Methods and devices for providing information useful in the diagnosis of abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

Disclosed are methods useful for providing information useful in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal abnormalities as well as ingestible devices useful for providing information useful in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal abnormalities.

1 . An ingestible device useful for providing information useful for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal abnormalities, comprising:
 a) an ingestible casing having a device axis, a body section, a distal end and a proximal end;   b) inside said casing, an illuminator configured to project light radially outwards through an illuminator window of said casing substantially simultaneously in a substantially 360° circumferential section around said device axis; and   c) inside said casing, at least one light-detection assembly configured to determine the total intensity of at least one specified wavelength of light projected by said illuminator and passing through an associated detector window substantially simultaneously in a substantially 360° circumferential section around said device axis, after reflection from a substantially 360° circumferential section of a gastrointestinal tract, without acquiring an image.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , at least one said light-detection assembly and associated said detector window comprising at least one wavelength filter configured to pass only light having a said specified wavelength of light. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a single said light-detection assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising at least two said light detection assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , to wherein at least one said light-detection assembly is configured to determine the intensity of one said specified wavelength of light. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said light-detection assembly is configured to determine the intensity of at least two said specified wavelengths of light. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is configured to determine the intensity of at least two specified wavelengths of light each at a substantially different location in the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is configured to determine the intensity of at least two specified wavelengths of light each with a substantially different light-detection assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing information useful for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal abnormalities, comprising:
 a) illuminating an area of an in vivo gastrointestinal tract of a living mammal with light, wherein said illuminating is outwards from inside the gastrointestinal tract lumen;   b) without acquiring an image of said area, determining the total intensity of at least one specified wavelength of light after said light is reflected from said area of said gastrointestinal tract; and   c) providing information related to said intensity of light indicative of a potential gastrointestinal abnormality in said area, wherein said area is constitutes a 360° circumferential section of said gastrointestinal tract   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said reflected light is substantially diffusely reflected light. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said information provided is a comparison of at least two respective said intensities of at least two different specified wavelengths of light reflected from the same said area. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said information provided is said intensity of at least one specified wavelength of light after said light is reflected from said area of said gastrointestinal tract compared to an intensity of light of a same specified wavelength after said light has been reflected from a different said area of said gastrointestinal tract.