Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9044185B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 15:14:52+00:00

Document:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/275,206, filed on Oct. 17, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/101,050, filed on Apr. 10, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/911,054, filed Apr. 10, 2007, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
a processing device in communication with the imaging device and positioning sensor, wherein the processing device is programmed to join the images using the positional information, and wherein the processing device is further programmed to calculate an amount of time spent by the imaging device in an identified colon segment.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing device comprises a memory capable of storing images and positional information.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the memory is capable of storing the order in which images are captured.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the positioning sensor is further configured to detect orientational information of the imaging device within the colon.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the processing device is further programmed to join the images using the orientational information.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing device is programmed to generate a complete image of the interior surface of the colon segment using the joined images.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the processing device is programmed to detect and provide a warning if the joined images do not form a complete image of the interior surface of the colon segment.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the positioning sensor comprises a magnetic positioning sensor.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the positioning sensor comprises a RF positioning sensor.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the positioning sensor comprises an optical positioning sensor.
11. The device of claim 2, wherein the processing device is further programmed to compare a newly captured image of the interior surface of the colon with the joined images.
12. The device of claim 2, wherein the processing device is further programmed to compare a newly captured image with an old image retrieved from the memory to identify changes in the interior surface of the colon.
13. The device of claim 2, wherein the processing device is further programmed to provide image and positional information to an operator so that the operator can return to a previously imaged location during a procedure.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing device is programmed to recognize distinctive features of the colon segment.
joining the captured images using the processing device, wherein the processing device is programmed to join the captured images using the positional information, and wherein the processing device is further programmed to calculate an amount of time spent by the imaging device in an identified colon segment.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the processing device comprises a memory capable of storing images, positional information, and the order in which the images are captured.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising clearing fluids from the colon prior to capturing images.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a complete image of the interior surface of the colon segment using the joined images.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising detecting if the joined images do not form a complete image of the interior surface of the colon segment and generating a warning.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the positioning sensor is configured to detect orientational information of the imaging device within the colon.
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