Abstract:
The invention provides an in vivo imaging device, the device comprising a first support having thereon a first battery contact, a second support having thereon a second battery contact, a battery disposed between the first support and the second support such that the battery is in contact with the first battery contact and with the second battery contact, wherein the first battery contact is a spring and the second battery contact comprises a pin to contact the battery and a housing for the pin and a battery stopper placed between the battery and the first or second support.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/785,992, filed on Mar. 27, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/787,698, filed on Mar. 31, 2006, which is/are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to an in-vivo imaging system suitable for imaging the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or other body lumens. In particular, it is related to battery contacts for an in-vivo imaging device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Known devices may be helpful in providing in-vivo imaging. Autonomous in-vivo imaging devices, for example in-vivo imaging devices, such as swallowable or ingestible capsules or other devices may move through a body lumen, imaging as they move along. Some of these devices are battery operated and use a wireless connection to transmit image data.  
         [0004]     In some in vivo devices, such as ingestible imaging capsules, the components within the capsule, such as a battery contact(s), may be arranged on a board or on several boards, for example on a printed circuit board (PCB). In some cases the boards are aligned along an axis of the capsule and are electrically connected by one or more wires.  
         [0005]     During the movement of the in-vivo imaging device within and outside a human body, the in-vivo imaging device may endure conditions such as turbulence, vibrations and temperature changes. Such occurrences may cause disconnection between contacts, such as battery contacts, battery and/or electrical circuits or electrical components of the in-vivo imaging device.  
         [0006]     There is a need for a battery contact(s) that will be able to withstand turbulence and acute conditions and will enable continuous and constant contact between the battery and electric components of the imaging device in the course of the device movement both within and outside a human body.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides, according to some embodiments, an in vivo imaging device comprising a circuit board, for example a flexible circuit board and/or a circuit board having one or more rigid sections or portions, and one or more flexible sections or portions.  
         [0008]     According to one embodiment of the present invention, an example for economizing space usage may be by employing battery contacts configured to occupy a minimum of space within the in-vivo imaging device and circuit board. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention a rigid section of a circuit board may support both a transmitter/receiver and a battery contact, and thus decrease the number of rigid and flexible sections of the circuit board. Efficient and economized circuit board setup may enable circuit board folding into smaller sizes which may take up less space, and thus may provide for smaller sized in-vivo devices or for more usable space within an in vivo device.  
         [0009]     According to some embodiments of the present invention, the in vivo imaging device may include one or more imagers. The device may further include an illumination source(s), an optical system, a switch, one or more battery contacts a transmitter/receiver and an antenna for transmitting image data to a receiving system. According to one embodiment the transmitter is a wireless transmitter. According to some embodiments the transmitter may be a transceiver configured to accept signals transmitted from an external source.  
         [0010]     According to some embodiments of the present invention, the battery contacts include, for example a push-button contact, a ‘pin button and spring’ contact or a spring biased plunger contact, a wire or a thin-sheet strip or other suitable battery contact. According to some embodiments the battery contacts may be integrated or embedded, for example, within a rigid portion and/or the flexible portion of the circuit board. According to some embodiments of the present invention the battery contact may be combined with or attached to other elements in the in vivo imaging device so as to possibly reduce the amount of space taken up by it. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like components are designated by like reference numerals, wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an in vivo imaging device and system, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2A  schematically illustrates an in vivo imaging device, according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 2B and 2C  schematically illustrate a top view and a bottom view, respectively, of a circuit board in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2D  schematically illustrates a three-dimensional view of a circuit board and a battery contact, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3A  schematically illustrates an in vivo imaging device, according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3B  schematically illustrates a three-dimensional view of a circuit board and a battery contact, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3C  schematically illustrates a three-dimensional view of a connecting sleeve, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates a battery contact, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5A  schematically illustrates a three-dimensional view of a circuit board and a battery contact, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5B  schematically illustrates a side view of a circuit board and a battery contact, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5C  schematically illustrates a three-dimensional view of a battery contact, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5D  schematically illustrates a side view of a battery contact, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6A  schematically illustrates a three-dimensional view of a battery contact, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6B  schematically illustrates a side view of a battery contact, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a three-dimensional view of a battery contact, in accordance with another embodiments of the present invention; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a schematic flow-chart of a method of manufacturing an in vivo imaging device with one or more battery contacts, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
       [0028]     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]     In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details presented herein. Furthermore, well known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention.  
