Patent ID: 8597176
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An endoscopy capsule comprising: a capsule housing configured for in vivo movement in a patient, said capsule housing containing at least one power-consuming component; an induction coil in said housing configured to interact with an extracorporeally-applied alternating magnetic field in order to effect power transfer from said alternating magnetic field to said induction coil in order to supply power to said at least one power-consuming component from said induction coil, said induction coil being elongated along a longitudinal axis thereof; a permanently magnetic element rigidly connected to said capsule housing and at least partially enclosed by said induction coil, said permanently magnetic element exhibiting a magnetic dipole moment produced by the permanently magnetic element itself and interacting with an extracorporeally-applied navigation magnetic field in order to navigate said movement of the endoscopy capsule housing in vivo; said permanently magnetic element being oriented relative to said capsule housing to align said magnetic dipole moment perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis of said induction coil; said capsule housing having a cross-sectional area, with a normal thereto oriented in a direction of said longitudinal axis, said cross-sectional area comprising both a cross-section through said permanently magnetic element and a cross-section through said induction coil; and said permanently magnetic element having dimensions along opposite directions of said longitudinal axis of said induction coil to cause said permanently magnetic element to project beyond said induction coil in both said directions, said projection beyond said induction coil in both said directions making said power transfer substantially unaffected by said magnetic dipole moment of said permanently magnetic element.