Abstract: A method and system cascade analysis for intestinal contraction detection is provided by extracting from image frames captured in-vivo. The method and system also relate to the detection of turbid liquids in intestinal tracts, to automatic detection of video image frames taken in the gastrointestinal tract including a field of view obstructed by turbid media, and more particularly to extraction of image data obstructed by turbid media.

Abstract: An in-vivo imaging device including a camera may include a frame storage device. Systems and methods which vary the frame capture rate of the camera and/or frame display rate of the display unit of in-vivo camera systems are discussed. The capture rate is varied based on for example, a physical quantity experienced by the camera system, or physical measurements related to the motion of the camera. Alternatively, the frame capture rate is varied based on comparative image processing of a plurality of frames. The frame display rate of the system may be varied based on comparative image processing of a multiplicity of frames. Both the frame capture and the frame display rates of such systems can be varied concurrently.

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 device and method for operating an in vivo imaging device (10A) wherein the illumination produced by the device may be varied in intensity and/or duration, and/or the gain level or other parameters may be varied, according to, for example, the amount of illumination produced by the device which is reflected back to the device. In addition, a method is provided for detecting problematic pixels in an imaging device. This method may define and exclude non-functional pixels, based on for example an initial short exposure that enables a threshold saturation level to be reached only for problematic pixels. Moreover, a method is described for determining when an in vivo device enters the body, for example by calculating the progress of a dark frame, based on the light saturation threshold of the dark frame.

Abstract: In-vivo medical devices, systems and methods of operating such devices include a permanent magnetic assembly interacting with external magnetic fields for magnetically maneuvering said device to a desired location along a patient's GI tract, and anchoring said devices to the desired location for a period of time. The in-vivo medical device includes illumination sources, an optical system, and an image sensor for imaging the GI tract and thus assisting in locating the desired location. Some in-vivo medical devices include a concave window, which enables better imaging of small areas along the tissue. Furthermore, in-vivo devices with a concave window enable carrying operating tools without damaging the tissue of the GI tract, since prior to operation, the tools protrude from the concave window but remain behind the ends of the edges of the concave window.

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 in-vivo imaging device including a camera may include a frame storage device. Systems and methods which vary the frame capture rate of the camera and/or frame display rate of the display unit of in-vivo camera systems are discussed. The capture rate is varied based on for example, a physical quantity experienced by the camera system, or physical measurements related to the motion of the camera. Alternatively, the frame capture rate is varied based on comparative image processing of a plurality of frames. The frame display rate of the system may be varied based on comparative image processing of a multiplicity of frames. Both the frame capture and the frame display rates of such systems can be varied concurrently.

Abstract: A device, system and method may enable the obtaining of in vivo images from within body lumens or cavities, such as images of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where the data such as mosaic image data may be transmitted or otherwise sent to a receiving system in a compressed format.

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.

Abstract: Methods of tagging cancerous tissue for diagnostic applications, mainly for cancer screening purposes, include oral or luminal administrating of a tag molecule into a patient's gastrointestinal lumen either orally or through an enema, and tagging cancerous tissue present within the lumen with the tag molecule. The tag molecule may be a near infrared dye, e.g., IR783 or a derivative thereof, which showed to be of high concentration within cancerous tissue compared to normal tissue. The near infrared IR783 dye is administered, either orally or through an enema, as part of a pharmaceutical composition or formulation either as is or conjugated to a specific polymer. The formulation may comprise an enteric coating in order to keep the formulation intact prior to it reaching the target organ, which is to be tagged by the formulation.

Abstract: A system and method 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 flexible circuit board for being inserted into an in-vivo imaging device is provided. The flexible circuit board may include a plurality of flexible installation units connected to one another through flexible connection units. The flexible installation units may be capable of having electrical components disposed thereon at a size suitable for being included in an in-vivo imaging device which may be inserted into a body lumen, e.g., a capsule endoscope. An in-vivo imaging device which may enclose such a full-flexible circuit board is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method may display an image stream, where an original image stream may be divided into two or more subset images streams, each subset image stream being displayed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. The spatial position of the images displayed substantially simultaneously in each time slot may be variably adjusted based on a predetermined criterion. The images may be collected from an ingestible capsule traversing the GI tract.

Abstract: An imager and a method for real-time, non-destructive monitoring of light incident on imager pixels during their exposure to light. Real-time or present pixel signals, which are indicative of present illumination on the pixels, are compared to a reference signal during the exposure. Adjustments, if necessary, are made to programmable parameters such as gain and/or exposure time to automatically control the imager's exposure to the light. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, only a selected number of pixels are monitored for exposure control as opposed to monitoring the entire pixel array.

Abstract: A method and a system for displaying portions of in vivo images such as pathological or anatomical landmark portions of images, may include receiving a stream of in vivo images captured in a body lumen, and selecting relevant image portions such as suspected pathological image portions from the stream, based on one or more predetermined criteria. A spatial arrangement of the image portions may be determined, and the selected image portions may be resized to an appropriate size, and displayed in a rectangular or hexagonal array layout according to the determined spatial arrangement, such that rows and columns of selected image portions are adjacent to each other.

Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging within depth layers of a tissue include illuminating light rays at different changing wavelengths (frequencies), collimating illuminated light rays using a collimator, and splitting light rays using a beam splitter, such that some of the light rays are directed towards a reference mirror and some of the rays are directed towards the tissue. The systems and methods further include reflecting light rays from the reference mirror towards the imager, filtering out non-collimated light rays reflected off the tissue by using a telecentric optical system, and reflecting collimated light rays reflected off the tissue towards the imager, thus creating an image of an interference pattern based on collimated light rays reflected off the tissue and off the reference mirror. The method may further include creating full 2D images from the interference pattern for each depth layer of the tissue using Fast Fourier transform.

Abstract: Devices and methods for optically scanning an in-vivo lumen, and for determining contact between an in-vivo device and an in-vivo lumen wall. The device may include an elongated housing having a cylindrical portion. At least one illuminating body may provide illumination at the circumference of the cylindrical portion, and at least one light sensor may sense light that penetrated and was scattered from the tissue of the in vivo lumen. The device may include a barrier for preventing direct illumination from the illuminating body from reaching the light sensor and for decreasing the amount of direct light reflection from the outer surface of the in vivo lumen onto the light sensor.

Abstract: A system and method may display an image stream, where an original image stream may be divided into two or more subset images streams, each subset image stream being displayed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. The images may be displayed fused. The images may be collected from an ingestible capsule traversing the GI tract.

Abstract: An in-vivo device captures images of the GI system and transfers frames to an external system for analysis. As frames are transferred from the in-vivo device to the external system frames may be classified as belonging to a particular GI section. Based on statistical analysis of the classes, a temporary determination may be made, that the in-vivo device has transitioned to a “target section”, and, as a result of the temporary determination, the operation mode of the in-vivo device may temporarily change from a first mode to a second mode. If the temporary determination is followed by a determination which is based on analysis of additional classes, the determination that the in-vivo device is in the target section may be made final and the in-vivo device may remain in the second mode. Otherwise, the first operation mode may be resumed and the whole transition determination process may start anew.

Abstract: A system and method for classification of images of an image stream may include receiving an image stream of unclassified images, for example produced by an in-vivo imaging device, and based on indirect user input, adapting an initial classification algorithm to classify images to groups based on at least a subset of the received image stream of unclassified images. The indirect user input may be used to generate user-based indications for the classification.