         [0030]     Reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which shows a schematic diagram of an in-vivo imaging system  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The in-vivo imaging system  100  may include an in-vivo imaging device  40  having, for example an imager  46 , for capturing images, an optical system  22 , an illumination source(s)  42  such as white LEDs (Light Emitting Diode), OLEDs (Organic LED) or other illumination sources, for illuminating the body lumen, a power source such as a battery  45  or battery pack, for powering device  40 , a switch  39  such as a magnetic switch, such as a MEMS switch, for example, MEMSCAP MEMS Switch or a REED Switch, for example, a RI-80 SMD switch, and a transmitter/receiver  41 , typically integrated on an ASIC, with antenna  47 , for transmitting and/or receiving in-vivo data e.g. raw data or images, for example to or from an external device such as a receiver/recorder  12 . According to one embodiment, the device  40  may include one or more supports, such as two separated PCBs (Printed Circuit Board)  30  and  30 ′, or a single PCB such as flexible circuit board or a rigid-flex circuit board. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the various components of the device  40 , such as the illumination source(s)  42 , the transmitter/receiver  41 , the switch  39 , the antenna  47  and the imager  46  may be disposed on a support, for example the PCBs  30  or  30 ′.  
         [0031]     In some embodiments, imager  46  may include, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera or imager, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) camera or imager, a digital camera, a video camera, or other suitable imagers, cameras, or image acquisition components. According to some embodiments a 320×320 pixel imager may be used. Pixel size may be between 5 to 6 micron. According to some embodiments pixels may be each fitted with a micro lens. Other imagers are possible.  
         [0032]     Transmitter/receiver  41  may operate using radio waves; but in some embodiments, such as those where device  40  is or is included within an endoscope, transmitter/receiver  41  may transmit data via, for example, a wire, optical fiber and/or other suitable methods. Other suitable methods or components for wired or wireless transmission may be used.  
         [0033]     In one embodiment, all of the components may be sealed within the device body or housing  10  (the body or shell may include more than one piece); for example, the imager  46 , the optical system  22 , the illumination sources  42 , the battery  45 , the transmitter/receiver  41 , the switch  39 , and the antenna  47  may all be sealed or enclosed within the device housing  10 .  
         [0034]     In some embodiments of the present invention, in-vivo device  40  may include one or more sensors  31  other than and/or in addition to imager  46 , for example, temperature sensors, pH sensors, pressure sensors, blood sensors, etc. In some embodiments of the present invention, device  40  may be an autonomous device, a capsule, or a swallowable capsule. In other embodiments of the present invention, device  40  may not be autonomous, for example, device  40  may be an endoscope or other in-vivo imaging sensing device.  
         [0035]     According to some embodiments of the present invention the in-vivo imaging device  40  may include one or more battery contacts for power source(s) such as battery  45 . For example device  40  may include two battery contacts, for example two different types of battery contacts such as battery contact  60 , which may be attached for example to the PCB  30 , and battery contact  70  which may be attached for example to the PCB  30 ′. The battery contact  60  may be for example a spring while battery contact  70  may be a push-button contact such as a ‘pin button and spring’ contact or a spring based plunger contact. In some embodiments the battery  45  (or a plurality of batteries) may be sandwiched between the two battery contacts  60  and  70 . For example the battery  45  may be pressed by the two battery contacts  60  and  70  along latitude axis A. In some embodiments battery contact  60  may be pressed in a direction  61  into the PCB  30  and battery contact  70  may be pressed in a direction  71  into the PCB  30 ′.  
         [0036]     According to some embodiments of the present invention the battery contact  70  may include a button or pin  72  and a housing  73  such as a spring housing. In some embodiments the pin  72  may be pressed into the housing  73  such that a space L, for placing components of device  40 , may be formed between the battery  45  and the PCB  30 ′. For example, the battery contact  70  may be placed at the center of PCB  30 ′ and may form a space L so that transmitter/receiver  41  and switch  39  may be placed between the PCB  30 ′ and the battery  45 .  
         [0037]     According to some embodiments of the present invention the device  40  may include one or more stoppers such as battery pack stoppers  80 ,  80 ′,  80 ″ and  80 ′″. The battery stoppers  80 ,  80 ′,  80 ″ and  80 ′″ may be used to prevent excessive pressure on components of the device  40 , such as components which may be placed in close proximity to the battery  45 , for example the PCBs  30  and  30 ′ or components which are placed between the battery  45  and the PCBs  30  and  30 ′ e.g. transmitter/receiver  41  and switch  39 . In some embodiments, the battery stoppers may be attached to or may be part of the housing  10 .  
