Optical Wireless Docking System for Capsule Camera

Abstract

A capsule endoscopic system with wireless docking device is disclosed, where the system comprises a capsule device and a docking device for receiving the data from the capsule device. The docking device supplies power to the capsule device and retrieves data from the capsule device wirelessly. The capsule device comprises an archival memory to store data captured inside a body lumen by the capsule device, a wireless transmitter to transmit the stored data, a secondary coil. The docking device comprises a primary coil to generate an alternating magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is coupled to the secondary coil to supply power to the capsule device wirelessly when the capsule device is docked in the docking device and a wireless receiver to receive the data from the capsule device. The wireless link can be a radio frequency (RF) link or an optical link.

1 . A capsule endoscopic system comprising:
 a capsule device, wherein the capsule device comprises:
 a battery; 
 an archival memory to store first data captured inside a body lumen by the capsule device; 
 a wireless transmitter to transmit the first data; 
 a secondary coil; and 
 a capsule housing to enclose the battery, the archival memory, the wireless transmitter and the secondary coil in a sealed environment; 
   wherein the battery is located in a first section and the secondary coil is located in a second section of the capsule device in a longitudinal direction of the capsule device; and   a docking device for receiving the first data from the capsule device, wherein the docking device comprises:
 a primary coil to generate an alternating magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is coupled to the secondary coil to supply power to the capsule device wirelessly when the capsule device is outside a live body and is docked in the docking device; and 
 a wireless receiver to receive the first data from the capsule device; and 
   wherein the capsule endoscopic system is configured to cause the primary coil to generate higher magnetic field at the second section than the first section of the capsule device when the capsule device is outside the live body and is docked in the docking device.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmitter corresponds to an optical transmitter and the docking device further comprises a receptacle to hold the capsule device, and at least a portion of the receptacle holding one longitudinal end of the capsule device is transparent to allow light emitted from the optical transmitter to pass. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule endoscopic system of claim  210 , wherein the docking device further comprises a receptacle to hold the capsule device and the receptacle comprises a tapered inner surface, and the tapered inner surface mates with a curved surface of one longitudinal end of the capsule device to align the longitudinal axis of the capsule device to the receptacle forming an optical path from the modulated light source to the optical receiver in the docking device. 
     
     
         4 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 1 , wherein an axis of the primary coil intersects the secondary coil. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the capsule device is outside of the primary coil. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 1 , wherein the power is used to charge the battery or to operate the wireless transmitter inside the capsule housing. 
     
     
         7 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmitter corresponds to a radio frequency transmitter and the wireless receiver corresponds to a radio frequency receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmitter corresponds to a first optical transmitter comprising a first modulated light source and the wireless receiver corresponds to a first optical receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 8 , wherein the docking device comprises a lens of positive refractive power to reduce divergence of modulated light from the first modulated light source. 
     
     
         10 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 8 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the capsule device passes through the first modulated light source. 
     
     
         11 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 8  further comprising a second optical transmitter having a second modulated light source in the docking device and a second optical receiver in the capsule device for receiving second data transmitted from the second optical transmitter. 
     
     
         12 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 11 , wherein the second optical transmitter and the first optical receiver are coupled via optical fibers to transmit the second data to and receive the first data from the capsule device respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 11 , wherein the capsule device receives a signal via the second optical receiver from the docking device to start data transfer of the first data. 
     
     
         14 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 1 , the docking device comprises a primary core outside the capsule device when the capsule device is docked in the docking device and the primary core contains at least a portion of magnetic flux associated with the primary coil, wherein the primary core contains ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material. 
     
     
         15 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 14 , wherein the primary core is configured as a shell and the primary coil is enclosed by the shell. 
     
     
         16 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 15 , wherein the capsule device is positioned into the shell through an opening of the shell when the capsule device is docked in the docking device. 
     
     
         17 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 16 , wherein the capsule device penetrates into an inner surface of the shell or partially into the inner surface of the shell. 
     
     
         18 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 17 , wherein the capsule device partially penetrates the inner surface of the shell such that the battery is not enclosed by the inner surface of the shell when the capsule device is docked in the docking device. 
     
     
         19 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless transmitter is an optical transmitter comprising a modulated light source, and the modulated light source emits modulated light passing through an opening in the shell to an optical receiver in the docking device. 
     
     
         20 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 19 , wherein the docking device includes a light pipe passing into the opening in the shell and the modulated light from the modulated light source passes through the light pipe to the optical receiver. 
     
     
         21 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 20 , wherein the light pipe is an optical fiber. 
     
     
         22 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 21  wherein the light pipe has a reflective surface. 
     
     
         23 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 15 , wherein the primary core includes a post and an axis of the post passes through the secondary coil. 
     
     
         24 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 23 , wherein the post has a bore through the post, and light from an optical transmitter in the capsule device passes through the bore to an optical receiver in the docking device. 
     
     
         25 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 14 , wherein the primary core corresponds to a toroidal-shaped core with a gap, the primary coil wraps around at least a section of the toroidal-shaped core, and the capsule device is positioned in the gap when the capsule device is docked in the docking device. 
     
     
         26 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 25 , wherein the secondary coil is in the gap. 
     
     
         27 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 1 , the further comprising a switch coupled between the battery and electronic circuits inside the capsule housing and the switch is operable by a magnet external to the capsule device to disconnect the battery from the electronic circuits. 
     
     
         28 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 27  further comprising a hinged lid or a removable cover, wherein the magnet is attached to the hinged lid or the removable cover and the magnet is configured to cause the battery disconnected from the electronic circuits when the capsule device is docked in the docking device with the hinged lid or the removable cover is closed. 
     
     
         29 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 28  further comprising a spring connecting the magnet and the lid or removable cover, wherein the capsule pushes against the magnet and compresses the spring. 
     
     
         30 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 28 , wherein the hinged lid or the removable cover comprises a push means to apply a push force on the capsule device when the hinged lid or the removable cover is opened to prevent the magnet from picking up the capsule device. 
     
     
         31 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 30 , wherein the push means corresponds to a spring-loaded plunger or an elastic membrane. 
     
     
         32 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule device further comprises a processor and associated program codes, wherein the processor periodically polls a control signal from the docking device and manages transmission of the first data in response to the control signal. 
     
     
         33 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 5 , wherein the first section of the capsule device is outside of the primary coil. 
     
     
         34 . The capsule endoscopic system of  claim 14 , wherein the primary core is configured to reduce the magnetic field in the first section relative to the second section of the capsule device.