Abstract: An ingestible in-vivo gastrointestinal device constituted of: a power source; a processor and a memory; and a sensor, the processor, at least partially responsive to the sensor, to determine a location of the in-vivo gastrointestinal device as being in one of an esophagus, a stomach, a small intestine and a large intestine of a subject.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the position of an in-vivo device based on external light: the system may include an in-vivo device configured for being introduced into a body and having at least one sensor configured for sensing light; and an ex-vivo module including at least one illumination source configured for emitting an indication light towards said body; the indication light is configured for being sensed by the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A helix antenna structure includes loop antennas and a multilayered printed circuit board including printed circuit board layers. Each printed circuit board layer includes a peripheral loop antenna and each adjacent two loop antennas are electrically connected by a connection bridge functioning as a monopole antenna. A selected printed circuit board layer physically and electrically accommodates a transmitter inside ‘its’ peripheral loop antenna, and it further includes a first antenna feeding line which is connected to the loop antenna that is disposed on the selected printed circuit board layer and electrically connectable to a first output terminal of the transmitter. A second antenna feeding line is disposed on another printed circuit board layer and electrically connected to its loop antenna and connectable to another output terminal of the transmitter. The two antenna feeding lines lie in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the printed circuit board after its folding.

Abstract: A helix antenna structure includes loop antennas and a multilayered printed circuit board including printed circuit board layers. Each printed circuit board layer includes a peripheral loop antenna and each adjacent two loop antennas are electrically connected by a connection bridge functioning as a monopole antenna. A selected printed circuit board layer physically and electrically accommodates a transmitter inside ‘its’ peripheral loop antenna, and it further includes a first antenna feeding line which is connected to the loop antenna that is disposed on the selected printed circuit board layer and electrically connectable to a first output terminal of the transmitter. A second antenna feeding line is disposed on another printed circuit board layer and electrically connected to its loop antenna and connectable to another output terminal of the transmitter. The two antenna feeding lines lie in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the printed circuit board after its folding.

Abstract: A helix antenna structure includes loop antennas and a multilayered printed circuit board including printed circuit board layers. Each printed circuit board layer includes a peripheral loop antenna and each adjacent two loop antennas are electrically connected by a connection bridge functioning as a monopole antenna. A selected printed circuit board layer physically and electrically accommodates a transmitter inside ‘its’ peripheral loop antenna, and it further includes a first antenna feeding line which is connected to the loop antenna that is disposed on the selected printed circuit board layer and electrically connectable to a first output terminal of the transmitter. A second antenna feeding line is disposed on another printed circuit board layer and electrically connected to its loop antenna and connectable to another output terminal of the transmitter. The two antenna feeding lines lie in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the printed circuit board after its folding.

Abstract: A wearable sensor belt used as a reference frame for determining a location of an in-vivo device in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the belt including N magnetic field generating coils and M magnetic field sensors configured for dynamic calibration of the belt's geometry in order to accommodate for dynamic changes in the shape and/or size of the belt from one subject to another, and for dynamic changes in the shape and/or size of the belt as a result of changes in a subject's posture. A method for localizing an in-vivo device swallowed by a subject using a sensor belt is also described.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the position of an in-vivo device based on external light: the system may include an in-vivo device configured for being introduced into a body and having at least one sensor configured for sensing light; and an ex-vivo module including at least one illumination source configured for emitting an indication light towards said body; the indication light is configured for being sensed by the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes a first switch and a second switch respectively connecting a first terminal and a second terminal of an electrical coil to a positive terminal of a voltage source, a third switch and a fourth switch respectively connecting the first terminal and the second terminal of the electrical coil to a negative terminal of the voltage source, and a controller to control the switching circuit in a current control mode to alternate a voltage polarity of the voltage source to thereby control a magnitude and direction of the electrical current of the electrical coil, and to control the switching circuit in a current hold mode to disconnect the electrical coil from the voltage source and to short-circuit the electrical coil to maintain the magnitude and direction of the electrical current at the transition time when the switching circuit switched to the current hold mode.

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling a state of a switching circuit may include a first unit to sense and interpret a wireless signal or physical parameter as an “on” signal to transition the switching circuit to the “on” state, or as an “off” signal to transition the switching circuit to the “off” state, and to transfer a first digital signal or logic value and/or a second digital signal or logic value, which may respectively or combinatorially represent the “on” signal or the “off” signal, to a second unit via a first output and/or a second output of the first unit, respectively. The second unit may force a control input of the switching circuit to a logic value which is a function of the first digital signal or value and/or second digital signal or value and congruent with the state to which the switching circuit is to be transitioned.

Abstract: A swallowable in-vivo device contains a movement detection unit that includes a movement sensing unit, a frequency analyzing unit (FAU) and a time analyzing unit (TAU). The movement sensing unit senses movements of the in-vivo device relative to a non-stationary three-dimensional reference frame, and outputs a movement signal. The frequency analyzing unit may analyze the movement signal spectrally to detect a potential command-invoking movement, and the time analyzing unit may analyze the potential CIM temporally, possibly in conjunction with a series of other movement events, to determine whether the potential CIM is a genuine CIM. If the potential CIM is determined to be a genuine CIM, the in-vivo device may execute a predetermined command associated with the CIM. Otherwise, the in-vivo device may refrain from executing a CIM-related command. A PCB including the movement detection unit and a processor for processing their output is provided for the vivo sensing device.

