Capsule and method for treating or diagnosing conditions or diseases of the intestinal tract

Abstract

A device and method for mapping, diagnosing and treating inflammatory disorders (such as Crohn's disease) or other diseases, disorders or conditions of the intestinal tract is provided using a capsule passing through the intestinal tract. Further, a capsule tracking system is provided for tracking a capsule's location along the length of an intestinal tract as various treatment and/or sensing modalities are employed. In one variation, an acoustic signal is used to determine the location of the capsule. A map of sensed impedance and or temperature may be derived from the pass of a capsule to diagnose the disorder or disease. The capsule or subsequently passed capsules may treat, further diagnose, or mark the intestinal tract at a determined location along its length.

1 . A method for diagnosing an inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder comprising:
 providing an autonomous capsule comprising an impedance sensor;   sensing with the impedance sensor, an impedance of a portion of a gastrointestinal tract at a first impedance location along a length of the gastrointestinal tract;   sensing with the impedance sensor, an impedance of a portion of a gastrointestinal tract at a second impedance location along a length of the gastrointestinal tract; and   determining whether the impedance at the first impedance location is different from the impedance at the second impedance location by a predetermined difference.