Capsule endoscope

Abstract

An embodiment comprises and apparatus having an image capture device with an image axis and a gyroscope operable to indicate the orientation of the image axis. An embodiment of a capsule endoscopy system comprises an imaging capsule and an external unit. The imaging capsule may comprise an image capture device having an image axis and a gyroscope operable to indicate the orientation of the image axis. The external unit may comprise a gyroscope operable to indicate an orientation of a subject and a harness wearable by a subject and operable to align the gyroscope with the subject. The imaging capsule may send and image to an external unit for processing and display, and the external unit may provide for calculation of the image-axis orientation relative to the body.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an image capture device having an image axis; and   a gyroscope operable to indicate the orientation of the image axis.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing; and   wherein the image capture device and gyroscope are disposed within the housing.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is ingestible. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is operable to be ingested and to pass through the gastrointestinal tract of a subject. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the image capture device is operable to capture an image within the gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless module operable to send an indication of the orientation of the image axis. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless module is operable to send the indication of the orientation of the image axis to an external unit. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a light source disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is operable to illuminate during image capture. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the image capture device comprises a pixel array and a lens assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gyroscope and image capture device are disposed on a single integrated circuit die. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a gyroscope operable to indicate an orientation of a subject; and   a harness wearable by a subject and operable to maintain an alignment of the gyroscope with the subject.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a wireless module operable to receive an indication of the orientation of an image axis. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless module is operable to receive the indication of the orientation of the image axis from an imaging apparatus located within the gastrointestinal tract of a human subject. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the gyroscope and wireless module are disposed on a single integrated circuit die. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a processor operable to compare an indicated orientation of the subject and an indicated orientation of the image axis. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further operable to determine the orientation of the image axis relative to the frame of reference of the wearer. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a first apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 an image capture device disposed within the housing and having an image axis; and 
 a first gyroscope disposed within the housing and operable to indicate the orientation of the image axis; and 
   a second apparatus comprising:
 a gyroscope operable to indicate an orientation of a subject; and 
 a harness wearable by a subject and operable to align the gyroscope with the subject. 
   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the housing is ingestible. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the housing is operable to be ingested and to pass through the gastrointestinal tract of a subject. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the image capture device is operable to capture an image within the gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first apparatus comprising a wireless module disposed within the housing and operable to send an indication of the orientation of the image axis to the second apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a light source disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the light source is operable to illuminate during image capture. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the image capture device comprises a pixel array and a lens assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first gyroscope and image capture device are disposed on a single integrated circuit die. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a power supply. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the second apparatus further comprises a wireless module operable to receive an indication of the orientation of an image axis. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the second gyroscope and wireless module are disposed on a single integrated circuit die. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a processor operable to compare an indicated orientation of the subject and an indicated orientation of the image axis. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the processor is further operable to determine the orientation of the image axis relative to the frame of reference of the subject. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 20  further comprising a memory operable to store a plurality of image axis indications, a plurality of subject orientation indications, and a plurality of images. 
     
     
         36 . A method comprising:
 determining the orientation of a body axis relative to a first frame of reference;   determining the orientation of an image axis relative to the first frame of reference; and   determining the orientation of the image axis relative to the body axis.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising determining the orientation of a body axis relative to a first frame of reference via a gyroscope. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising determining the orientation of an image axis relative to the first frame of reference via a gyroscope. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising subtracting the determined orientation of the body axis from the determined orientation of the image axis. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising associating the determined body axis orientation and image axis orientation with an image. 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus comprising:
 a gyroscope operable to indicate the frame of reference of a wearer; and   a wireless module operable to receive an indication of the orientation of an image axis relative to a frame of reference.   
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the gyroscope and wireless module are disposed on a single integrated circuit die.