Abstract: A capsule system comprising a first capsule (16) configured to be ingested by a subject, a second capsule (18) configured to be ingested by the subject separately from the first capsule, the first capsule having an electromagnetic element (29, 30) and a sensor (22, 23) for sensing a physiological parameter of a gastrointestinal tract of the subject, the second capsule having a magnetic element (29, 30) and a sensor (22, 23) for sensing a physiological parameter of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, the first capsule and the second capsule having an active state wherein a magnetic force is selectively provided between the first and second capsules attracting the first and second capsules while the capsules are within the gastrointestinal tract of the subject and having an inactive state wherein the magnetic force is absent, and a control (26/32) configured to selectively place the capsules in the active state from the inactive state while the capsules are within the gastrointestinal tract of the subjec
Abstract: A method of determining body exit of an ingestible capsule comprising the steps of providing (40) an ingestible capsule (20) having a pressure sensor (23), having (41) a subject ingest the capsule, recording (42a) measurements from the pressure sensor as the capsule passes through at least an end portion of a gastrointestinal tract of the subject, transmitting (44) the measurements to a processor (31) outside of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, identifying (47) an increasing pressure sequence (65) in the measurements between a selected start time (62) and a transmission end time (63), comparing (48) the sequence to a reference (66), and using the comparison to make a determination (52) regarding the capsule exiting the gastrointestinal tract of the subject. The increasing pressure sequence may be the longest increasing pressure sequence in the measurements. The reference may be a logarithmic regression of the measurements.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 30, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 15, 2014
Assignee:
Given Imaging, Inc.
Inventors:
John R. Semler, Kathleen H. Selover, Bemina L. Rohde