Abstract:
A method for inserting an autonomous capsule into the G.I. tract includes use of an endoscope having a clamp and at least one retractable support for retaining the clamp. The capsule is engaged with the clamp and pushed to its desired position within the G.I. tract. The capsule is then disengaged by loosening the hold of the clamp on the capsule. The insertion of the capsule can be observed through an imaging unit placed within the endoscope.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention concerns a delivery system for autonomous capsules used in internal imaging of the gastrointestinal tract.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Endoscopic inspection is a common practice in the medical diagnosis of gastro-intestinal (G.I.) diseases. According to such a method, the video camera used for identifying observable irregularities of the internal lining of the G.I. tract is installed within an endoscope, with progressive scenes observed by pushing the endoscope inside the tract. The endoscope is a tubular device typically containing an image collecting device, a light source and optionally a remotely controlled mechanical appliance for sampling tissue and for manipulating the endoscope tip. A device such as the tissue sampler, which is a claw-like utility for picking out tissue parts for purposes such as biopsies, is generally manipulated by a cable or a rod. For that purpose, endoscopes often comprises a bore for housing such longitudinal mechanical power drivers.  
           [0003]    Because the movement of the endoscope head along the G.I. tract is brought about by a pushing action, there are affects associated with the application of force which become especially adverse as bends in the G.I. tract impede the movement of the endoscope. The G.I. tract walls at the bends become susceptible to perforation, making the internal in vivo application of probes, notably endoscopes, limited in use to non-convoluted regions of the G.I. tract.  
           [0004]    An in-vivo autonomous capsule, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,531, moves along the G.I. tract by virtue of the natural squeezing action of the tract&#39;s walls, thus overcoming the risk associated with the pushing. Another advantage arising from the employment of such an autonomous device, is that it offers a much more convenient method of administering a sensor to the G.I. tract, overcoming the cumbersome aspects of connecting the intestines of the patient to external appliances. Thus, data signals, typically electronic, of the gastro-intestinal tract are obtained without physical connections being made to an energy source or a physical information download link. Autonomous capsules are potentially convenient and useful tools for acquiring information of the inner lining of the G.I. tract, being especially beneficial for searching the small intestines which are highly convoluted. Other autonomous capsule types are used in medicine, such as pH measuring, motility measuring, pressure measuring, and those used for internal administration of medicaments.  
         SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method for inserting an autonomous capsule in the G.I. tract, in a manner that the capsule begins its autonomous journey in the small intestines, while obviating the need to travel along the upper part of the G.I. tract.  
           [0006]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a device is provided for delivering autonomous capsules into the G.I. tract. Such a device includes an endoscope having a longitudinal axis and a clamp for releasably holding the capsule whereby its longitudinal axis lies along the same axis as the longitudinal axis of the endoscope. The clamp is held in the front of the endoscope by at least one support. A forward looking imaging unit is also situated at the front end of the endoscope,  
           [0007]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamp is ring shaped such that its inner radius holds the capsule tightly.  
           [0008]    In an alternative embodiment, the clamp is a tissue sampler.  
           [0009]    Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for inserting an autonomous capsule into the G.I. tract using an endoscope. The endoscope has a clamp and at least one retractable support for retaining the clamp. The method includes the steps of:  
           [0010]    engaging the capsule with the clamp;  
           [0011]    pushing the capsule to its desired position within the G.I. tract; and  
           [0012]    disengaging the capsule by loosening the hold of the clamp on the capsule.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a delivery system for inserting autonomous capsules for data collecting, in the G.I. tract;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a delivery system as in FIG. 1 wherein the direction of pulling the clamp supports is shown;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a detached capsule with fully retracted supports, and the fields of view of both imaging systems is marked in arrows; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a delivery system for a capsule, wherein the delivery system has a single cable control mechanism.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically shows a modified endoscope  10  engaging a capsule  12 , constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope device  10 , shown inserted tightly within the walls of a G.I. tract  28 , comprises a ring clamp  14  with retractable supports  16 . The endoscope  10  also comprises a camera (imager)  20 , for taking images through an optical window  22 .  
