (c) at least one collection structure coupled to each of the plurality of deployment structures; (d) a plurality of openings defined in the outer casing, wherein the plurality of openings correspond to the plurality of deployment structures; (e) an expansion component disposed within the capsule body adjacent to the plurality of deployment structures; and (f) an imaging component disposed on the capsule body collecting cells with the swallowable capsule by expanding the expansion component and thereby urge the plurality of deployment structures into a deployed configuration such that each of the at least one collection structure protrudes through one of the plurality of openings and contacts a target tissue; and removing the swallowable capsule from the patient. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising testing the cells to detect the condition after removing the swallowable capsule from the patient. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising retracting the at least one collection structure by causing the expansion structure to contract and thereby causing the plurality of deployment structures to retract after collecting cells. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one collection structure comprises a brush, a collection member comprising an opening, or a collection member comprising a blade. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising capturing images with the imaging component.