Abstract:
There is provided an imager which may be used for capturing an object on only portion of its active area. This imager may further be used to capture additional optic information on one or more of its area that is unusable for the object. The additional optic information may be indicative of several physical or chemical variables such as measured pressure, measured pH, measured temperature and the like. These measurements may be transformed into optical signal which may be received on the imager and transmitted using the transmission infrastructure used for transmission of the optical data of the object.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a Continuation in Part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/529,736 filed Mar. 30, 2005 and of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/722,410 filed Nov. 23, 2003 claiming benefit from Provisional Patent Application No. 60/429,378 filed on Nov. 27, 2002 entitled “IMAGER”, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to imagers generally, and particularly to devices, systems and methods of imaging items in contact with or in close proximity to an imager.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Imagers may be used in many applications to view an image of a scene. Some imagers may include complimentary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS), charge coupled devices (CCD) or other imaging or sensing mechanisms. An imager may include an optical system that may incorporate, for example, lenses, mirrors and/or prisms. The optical system may alone or in combination with other devices focus an image on for example an image sensing device or image sensing elements of an imaging sensing device. An optical system may magnify or reduce the image of the subject being imaged and may perform other optical corrections. Reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which depicts an optical system  10  providing an image of a scene  12  to an imager  14 . Imager  14  may include for example a detector  17  having one or more sensing or sensor elements  18  and a glass cover  19 . Sensing or sensor elements  18  may correspond, for example to individual pixels or sensing elements of an imager such as a CCD or CMOS imager. Optical system  10  and imager  14  may be housed in for example a housing  16 , which may keep components of the imager  14  in fixed location relative to other components of the imager and relative to the optical system. A fixed or minimum distance may be maintained between optical system  10  and imager  14 , and a minimum distance may be required in the prior art between optical system  10  and a sample or object to be imaged. Other suitable constructions and configurations for imaging systems may be used.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A device according to an embodiment of the invention includes an imager with a set of sensor elements, and a fiber plate cover disposed on the set of sensor elements.  
         [0005]     An autonomous in vivo device according to an embodiment of the invention includes an imager and a fiber plate cover disposed on such imager, where the fiber plate cover transfers to the imager an image of an object in contact with the fiber plate cover.  
         [0006]     A microarray analysis device according to an embodiment of the invention includes an imager, a fiberplate cover disposed on such imager, and an interaction chamber for containing a sample, where the fiber plate cover is configured to transfer an image of the sample to the imager. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a prior art imager and optical system;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic illustration of an imager, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2B  is a schematic illustration of an imager included in an in-vivo device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic illustrations of imagers with optical capabilities, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of an imager suitable for viewing samples held between slides, according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic illustration of interaction chambers and an imager, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5B  is a sectional view of the application of  FIG. 5A  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of an imager and interaction chambers formed as channels, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic illustrations of an imager and a microarray, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a schematic flow chart diagram presentation of a method in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are schematic illustration of top view and cross section side view, respectively, of an imager according to some embodiments of the present invention; and  
         [0019]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  which are schematic partial illustration of optical systems of an imaging system included in an in-vivo capsule according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0020]     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  
       [0021]     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.  
         [0022]     Reference is made to  FIG. 2A , which illustrates an imager  20 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Imager  20  includes, for example, a detector  22  having a set (wherein set may include one unit) of sensing or sensor element(s)  24  and, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a fiber plate cover  26 . Sensing or sensor elements  24  may correspond, for example, to individual pixels or sensing elements of an imager such as a CCD or CMOS imager. In an embodiment of the invention, fiber plate cover  26  may be attached directly to detector  22  and may be capable of transferring, directing or conveying an image of for example a sample  31  in contact with an outer surface  30  of such fiber plate cover  26 , to sensor elements  24  which are located proximate to or in contact with an inner surface  32  of fiber plate cover  26 . In some embodiments, sensor elements  24  may not receive light that is reflected from sample  31  back to imager  20 . Sensor elements  24  may in some embodiments capture images of sample  31  using primarily transmitted light coming towards imager  20  from the direction of such sample  31 , rather than using light reflected from sample  31 .  
