Patent ID: 9392961
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for detecting a polyp or cancer in a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject, comprising: a capsule with a capsule housing, said capsule adapted to be swallowed by a subject, said capsule comprising: at least one radiation source emitting X-ray or gamma radiation and having at least one collimator configured to collimate radiation emitted by the at least one radiation source; and at least one radiation detector configured to detect in a first energy window X-ray fluorescence radiation from a contrast agent composition consisting essentially of a stable and non-radioactive isotope and being excited by the emitted and collimated X-ray or gamma radiation, and to detect in a second energy window or additional energy windows, Compton-backscattered radiation from the contrast agent and the wall of the GI tract produced in response to the emitted and collimated X-ray or gamma radiation; an accelerometer that is used to determine if the capsule is stationary or moving and determine a tilt angle of the capsule relative to the earth center of gravity; the apparatus further comprising a control unit configured to distinguish between a gas bubble in the GI tract and a polyp or cancer at the specific location based on identifying one or more of the following: a. a reduction in the count rate of Compton backscattered radiation at the location in all energy windows; b. a reduction in the count rate of Compton backscattered radiation at the location in all energy windows and smaller changes in the difference between the count at high and low energies; c. a reduction in the count rate of X-ray fluorescence radiation at the location; d. the tilt angle of the capsule relative to center of gravity information to ascertain a relative location of the gas bubble or polyp or cancer; and e. the surface of the detected gas bubble or polyp or cancer to determine if it is a gas bubble with a flat bottom surface or a polyp or cancer with bulging anatomical abnormalities.