         [0038]     Devices according to embodiments of the present invention, including imaging, receiving, processing, storage and/or display units suitable for use with embodiments of the present invention, may be similar to embodiments described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,531 to Iddan et al., entitled IN-VIVO VIDEO CAMARA SYSTEM, and/or in U.S. Pat. No. 7,009,634 to Iddan et al., issued Mar. 7, 2006 entitled A DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR IN-VIVO IMAGING, both of which are assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and which are hereby incorporated by reference. Of course, devices and systems as described herein may have other configurations and other sets of components.  
         [0039]     The in-vivo imaging device  40  may, according to some embodiments of the present invention, transmit information e.g., images or other data to the receiver/recorder  12  which is possibly close to or worn on a subject. The receiver/recorder  12  may include an antenna or antenna array  15  and a data storage unit or memory  16 . The receiver/recorder  12  may of course take other suitable configurations and may not include an antenna or antenna array. In some embodiments of the present invention, the data receiver/recorder  12  may, for example, include processing power and/or a LCD display for displaying image data.  
         [0040]     According to some embodiments of the present invention, the receiver/recorder  12  may, for example, transfer the received data to a computing device  14 , such as a workstation or personal computer, where the in-vivo raw data may be further analyzed, stored, and/or displayed to a user. Computing device  14  may typically be a personal computer or workstation, which may include standard components such as a processing unit  13 , a memory, for example storage  19 , a disk drive, a monitor  18 , and input-output devices, although alternate configurations are possible. Monitor  18  may be a conventional video display, but may, in addition, be any other device capable of providing image, stream of images or other data. Instructions or software for carrying out a method according to an embodiment of the invention may be included as part of computing device  14 , for example stored in storage  19 . In some embodiments, the receiver/recorder  12  may include a link  21  such as for example a USB, blue-tooth, radio frequency or infra-red link, that may connect to antenna  15  or to a device attached to antennas  15 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 2A  schematically illustrates an in vivo imaging device  240  according to some embodiments of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the various components of the device  240  may be disposed on a circuit board  250  including rigid and flexible portions; preferably the components are arranged in a stacked vertical fashion, however other arrangements are possible. For example, rigid portion  251  of the circuit board  250  may hold an imager  246 , an optical system  222  and illumination source(s)  242 , while rigid portion  253  may hold an antenna  247 . According to one embodiment of the present invention, the other side of the rigid portion  251  may include, for example, a battery contact  260 , while the other side of rigid portion  253  may include a transmitter/receiver  241  a switch  239  and a battery contact  270 . The rigid portions, e.g. portions  253  and  251 , of the circuit board  250  may be connected, for example by a flexible contact portion  255 . In some embodiments, each rigid portion of the circuit board  250 , e.g. portions  253  and  251 , may include two rigid sections; sandwiched between the rigid sections is a flexible contact portion of the circuit board for connecting the rigid portions  253  and  251 . In alternate embodiments, other arrangements of components may be placed on a circuit board having rigid portions connected by flexible portions.  
         [0042]     In alternate embodiments, a circuit board having rigid portions and flexible portions may be used to arrange and hold components in other in vivo sensing devices, such as a swallowable capsule measuring pH, temperature or pressure, or in a swallowable imaging capsule having components other than those described above. Such circuit boards may be similar to embodiments described in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/879,054 entitled IN VIVO DEVICE WITH FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT BOARD AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY THEREOF, and U.S. application No. 60/298,387 entitled IN VIVO SENSING DEVICE WITH A CIRCUIT BOARD HAVING RIGID SECTIONS AND FLEXIBLE SECTIONS, each incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.  
         [0043]     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit board  250  may be folded, for example, as shown in  FIG. 2A . When folded, the battery contacts  260  and  270  may contact a set of one or more batteries, e.g., battery  245 , which may be sandwiched between the two rigid circuit board portions  251  and  253 . The circuit board  250  may be folded in various manners. For example,  FIG. 2A  schematically shows a circuit board, according to an embodiment of the invention, arranged as a “C” with rigid portions  251  and  253  and a flexible portion  255 .  