         [0023]     Detector  22  may include a suitable imaging device such as for example a CMOS, a CCD, a bolometer or an IR sensor array, or a combination of such devices. Detector  22  in some embodiments may be capable of detecting color. Other suitable imaging devices may be used. Fiber plate cover  26  may be formed of a fiber plate, such as for example a plate formed of a plurality of short fibers  28  such as optical fibers aligned for example in parallel. Such short optical fibers  28  may in some embodiments be configured at a generally perpendicular angle to the alignment of sensor elements  24 . An exemplary fiber plate may be found in the Edmund Industrial Optics&#39; Catalog, page 116, part number NT55 142. Other suitable fiber plates or amalgamations of fibers may be used. Fibers  28  may be made of glass, plastic or other materials suitable for carrying, transferring or conveying light, images or other electromagnetic waves. In some embodiments, for a set of fibers  28  and a set of sensor elements  24 , a single fiber  28  such as for example an optical fiber, may be aligned with a single sensor element  24  so that an image or a portion of an imager transferred by a fiber  28  reaches a designated or identifiable sensor element  24 , for example a pixel. In some embodiments, more than one fiber  28  may transfer an image to a single sensory element  24 , or a single fiber  28  may transmit an image to more than one sensor element  24 .  
         [0024]     Fiber plate cover  26  may in some embodiments serve as a cover, barrier, or part of a container. For example, fiber plate cover  26  may replace or supplement glass cover  19  as is shown in  FIG. 1 , which may protect sensor element  24  from the environment. Fiber plate cover  26  may be mounted onto detector  22  with a suitable adhesive such as for example a glass adhesive, an ultraviolet light (UV) curable adhesive, or other suitable adhesive, for example in a manner similar to the mounting of the glass or other covers or domes of the prior art onto their detectors or by other mechanical or chemical reaction methods. In some embodiments, fiber plate cover  26  may be the only separation or protection between a sensor element  24  and a sample  31 , such that there is direct contact between a sample  31 , fiber plate cover  26  and sensor element  24 . In some embodiments, direct contact may not be needed between a sample  31  and outside surface  30 , such that a sample  31  may be located from, for example, 1 mm to several millimeters away from outer surface  30  of fiber plate cover  26 . Other suitable dimensions may be used. In some embodiments, a transparent cover or coating may be added or applied to outer surface  30  for purposes of for example protection. For purposes of this application, notwithstanding such cover, coating or small distance between a sample  31  and outer surface  30 , a sample  31  may still be considered in contact with fiber plate cover  26 .  
         [0025]     According to an embodiment, fiber plate cover  26  may operate optically, as a fiber optic element, and may coherently transfer an image of the sample  31  that reaches its outer surface  30  to sensor element  24 . According to an embodiment of the invention an image reaching an outer surface  30  may not be processed optically, but may rather be shifted or transferred from outer surface  36  to inner surface  32 , while generally coherently preserving the image. In such embodiments, the size of the sample  31  in the image transferred to sensor elements  24  may be the same as the size of the image of sample  31  in the image reaching outer surface  30 .  
         [0026]     In some embodiments focusing or registration of the image onto sensor elements  24  may not be required. Thus, according to embodiments of the invention, imager  20  may image a scene or sample  31  that reaches or makes contact with its outer surface  30  without the use of an optical system. In some embodiments, the size of a sample  31  in an image reaching outer surface  30  may be equal to the size of the sample  31  that reaches sensor element  24 , such that no magnification or reduction in scale is performed by fiber plate cover  26 .  
         [0027]     It will be appreciated that imager  20  may be a compact, lensless imaging system. Such an imaging system may be useful, for example, in devices that may perform imaging in a restricted space such as for example in a body lumen. In some embodiments, imager  20  may be suitable for imaging items in direct contact with outer surface  30 . Imager  20  may be placed against a “scene” or sample  31  to be viewed and, in the presence of light, may generate or capture an image of sample  31 .  