         [0019]    The capsule  12  is attached to the front of the endoscope with its longitudinal axis  24  parallel (and in line with) to the longitudinal axis  25  of the endoscope. The capsule  12 , which abuts window  22 , is held in place by the ring clamp  14 , which is itself supported by the pair of retractable supports  16 . Retractable supports  16  are movable within a bore  18 , along the entire length of the endoscope  10 .  
         [0020]    The modified endoscope  10  of the invention can insert an autonomous capsule  12  in a target location within the G.I. tract  28  in a manually controlled fashion, thereby achieving several goals. In particular, endoscope  10  can be used to expeditiously insert the autonomous capsule  12  in a desired location, thus reducing the time required for the autonomous capsule to reach its target. As a result, the autonomous capsule has more time in which to collect data. The modified endoscope can be used in the non-convoluted terminal of the G.I. tract.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 with the ends of the clamp supports  16  shown protruding outside of the patient&#39;s body. The arrows  26  indicate the direction of pull needed to bring about the retraction for disengaging the capsule  12 . The capsule, being substantially cylindrical, is held snugly by the ring clamp  14 . When the clamp&#39;s supports  16  are retracted within bore  18 , the clamp  14  slides along the smooth surface of the capsule, and eventually loosens its grip on the capsule  12 . Thus, the capsule  12  is deposited in position as soon as full retraction of the clamp  14  has taken place. FIG. 2 illustrates the capsule  12  retracted to a stage in which the capsule  12  abuts against the window  22  of the endoscope  10 . The window  22  therefore blocks the capsule&#39;s further retraction movement, thereby facilitating the sliding of the ring  14  on the capsule&#39;s surface. Disengagement of the capsule takes place only as the clamp  14  has slipped by the back end (referenced  32 ) of the capsule  12 , due to the pulling of the supports  16  manually in the direction indicated by arrows  26  away from the capsule  12 . This particular situation is shown in FIG. 3, which also shows the capsule  12  detached from the endoscope  10 .  
         [0022]    An autonomous capsule of an imaging type, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,531, can be used to verify its own place of insertion in the G.I. tract as it is pushed along. Once it is deposited, it can continue to acquire images autonomously. FIG. 3, shows the viewing range (arrows  27 ) of the detached capsule  12 , as well as the viewing range (arrows  29 ) of the imager  20  in the endoscope. The endoscope becomes operative as a camera once the capsule  12  has detached.  
         [0023]    In another embodiment of the invention, a tissue sampler, known for its function as an aid in obtaining pieces of tissue out of the G.I, tract, can be used for holding and delivering an autonomous capsule.  
         [0024]    In another embodiment of the invention, a single bore endoscope is shown in FIG. 4 to which reference is now made, the release of the capsule clamp is implemented by a single, loosely sheathed cable. In this embodiment, the clamp  30  comprises upper and a lower segments, joined together by a pin  38 , which are held by supports  34  and  32 , respectively. The upper support  34  is soldered to a sheath  40  of a cable  44 , and the lower support  32  is connected via a flexibly pivot  48  to one end  46  of cable  44 . A helical spring  36 , inserted between cable sheath  40  and cable end  46 , to keep them apart.  
         [0025]    In operation, the capsule  12  is held by the effect of the support  32  pushing the lower clamp segment upwards. Spring  36  produces a torque through pin  38 , such that force is applied inwards by the segments of clamp  30  holding the capsule  12  tightly.  
         [0026]    Release of capsule  12  is brought about by pulling cable  44  which, in turn, causes contraction of spring  36  and the torque applied through pin  38  in the direction that causes the clamp segments  30  to loosen their grip around capsule  12 .  
         [0027]    It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited by what has been described hereinabove and that numerous modifications, all of which fall within the scope of the present invention, exist. For example, the number of supports of the clamp can be other than described.  
         [0028]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above.