In-vivo imaging device with backscatter blocking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9615730-B2
Application number	US-201615071248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 29, 2005
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

The invention provides a device for in-vivo imaging, for example, using an in-vivo imaging device including an imager a lens and an illumination source, all positioned behind a single viewing window. The in-vivo imaging device may include an element to block light from reaching a point of reflection on the inner surface of the viewing window, thereby preventing the light from being received by the imager.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An in vivo imaging device having a central longitudinal axis, the in vivo imaging device comprising:
a dome shaped viewing window;
an illumination source;
an imager; and
at least one barrier positioned to block light from the illumination source from reaching at least one specific spot on the dome shaped viewing window, the at least one barrier placed at a position along a radius of a section of the device perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the device that is between the illumination source and said dome shaped viewing window, wherein the imager, the at least one illumination source and the at least one barrier are situated on the concave side of the dome shaped viewing window.

2. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one barrier is in close proximity to said illumination source.

3. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1 comprising a plurality of illumination sources.

4. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1 wherein the at least one barrier is positioned along the radius closer to the window than to the central longitudinal axis.

5. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1 wherein the at least one barrier extends along the direction of the central longitudinal axis to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis closer to the apex of the dome than is the illumination source.

6. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1 wherein the device is a swallowable capsule.

7. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1 comprising a transmitter, wherein the imager is configured to send data representing images captured to the transmitter for transmitting said data.

8. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1 wherein the at least one barrier is positioned along the radius at a position that is not between the illumination source and the imager.

9. The in vivo imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one barrier is positioned on a plane parallel to a plane of the imager.

10. An in vivo imaging device having a central longitudinal axis, the in vivo imaging device comprising:
a dome shaped viewing window;
an illumination source;
an imager; and
a barrier positioned to block light emitted from said illumination source from reaching at least one specific spot on the imager, the barrier positioned along a radius of a section of the device perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the device that is between the illumination source and the dome shaped viewing window and not between the illumination source and the imager;
wherein the imager, the illumination source and the barrier are situated on the concave side of said dome shaped viewing window.

11. The in vivo imaging device according to claim 10 , wherein the barrier is in close proximity to said illumination source.

12. The in vivo imaging device of claim 10 comprising a plurality of illumination sources.

13. The in vivo imaging device of claim 10 wherein the barrier is positioned along the radius closer to the window than to the central longitudinal axis.

14. The in vivo imaging device of claim 10 wherein the barrier extends along the direction of the central longitudinal axis to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis closer to the apex of the dome than is the illumination source.

15. The in vivo imaging device of claim 10 wherein the device is a swallowable capsule.

16. The in vivo imaging device of claim 10 comprising a transmitter, wherein the imager is configured to send data representing images captured to the transmitter for transmitting said data.

17. The in vivo imaging device of claim 10 , wherein the barrier is positioned on a plane parallel to a plane of the imager.

Assignees

• Given Imaging Ltd

Inventors

• Pascal Amit
• Gilad Zvika
• Bezdin Haim

Classifications

• A61B1/0676

  at distal tip of an endoscope · CPC title

• A61B1/0607

  for annular illumination · CPC title

• A61B1/051

  Details of CCD assembly · CPC title

• A61B1/041 Primary

  Capsule endoscopes for imaging · CPC title

• A61B1/0661 Primary

  Endoscope light sources · CPC title