         [0028]     Embodiments of the invention may be included in an autonomous device such as for example self-contained in-vivo devices that are capable of passing through a body ILumen such as for example a GI tract, the reproductive tract, the urinary tract or a blood vessel, and where some or all of the operative components are substantially contained within a container, and where the device does not require wires or cables to for example receive power or transmit information. For example, power may be supplied by an internal battery or wireless receiving system. Other embodiments may have other configurations and capabilities. For example, components may be distributed over multiple sites or units. Control information may be received from an external source.  
         [0029]     Examples of in-vivo sensors that may be used with the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,531 to Iddan entitled “An In-vivo Camera Video System”, in International Application Publication No. WO 01/65995, entitled “A Device and System for In-Vivo Imaging”, both of which are assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable sensing devices may be used. In other embodiments an autonomous in-vivo device need not be used. For example, an endoscope requiring external connections may incorporate an imaging system including a fiber plate cover or fiber optic system as described herein. While a device or method in accordance with some embodiments of the invention may be used for example in a human body, the invention is not limited in this respect. For example, some embodiments of the invention may be used in conjunction with or inserted into a non-human body, such as for example a dog, cow, rat or other pets or laboratory animals.  
         [0030]     Reference is made to  FIG. 2B , a schematic illustration of an imager included in an in-vivo device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In the case of an in-vivo device with a shape as shown, imager  20  may for example be configured on a side (e.g., a relatively flat or long side) of an in-vivo device  25  where imager  20  may come into contact with fluids, endo-luminal walls or other materials, objects or samples  31  that may be found for example in an endo-luminal cavity. In some embodiments, fiber plate cover  26  may be part of or contiguous to or part of a container, shell or an outer wall  39  that surrounds device  25 . In one embodiment, fiber plate cover  26  in conjunction with container or outer wall  39  and possibly other elements (e.g., an optical dome, a sealing unit, etc.), may completely or substantially completely enclose the elements of device  25 . Illuminating elements  23 , such as for example light emitting diodes or other illuminating elements  23  may provide light that may be reflected back through fiber plate cover  26  to sensor elements  24 . In some embodiments, imager  20  may be configured on an end or other area of device  25 . In some embodiments, device  25  may include a transmitter  11 , one or more batteries  27  and control circuitry  29 . In some embodiments, transmitter  11  may transmit signals using for example radio frequencies to an outside receiver, not shown. Such signals may include for example image signals or signals carrying other data or instructions. In some embodiments, device  25  may include an additional imaging system such as for example a lens  38 , an image sensor  37  such as for example a CCD, and illuminating elements  23 A. Devices having other suitable shapes and configurations may be used.  
         [0031]     It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, imager  20  may capture images of a sample  31  using light that is reflected back towards sensors elements from the direction of a sample  31 .  
         [0032]     Reference is made to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , schematic illustrations of imagers with optical capabilities, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In embodiments of the invention shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , fibers  28  of fiber plate cover  26 A may be tapered or otherwise of different diameters or sizes at one end  28 A than at another end  28 B such that the fibers  28  as a group have a first diameter at one surface and a second diameter at a second surface. In such embodiments, the image size viewed or reaching one surface may be different than that of the other surface. The differing sizes or diameters at the ends of the fibers  28  may provide for example magnification, reduction or other scale changing capabilities and may be used for example if a sample  31  to be viewed is of a significantly different size than that of sensor elements  24  or if there is a need to magnify, reduce or otherwise alter scale of an image to be captured by sensor elements  24 .  
         [0033]     In  FIG. 3A , a tapered fiber plate cover  26 A may be mounted with the larger diameter surface on detector  22 , to provide for example magnification of the sample  31 . In  FIG. 3B , a tapered fiber plate cover  26 B may be mounted with the smaller diameter surface on detector  22  resulting in a “zooming” or reduction in the size of an image transferred onto detector  22  or sensor element  24 . Other arrangements by which images may be magnified, reduced or altered as such images are transferred from an outer surface  30  to an inner surface  32  are possible.  