Abstract: A method and device may control energy consumption of in an in vivo imaging device by determining or estimating an amount of energy needed to capture images at a frame rate until a complete passage of the device through a predetermined region of the gastrointestinal tract, and alter or limit the frame capture rate accordingly.

Abstract: A wearable sensor belt used as a reference frame for determining a location of an in-vivo device in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the belt including N magnetic field generating coils and M magnetic field sensors configured for dynamic calibration of the belt's geometry in order to accommodate for dynamic changes in the shape and/or size of the belt from one subject to another, and for dynamic changes in the shape and/or size of the belt as a result of changes in a subject's posture. A method for localizing an in-vivo device swallowed by a subject using a sensor belt is also described.

Abstract: A device and system for monitoring the status of a battery in an in-vivo imaging device, prior to use of the in-vivo imaging device. The device may include a frame counter for counting the number of frames captured and may include monitoring the voltage of the battery. A warning signal is generated if it is determined that the battery is faulty prior to use. The warning signal can be generated by the device and/or by a receiver which receives data from the in-vivo imaging device and/or a by workstation which receives the data from the receiver.

Abstract: An in-vivo device may allocate a sensing window in a work cycle for sensing and processing localization signals to determine the location/orientation of the in-vivo device. The in-vivo device may use a timing unit to schedule transmission of data frames and the sensing of the localization signals relative to a reference time embedded in work cycles. The timing unit may produce a clock signal based on which the in-vivo device may measure time specifics, which define the sensing window, relative to the reference time. A receiver may use data embedded in data frames to restore the clock signal and the reference time, and, from them, and using identical or similar time specifics, generate a synchronization signal for a localization signals source (LSS) to enable the LSS to generate localization signals in synchronization with the sensing windows.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes a first switch and a second switch respectively connecting a first terminal and a second terminal of an electrical coil to a positive terminal of a voltage source, a third switch and a fourth switch respectively connecting the first terminal and the second terminal of the electrical coil to a negative terminal of the voltage source, and a controller to control the switching circuit in a current control mode to alternate a voltage polarity of the voltage source to thereby control a magnitude and direction of the electrical current of the electrical coil, and to control the switching circuit in a current hold mode to disconnect the electrical coil from the voltage source and to short-circuit the electrical coil to maintain the magnitude and direction of the electrical current at the transition time when the switching circuit switched to the current hold mode.

Abstract: A swallowable in-vivo device contains a movement detection unit that includes a movement sensing unit, a frequency analyzing unit (FAU) and a time analyzing unit (TAU). The movement sensing unit senses movements of the in-vivo device relative to a non-stationary three-dimensional reference frame, and outputs a movement signal. The frequency analyzing unit may analyze the movement signal spectrally to detect a potential command-invoking movement, and the time analyzing unit may analyze the potential CIM temporally, possibly in conjunction with a series of other movement events, to determine whether the potential CIM is a genuine CIM. If the potential CIM is determined to be a genuine CIM, the in-vivo device may execute a predetermined command associated with the CIM. Otherwise, the in-vivo device may refrain from executing a CIM-related command. A PCB including the movement detection unit and a processor for processing their output is provided for the vivo sensing device.

Abstract: A device and system for monitoring the status of a battery in an in-vivo imaging device, prior to use of the in-vivo imaging device. The device may include a frame counter for counting the number of frames captured and may include monitoring the voltage of the battery. A warning signal is generated if it is determined that the battery is faulty prior to use. The warning signal can be generated by the device and/or by a receiver which receives data from the in-vivo imaging device and/or a by workstation which receives the data from the receiver.

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling a state of a switching circuit may include a first unit to sense and interpret a wireless signal or physical parameter as an “on” signal to transition the switching circuit to the “on” state, or as an “off” signal to transition the switching circuit to the “off” state, and to transfer a first digital signal or logic value and/or a second digital signal or logic value, which may respectively or combinatorially represent the “on” signal or the “off” signal, to a second unit via a first output and/or a second output of the first unit, respectively. The second unit may force a control input of the switching circuit to a logic value which is a function of the first digital signal or value and/or second digital signal or value and congruent with the state to which the switching circuit is to be transitioned.

Abstract: A sleeve for simple assembly of in-vivo devices, such as endoscopy capsules, is provided. The sleeve comprises grippers and leaf springs at either end to hold the rigid portions of a rigid-flex PCB (printed circuit board) in a folded configuration before the PCB is inserted into an in-vivo device's housing. A method of assembly of the rigid-flex PCB into the sleeve is provided.

Abstract: An electromagnetic localization signal may be sensed by an electromagnetic field sensor in an in-vivo device with an electromagnetic field interference that is superimposed on the electromagnetic localization signal. The electromagnetic field interference may be filtered by outputting, by the electromagnetic field sensor, an alternating signal that represents, or in response to, the electromagnetic localization signal; sampling a first (e.g., positive) portion of the alternating signal during a first sampling window or period to obtain a first set of samples, sampling a second (e.g., negative) portion of the alternating signal during a second sampling window or period to obtain a second set of samples; and calculating a number, NR, from the first and second sets of samples, that approximately represents a substantially interference free electromagnetic localization signal.