Ingestible device with propulsion and imaging capabilities
AssigneeEndiatx, Inc.
InventorsDaniel V. Moyer, Torrey P. Smith, James G. Erd, Daniel A. Luebke, Benjamin J. Bonnes, Marcus X. Luebke, Rachel N. New, William J. Buxton
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Abstract
An ingestible device comprising a capsule, a camera, an antenna, and a propulsion component id disclosed. The camera can capture images of various in vivo environments as the ingestible device traverses the gastrointestinal tract, and these images can be wirelessly transmitted to an electronic device located outside of the living body. The images may be transmitted to the electronic device for review by an operator responsible for controlling the ingestible device.
Claims24
A device to acquire images within a living body, the device comprising:
- a capsule having at least one rounded portion, the capsule including an inner surface that defines a cavity;
- a camera contained within the capsule, to generate images of structures in the living body;
- a plurality of propulsors to control movement of the device about three mutually perpendicular axes while the device is located within the living body;
- a processor contained within the capsule, to cause wireless transmission of data representative of the images to a receiver located outside the living body;
- and a transceiver contained within the capsule, to transmit the data representative of the images;
- wherein the processor is further configured to automatically adjust an image acquisition parameter based on a location of the device within the living body.
A device to acquire images within a living body, the device comprising:
- a capsule having at least one rounded portion, the capsule including an inner surface that defines a cavity;
- a camera contained within the capsule, to generate images of structures in the living body;
- a plurality of propulsors to control movement of the device along three mutually perpendicular axes while the device is located within the living body;
- a processor contained within the capsule, to cause wireless transmission of data representative of the images to a receiver located outside the living body;
- a transceiver contained within the capsule, to transmit the data representative of the images;
- a flexible substrate on which a plurality of electronic components are mounted, wherein the flexible substrate includes:
- a plurality of areas on which the plurality of electronic components are mounted, a conductive layer to provide one or more connections between the plurality of electronic components, and a non-conductive layer positioned adjacent the conductive layer.
A device to acquire images within a living body, the device comprising:
- a capsule having at least one rounded portion, the capsule including an inner surface that defines a cavity;
- a camera contained within the capsule, to generate images of structures in the living body;
- a plurality of propulsors to control movement of the device along three mutually perpendicular axes while the device is located within the living body;
- a processor contained within the capsule, to cause wireless transmission of data representative of the images to a receiver located outside the living body;
- and a transceiver contained within the capsule, to transmit the data representative of the images;
- wherein the device is configured to perform a self-diagnostic test that includes causing the camera to generate a test image.
A method comprising receiving, by a control circuit, first input indicative of an instruction relating to a camera of an ingestible device designed for ingestion by a living body;
- causing, bhy the control circuit, the camera to capture an image of a structure within the living body in response to the first input, while the ingestible device is located within the living body;
- forwarding, by the control circuit, the image to a transceiver in the ingestible device, for wireless transmission to a receiver located outside the ingestible device;
- receiving, by the control circuit, second input indicative of a request to alter a position and/or an orientation of the ingestible device;
- and causing, by the control circuit, a propulsion component of the device to operate based on the second input.
A device designed for ingestion by a living body, the device comprising:
- a camera to generate images of structures in the living body;
- a motor to generate a propulsive force for moving the device;
- an antenna;
- a transceiver;
- and a control circuit configured to:
- receive, via the transceiver, first input indicative of an instruction to operate the camera, cause the camera to capture an image of a structure in the living body in response to the first input, forward data representative of the image to the transceiver for wireless transmission via the antenna to a receiver outside the living body, receive, via the transceiver, second input indicative of a request to control movement of the device within the living body, and cause operation of the propulsion component based on the second input.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.