         [0034]     Reference is made to  FIG. 4 , a schematic illustration of an imager suitable for viewing samples held in slides, according to an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention, glass or otherwise transparent slides such as for example a pair of microscope slides  40  may be prepared, with a sample  42  to be viewed between two glass slides  40 , in a manner that may hold a sample  42  above fiber plate cover  26 , similar to a process of preparing a sample  42  for viewing under a microscope. Slide  40  may be placed onto fiber plate cover  26 , light  46  may be shone above slide  40  and imager  20  may be activated. Slide  40  may be removable so that other samples  42  may be imaged by imager  20 .  
         [0035]     In some embodiments, imager  20  may view sample  42  without magnification because imager  20  may image sample  42  with greater detail than can the human eye. For example, an imager having 1000×1000 sensor elements  24  of 5×5 microns may view sample  42  at an equivalent magnification of  20 , assuming that the unaided human eye can view objects with a resolution of 0.1 mm. Thus, imager  20  may in some embodiments require no lens to view sample  42 . Other magnification factors and other dimensions are possible, and in some embodiments a magnifying or reduction lens or other device may be used in conjunction with fiber plate cover  26 .  
         [0036]     In an alternative embodiment, a slide which may for example come in contact with fiber plate cover  26  may be replaced with a fiber plate slide, which may be made of or include a slice of fiber plate which is generally, though not necessarily, thinner than fiber plate cover  26 . In such embodiment, a slide made of or including a fiber plate may take the place of glass slide  40  and may be removable from imager  20 .  
         [0037]     Reference is made to  FIG. 5A , a schematic illustration of interaction chambers and an imager, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5B  is a sectional illustration of a view of  FIG. 5A  along the line VB-VB. In  FIG. 5A , a sampling chamber  50 , may be mounted or placed onto fiber plate cover  26 . Sampling chamber  50  may be, for example, similar to that described in PCT Publication WO 02/055984, entitled “A System And Method For Determining In Vivo Body Lumen Conditions” which is assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable sampling chambers may be used. Sampling chamber  50  may have one or a multiplicity of interaction chambers  52  into which material to be tested may be placed or sampled from an endo-luminal or other environment. In an embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5A , the interaction chambers  52  may be channels etched into for example a sampling chamber  50 . In some embodiments, interaction chambers  52  may be formed when sampling chamber  50  is mounted onto fiber plate cover  26 . Indentations for interaction chambers  52  may in some embodiments be etched into a base material or into grooves in fiber plate cover  26 . Other suitable shapes and forms for sampling chamber may be used. In one embodiment, fiber plate cover  26  is integral with sampling or interaction chambers.  
         [0038]     In an embodiment, sample  42  may be placed or allowed to flow or collected into at least one of interaction chambers  52  and then imaged by imager  20 . In another embodiment, an indicator  51  or multiple indicators  51  may be placed into interaction chambers  52  prior to placing the samples  42  therein such that reactions between the indicators  51  and the samples  42 , or substances possibly contained in the sample  42 , may occur in the interaction chambers  52 . Indicators  51  may include for example reactants, antigens or other physical or chemical substances whose response to samples  42  may be detected, measured, imaged or otherwise recorded by imager  20  or sensor elements  24 . Imager  20  may view or capture images of the results of the reactions between indicator  51  and a sample  42 . If the reactions produce for example color, electromagnetic waves, heat or other reactions that may be detected by sensor elements  24 , such reactions may be detected and images thereof captured by imager  20  that may detect or capture images of the colors or other responses produced by such reactions.  
         [0039]     In some embodiments of the invention, imager  20  may be configured with for example an interaction chamber  50  attached to it. Interaction chamber  50  may contain indicators  51  such as a substance that changes color or otherwise reacts when exposed to a substance or condition that may be found in for example a body lumen, such as for example blood, particular pH, heat or other conditions that may for example be present in an in-vivo environment. In some embodiments, imager  20  may be inserted into an in-vivo environment such as for example a blood vessel or the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. Fluids from the body lumen may flow into or through interaction chambers  52  and may be viewed by imager  20 . In some embodiments, interaction chambers  52  may include a selectively permeable membrane  54  that may enable the entrance of body lumen fluids but may restrict leakage of the indicators  51  from interaction chamber  52 . Such membrane  54  may retain fluids or samples  42  in an interaction chamber to facilitate a reaction between an indicator  51  in such interaction chamber  52  and a fluid or sample  42 . In some embodiments, an indicator  51  may be impregnated or included in a solid that may dissolve or melt upon contact with a sample  42  in a time frame sufficient to allow imager  20  to capture an image of the reaction. In some embodiments an interaction chamber  52  may include a sponge or other absorbent material that may be impregnated with an indicator  51 . In a further embodiment, a vacuum, capillary pump or other device capable of drawing or holding a sample  42  such as for example a fluid in an interaction chamber  52  may be used. In some embodiments, a membrane  54  may not be needed.  
