Method of using, and determining location of, an ingestible capsule

The method of determining the real-time location of a capsule in a tract of a mammal, comprising the steps of:

• providing a capsule, said capsule having at least one sensor operatively arranged to determine a physiological parameter of said tract, said capsule also having a transmitter;
• inserting said capsule into said tract;
• transmitting from said transmitter a signal reflective of the value said sensed parameter;
• receiving said transmitted signal exteriorly of said tract;
• and
• determining the real-time location of said capsule within said tract as a function of said received signal and the received value of said sensed parameter.

The method of determining the value of a physiological parameter in a tract of a mammal, comprising the steps of:

• providing an MRI-compatible capsule, said capsule having a sensor operatively arranged to determine at least one physiological parameter of said tract, said capsule also having a transmitter operatively arranged to transmit a signal reflecting such sensed parameter;
• inserting said capsule into said tract;
• tethering said capsule to an object;
• transmitting said signal from said transmitter;
• receiving said transmitted signal exteriorly of said tract;
• and
• determining the value of said sensed parameter as a function of said received signal.

The method of determining the real-time location of a capsule in a tract of a mammal, comprising the steps of:

• providing a capsule, said capsule also having a transmitter operatively arranged to transmit an RF signal at a frequency in excess of about 5 kilohertz;
• inserting said capsule into said tract;
• transmitting said signal from said transmitter;
• receiving said transmitted signal exteriorly of said tract;
• and
• determining the real-time location of said capsule within said tract as a function of said received signal.

The method of determining the real-time location of a capsule in a tract of a mammal, comprising the steps of:

• providing a capsule, said capsule also having a transmitter operatively arranged to transmit an acoustic signal at a frequency in excess of about 100 hertz;
• inserting said capsule into said tract;
• transmitting said signal from said transmitter;
• receiving said transmitted signal exteriorly of said tract;
• and
• determining the real-time location of said capsule within said tract as a function of said received signal.

The method of determining the real-time location of a capsule in a tract of a mammal, comprising the steps of:

• providing a capsule, said capsule having a transmitter operatively arranged to transmit a signal;
• inserting said capsule into said tract;
• providing a plurality of receivers exteriorly of said tract;
• transmitting said signal from said transmitter;
• receiving said transmitted signal on said receivers;
• and
• determining the real-time location of said capsule as a function of the signals received by said receivers.

The method of determining the value of a parameter in a mammal body, comprising the steps of:

• providing a capsule, said capsule having a sensor to determine a physiological parameter of said body and having a transmitter operatively arranged to transmit a signal;
• inserting said capsule into said body;
• providing a receiver exteriorly of said body;
• transmitting said signal from said transmitter;
• receiving said transmitted signal on said receiver;
• and
• determining the value of said physiological parameter exteriorly of said body as a function of the signals received by said receiver.