         [0044]     According to some embodiments of the present invention, the battery contacts  260  and  270  may be formed, manufactured or produced as an integrated or integral part of circuit board  250  or rigid portions  251  and  253 . For example, a process of manufacturing circuit board  250  or rigid portions  251  and  253  may include bonding, gluing, soldering, connecting, or otherwise firmly attaching battery contacts  260  and  270  as a part of circuit board  250 . Such manufacturing may result in a pre-provided circuit board  250  or rigid portions  251  and  253  having, for example battery contacts  260  and  270  integrated therein, and may eliminate the need to assemble or further connect the battery contacts  260  and  270  to the circuit board  250  or rigid portions  251  and  253 , after the manufacturing process of circuit board  250  or rigid portions  251  and  253  is completed.  
         [0045]     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2B-2D , which are a top view a bottom view and a three-dimensional view, respectively, of a battery contact  270 , configured to occupy a minimum of space within device  240 , attached to a circuit board e.g. circuit board  250 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, circuit board  250  may be used in conjunction with device  240  of  FIG. 2A , or with other suitable devices and systems for in vivo sensing or in vivo imaging. Circuit board  250  may include, for example, one or more rigid portions and one or more flexible portions. For example, circuit board  250  may include rigid portions  251  and  253 , which may be interconnected using flexible portion  255 . Although two rigid portions and one flexible portion are shown, embodiments of the present invention are not limited in this regard, and may include other numbers, orders or combinations of rigid portions and/or flexible portions. In some embodiments, rigid portion  251  may include, for example, one or more illumination sources  242 , and optionally one or more resistors  231  and/or capacitors  232  to regulate or control the power provided to illumination sources  242 . In some embodiments, rigid portion  251  may include an imager  246  an optical system  222  and a battery contact  260  e.g., a spring able to hold the battery  245  in place. In some embodiments, rigid portion  253  may include an antenna  247 , a battery contact  270 , a transmitter/receiver  241  and a switch  239 . According to some embodiments of the present invention, battery contact  270  may be attached to the center of rigid section  235  in order to prevent side pressure on the battery  245  or the rigid sections  251  and  253 . Although one imager  246  is shown, embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard; for example, in one embodiment, circuit board  250  may include two imagers, or another suitable number of imagers. The flexible portion  255  of circuit board  250  may allow bending, folding, twisting or positioning of circuit board  250  into certain shapes. For example, circuit board  250  may have a “C” shape, or other suitable shapes.  
         [0046]     Another embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated in  FIG. 3A , in which a longitudinal cross section of device  340  is schematically shown. According to one embodiment of the present invention, device  340  may include two optical domes  302  and  302 ′. According to one embodiment of the present invention each optical dome  302  and  302 ′ may be an integral part of two elongated heads, such as a transparent front head  304  and a transparent rear head  304 ′. According to one embodiment of the present invention the front and rear heads  304  and  304 ′ may be connected to a connecting sleeve, for example an opaque contact sleeve  305 . The contact sleeve  305  may include one or more battery stoppers, such as stoppers for holding the power sources, e.g. battery  345 , of an in-vivo imaging device such as device  340 . According to some embodiments of the present invention behind the transparent heads  304  and  304 ′ may be, respectively, situated for example an illumination sources  342 , two optical systems  322  and  322 ′, two imagers  346  and  346 ′ a transmitter/receiver  341  and a switch  339  and an antenna  347 . The device  340  may further include one or more power sources such as battery  345 , which may provide power to the entirety of electrical elements of the device  340 , and one or more battery contacts such as battery contacts  360  and  370  for electrically connecting the electrical elements of the device  340  to the battery  345 . In some embodiments battery contact  360  may be for example a spring while battery contact  370  may be for example a push-button contact a ‘pin button and spring’ contact or a spring biased plunger contact. According to some embodiments of the present invention, device  340  is capable of simultaneously obtaining images of the body lumen, for example, the GI tract, from two ends of the device. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention device  340  may be a floatable capsule having a front end and a rear end, which is capable of passing the entire GI tract.  
         [0047]     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the various components of the device  340  may be disposed on a circuit board  350  including rigid and flexible portions; preferably the components are arranged in a stacked vertical fashion. For example, rigid portion  351  of the circuit board  350  may hold the imager  346 , the optical system  322 , and the illumination sources  342  while rigid portion  353  may hold the imager  346 ′, the optical system  322 ′ the antenna  347  and the illumination sources  342 . According to one embodiment of the present invention, the other side of the rigid portion  353  may include, for example a transmitter/receiver  341  a switch  339 , and the battery contact  370 . According to some embodiments of the present invention the battery contact  370  may be placed at the sides of the rigid portion  353 , to enable the attachment of components such as the switch  339  or the transmitter/receiver  341  which occupy large space within the device  340 . The other side of rigid portion  351  may hold the battery contact  360 . According to some embodiments of the present invention, each rigid portion of the circuit board may be connected to another rigid portion of the circuit board by a flexible contact portion  355  of the circuit board  350 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 3B  schematically illustrates a three-dimensional view of a circuit board  350  and a battery contact  370  configured to occupy a minimum of space within device  340 , in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Circuit board  350  may include, for example, one or more rigid portions and one or more flexible portions. For example, circuit board  350  may include rigid portions  351  and  353 , which may be interconnected using a flexible portion  355 . Although two rigid portions and one flexible portion are shown, embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, and may include other numbers, orders or combinations of rigid portions and/or flexible portions.  
