Patent ID: 7787926
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for detecting a clinically-relevant feature of a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject, comprising: an oral contrast agent consisting essentially of a stable and non-radioactive isotope, adapted to be administered to the subject; a capsule adapted to be swallowed by the subject, said capsule including: at least one radiation source emitting X-ray or gamma radiation having an energy of at least 10 keV; at least one radiation detector comprising at least one collimator configured to detect in a first energy window collimated X-ray fluorescence radiation from the X-ray contrast agent composition excited by the emitted radiation, and to detect in a second energy window Compton-backscattered radiation from the X-ray contrast agent and the wall of the GI tract produced in response to the emitted radiation; and a control unit configured to analyze data regarding the detected X-ray fluorescence radiation and Compton-backscattered radiation to identify a distance between the capsule and a wall of the GI tract, said control unit further configured to compute a ratio between the Compton-backscattered radiation and the X-ray fluorescence radiation signals for distinguishing between gas in the GI tract and the clinically-relevant feature.