         [0040]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 6 , a schematic illustration of an imager and interaction chambers formed as channels, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As depicted in  FIG. 6 , interaction chambers  52 ″ may be formed as channels, such as by etching or by micromachining. In some embodiments, a glass cover  60  may cover fiber plate cover  26  and may provide a further side to interaction chambers  52 ″.  FIG. 6  shows sensor elements  24  aligned with interaction chamber  52 ″, in other embodiments, more than one sensor element  24  may be aligned to capture images of an interaction chamber  52 ″.  
         [0041]     Reference is made to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , schematic illustrations of an imager and a microarray or microarray analysis device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As depicted in  FIG. 7A , in an embodiment of the invention, imager  69  may comprise a fiber plate cover, here labeled  70 , having a multiplicity of small indentations  72  therein, channel walls  74  and a cover  76  enclosing a wide channel  78  formed by for example fiber plate cover  70 , channel walls  74  and cover  76 . Other constructions or configuration of a microarray analysis device may be used in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, indentations  72  may be etched into cover  76  or other layers of imager  69 . Indentations  72  may be created, by for example etching or micromachining in fiber plate cover  70  and may be configured to hold one or more indicators. Channel  78  may be wide enough to enable fluid to flow into some or all of indentations  72  and thus enable indicators  51  to react with the fluid.  
         [0042]     Cover  76  may be formed of for example glass or other suitable material which may be transparent to illumination  80 . Upon illumination of the imager  69 , sensor elements  24  may sense or capture images of reactions, changes or other elements or samples  42  in channel  78 .  
         [0043]     Reference is made to  FIG. 8 , a schematic flow chart diagram presentation of a method in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. In block  800 , an imager may capture an image of a sample in contact with a fiber plate cover on such imager. Such contact may be facilitated by for example introducing a device that includes an imager into for example a body lumen where fluids or other samples in such body lumen may flow around or settle on such fiber plate cover. In other embodiments, samples may be brought into contact with a fiber plate cover by inserting samples into for example an interaction chamber or into channels of a microarray sensor such that samples may flow into the several chambers of such microarray sensor.  
         [0044]     In some embodiments, light reaching an outer surface of the fiber plate cover may be transferred as an image of a sample through the fiber plate cover to a sensor element of an imager. In some embodiments of a method of the invention, samples may be held or enclosed in an interaction chamber where a fiber plate cover may make up for example one side of such interaction chamber or where such fiber plate cover may be otherwise attached to or contiguous to the interaction chamber.  
         [0045]     In an embodiment of the invention, light may be transferred coherently from an outside surface of a fiber plate cover to an inside surface and on to a sensor element of the imager to which such insider surface may be attached. The size or scale of the image of a sample as it reaches the outside surface may in some embodiments be the same as the size of the sample in the image that reaches a sensor element of an imager. In some embodiments, fibers or other components of a fiber plate cover may magnify or reduce the size of the sample in the image that reaches a sensor element. In some embodiments, one or more fibers of fiber plate cover may be in contact or may transmit an image to a designated or known sensor element such that an image captured by such sensor element may be attributable to a particular sample or area of a sample in contact with the fiber plate cover. Other steps or series of steps may be used.  