         [0049]     According to one embodiment of the present invention, rigid portion  351  may have mounted on it on one side an imager  346 , an optical system  322  and one or more illumination sources  342 ; the other side of the rigid portion  351  may include a battery contact  360  such as a spring and possibly other components. Rigid portion  353  may include an imager  346 ′, an optical system  322 ′, one or more illumination sources  342  and an antenna  347  on one side; the other side of the rigid portion  353  may include, for example a switch  339 , a transmitter/receiver  341  and a battery contact  370 . According to some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3B  the battery contact  370 , may be placed at the sides of the rigid portion  353  e.g. at the edge of the rigid section  353  in front of the flexible portion  355 , to enable the attachment of components such as the switch  339  or the transmitter/receiver  341  which may occupy a relatively large space within the device  340 .  
         [0050]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3C  which schematically illustrates a three-dimensional view of a sleeve such as a contact sleeve  310 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, contact sleeve  310  may be an example of the contact sleeve  305  of  FIG. 3A . In some embodiments, contact sleeve  310  may be used in conjunction with device  40  of  FIG. 1 , or with other suitable devices and systems for in vivo sensing or in vivo imaging.  
         [0051]     According to one embodiment of the present invention the contact sleeve  310  may include one or more stoppers, such as battery stoppers for holding the power sources, e.g. battery  345 , of an in-vivo imaging device such as device  340 . The battery stoppers may be used to prevent ‘too much’ pressure, or side pressure on components of the device  340 , such as the battery  345  and components which are located in close proximity to the battery  345 , for example the circuit board  350  or components which are placed between the battery  345  and the rigid sections  353  and  351  e.g. transmitter/receiver  341  and switch  339 . In some embodiments, the contact sleeve  310  may include three battery stoppers, such as battery stoppers  311  which may be attached or may be integrated part for example of the inside section of the contact sleeve  310 .  
         [0052]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery contact  470  of an in-vivo imaging device such as device  40 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, battery contact  470  may be an example of battery contact  270  of  FIGS. 2A-2D  or battery contact  370  of  FIGS. 3A-3C . In some embodiments, battery contact  470  may be used in conjunction with device  40  of  FIG. 1 , or with other suitable devices and systems for in vivo sensing or in vivo imaging.  
         [0053]     According to one embodiment, the battery contact  470  may include a pin  480  e.g. a plunger or a push button which may contact for example a terminal of a power source such as the battery  45 , the pin  480  may be made of stainless steel and/or a conductive coating e.g. gold plating. The battery contact may further include a housing such as a spring housing  472  a spring  460  and a connection portion  490  for electrically connecting the battery contact  470  to a support such as circuit board  50 .  
         [0054]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  schematically illustrate a three-dimensional view and a side view, respectively, of a circuit board  550  and a battery contact  570  configured to occupy a minimum of space, within an in-vivo imaging device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, circuit board  550  may be used in conjunction with device  340  of  FIG. 3A , or with other suitable devices and systems for in vivo sensing or in vivo imaging. Circuit board  550  may include, for example, one or more rigid portions and one or more flexible portions. For example, circuit board  550  may include rigid portions  551  and  553 , which may be interconnected using a flexible portion  555 . Although two rigid portions and one flexible portion are shown, embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, and may include other numbers, orders or combinations of rigid portions and/or flexible portions.  
         [0055]     According to one embodiment of the present invention, rigid portion  551  may have mounted on it on one side an imager  546 , an optical system  522  and one or more illumination sources  542 ; the other side of the rigid portion  351  may include a battery contact  560  such as a spring and possibly other components. Rigid portion  553  may have mounted on it on one side an imager  546 ′, an optical system  522 ′ one or more illumination sources  542  and an antenna  547 ; the other side of the rigid portion  553  may include, for example a switch  539 , a transmitter/receiver  541  and a battery contact  570 . According to some embodiments, the battery contact  570  may be a wire, a spring wire or a thin-sheet strip and may be placed for example in close proximity or over components of the device  40  such as the switch  539  and/or the transmitter/receiver  541 .  
         [0056]      FIGS. 5C and 5D  schematically illustrate a three-dimensional view and a side view, respectively, of a battery contact  570 , in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. According to one embodiment, the battery contact  570  may be a coiled battery contact and may include for example a spring wire portion  575 . The portion  575  may be half ring, arc, or crescent shaped and may be made of stainless steel and a conductive coating e.g. gold plating. Typically, the battery contact  570  has compatible measurements and weight for a suitable incorporation into a circuit board of an in-vivo imaging device, for example into the rigid portion  553 . For example, the battery contact  570  may be made of stainless steel and may be of a thickness of about 0.2 mm. The battery contact  570  may include one or more connection portions e.g. portions  577 , for connecting the battery contact  570 , for example by soldering, to a support such as a circuit board e.g. circuit board  550 .  
         [0057]     According to some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 5D , the portion  575  may be shifted at an angle α (in relation to a longitudinal axis L) in some embodiments a may be between 0 and 90 degrees. In operation, a support such as circuit board  550  may be folded around a power source such as battery  345 . The battery  345  may press the battery contact  570  such that portion  575  may be shifted in a direction  580  e.g. towards rigid portion  553  of circuit board  550 .  
         [0058]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  schematically illustrate a three-dimensional view and a side view, respectively, of a battery contact  670 , in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, battery contact  670  may be used in conjunction with device  340  of  FIG. 3A , or with other suitable devices and systems for in vivo sensing or in vivo imaging. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the battery contact  670  may include a substrate or a support such as a ring shaped support  620 . In some embodiments one or more leafs or reeds such as contact reeds  625  may be connected or may be part of the ring shaped support  620 . The contact reeds  625  may be made of stainless steel and/or a conductive coating e.g. gold plating. The contacts reeds  625  may be pushed or shifted, upwards e.g. above the support  620  at an angle α (in relation to a latitude axis A) and may be in contact or hold a power support such as battery  345 . The battery contact may include one or more legs, such as legs  640 , which may be used to connect or attach the battery contact  670  to a circuit board such as the circuit board  350 .  
         [0059]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 7 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery contact  770  of an in-vivo imaging device such as device  40 , according  15 , to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, battery contact  770  may be used in conjunction with device  340  of  FIG. 3A , or with other suitable devices and systems for in vivo sensing or in vivo imaging. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the battery contact  770  may include a substrate or a support such as a ring shaped support  720 . In some embodiments one or more leafs or reeds such as ‘boomerang’ shaped reeds  725  may be connected or may be part of the ring shaped support  720 . The contact reeds  725  may be made of stainless steel and/or a conductive coating e.g. gold plating. The contacts reeds  725  may be pushed or shifted, upwards e.g. above the support  720  and may be in contact or hold a power support such as battery  345 . The battery contact may include one or more legs, such as legs  740 , which may be used to connect or attach the battery contact  770  to a circuit board such as circuit board  350 .  
         [0060]     It should be appreciated that the term “battery contact” may include any conductive element suitable for maintaining electrical contact between components of an in vivo imaging device, preferably a capsule endoscope.  
         [0061]      FIG. 8  is a schematic flow-chart of a method of manufacturing an in vivo imaging device with one or more battery contacts, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. In step  810  a circuit board having, for example rigid portions and flexible portions is manufactured. In step  820  a first battery contact such as a spring may be attached, connected or embedded to the circuit board. For example, a first battery contact e.g. battery contact  260  may be attached to rigid portion  253  of circuit board  250 . In step  830  a second battery contact such as a push-button contact, a ‘pin button and spring’ contact or a spring biased plunger contact, a wire contact or a thin-sheet strip contact may be attached, connected or embedded to the circuit board. For example, a second battery contact e.g. battery contact  270  or battery contact  570  may be attached, respectively, to rigid portion  251  of circuit board  250 , or rigid portion  551  of circuit board  550 . In step  840  the circuit board e.g. and the first and second battery contacts may be folded, bended, twisted and/or shaped, for example, into a pre-defined shape. In step  850 , the circuit board may be inserted into a suitable housing adapted or configured for in vivo imaging, for example, a housing of a swallowable capsule. According to one embodiment an imager may be attached or embedded to the circuit board. Other suitable operations or methods may be used in accordance with embodiments of the invention.  
         [0062]     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims which follow.