         [0046]     Reference is made now to  FIGS. 9 and 10  which are schematic top view and cross section side view, respectively, of an imager  22  according to some embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 10  is a cross section side view of imager  22  of  FIG. 9 , along line A-A. Imager  22  may be used for imaging of a first scene or object in one sub area  204 . For example, an optical scene of a body lumen may be received on a first sub-area  204  of imager  22 , received via an optical system  10 , or via any other optical system. First sub-area  204  may have, in some embodiments, substantially a round shape. In cases where imager  22  does not accurately overlap sub-area  204  used for imaging said first optical scene, one or more second sub-areas  202 A -  202 D may be formed between first sub-area  204  and the outer border of usable area  201  of imager  22 . Second sub-areas  202  may be used for imaging of a second, a third, etc. optical scenes. It will be noted by those skilled in the art that second sub-areas  202  of imager  22  may not be different parts of imager  22 , as may be seen in  FIG. 10 , but rather may be active areas or areas of imager  22  that are left unused by the first optical scene received on imager  22 .  
         [0047]     Reference is made now also to  FIGS. 11A and 11B  which are schematic partial illustrations of optical systems  200 A and  200 B, respectively, of an imaging system included in an in-vivo capsule, such as the system depicted in  FIG. 2B , according to embodiments of the present invention. Optical systems  200 A and  200 B may include optical guiding means  216  or  226 , adapted to provide light from a light source, such as illuminating element  23 A or any other light source, to the outer wall  39  of the device  25  (for example to an optical window) adapted to be in contact with, for example, sample  31 . Outer wall  39  may be a transparent surface made specifically for the purpose of receiving optical information from the outside of the device (e.g., capsule) or may be part of a transparent dome of the capsule used also for other purposes. In other embodiments outer wall  39  may be used to enable optical contact with an outer sensor, such as pressure sensor, pH sensor etc., built to transmit it readings optically. According to some embodiments of the present invention optical guiding means  216  may comprise one or more optical fibers. According to yet other embodiments of the present invention guiding means  226  may be constructed from a transparent material acting similarly to a periscope with some facets acting as mirrors and some portions acting as guiding means. Guiding means  216 ,  226  may be used to provide light towards outer wall  39 , in case light is needed for illuminating, for example, a sample placed next to outer wall  39  (not shown).  
         [0048]     Similarly, optical systems  200 A and  200 B may include optical guiding means  218  or  228 , adapted to provide light from outer wall  39  to one or more sub-areas  202  of imager  22 , for example to provide an optical image of sample  32  (not shown) or to guide optical information from an outer sensor (not shown). According to some embodiments of the present invention optical guiding means  218  may comprise one or more optical fibers. According to yet other embodiments of the present invention guiding means  228  may be constructed from a transparent material acting similarly to a periscope with some facets acting as mirrors and some portions acting as guiding means. It will be noted that the design and construction of optical systems  200 A or  200 B or any other optical system that may be used to lead illumination to an object or a sample and to receive optical image from it may be designed, as to angles of light rays, transparency of light guides, position of light guides with respect to an imaged object and to the imager, so as to optimize the quality of the received image.  
         [0049]     According to some embodiments of the present invention optical information transmitted from outside of the capsule may be indicative of the nature of the sample  31  or of sensed data, such pressure measured outside of the capsule, or pH or the like, measured outside of the capsule. According to yet some other embodiments of the present invention optical guiding means may be used to provide optical information received from optical sources placed inside the capsule.  
         [0050]     Optical information received on second sub-areas  202  may be processed by control circuitry  29  and may then be saved in a memory in the capsule or be transmitted outside of the capsule, along with data indicative of the first optical scene. The rate of transmission of the data indicative of the second, third, etc. optical scenes may be different from that used for the transmission of data indicative of the first optical scene. It will be noted that when more than one second sub-area  202  is available such plurality of sub-areas  202  may be used to receive more than one second optical data, indicative of one or more additional inputs, such as nature of sample, pressure, pH level, etc. it will also be noted that the optical information indicative of the one or more additional inputs may be expressed in changes in color, in changes in intensity or in combination thereof.  
         [0051]     In yet another embodiment illumination of sample  31  may be done using a prism such as prism  108  of  FIG. 3  of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/529,736. Prism  108  may be designed in any desired shape so as to lead light from light source  110  to a desired place at the perimeter of the capsule.  
         [0052]     While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.