Method and system for detecting colorimetric abnormalities in vivo

Abstract

A system and method for detection of colorimetric abnormalities within a body lumen includes an image receiver for receiving images from within the body lumen. Also included are a transmitter for transmitting the images to a receiver, and a processor for generating a probability indication of presence of colorimetric abnormalities on comparison of color content of the images and at (east one reference value.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for detecting abnormalities in-vivo, the method comprising the steps of: 
 analyzing an image for at least one spectral characteristic; and    creating an abnormality determination based on the analysis.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the abnormality determination is a determination of the presence of an abnormality.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the abnormality determination is a probability determination of the presence of an abnormality.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the image includes at least analyzing the image for at least one spectral characteristic in relation to a reference value.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image is of a body lumen.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said spectral characteristics include hue values.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one reference value includes a pathology sample.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein said pathology sample includes blood.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said abnormality is due to the presence of blood.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said analysis includes comparing images.  
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the image is received from an in-vivo camera imager.  
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the image is received from a capsule.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising deterimining the position of the image.  
     
     
         14 . A system for detecting abnormalities in-vivo, the system comprising: 
 an image receiver means for receiving images;    an analysis means for analyzing an image for at least one spectral characteristic and for making an abnormality determination based on the analysis.    
     
     
         15 . A system for detecting abnormalities in-vivo, the system comprising: 
 an image receiver module capable of receiving images;    an analysis module capable of analyzing an image for at least one spectral characteristic and making an abnormality determination based on the analysis.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the abnormality determination is a probability.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein analyzing the image includes at least analyzing the image for at least one spectral characteristic in relation to a reference value.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the image is of a body lumen.  
     
     
         19 . The system as in  claim 17 , wherein said at least one reference value includes a healthy tissue reference value.  
     
     
         20 . The system as in  claim 17 , wherein said at least one reference value includes a pathology sample.  
     
     
         21 . The system as in  claim 20 , wherein said pathology sample includes blood.  
     
     
         22 . The system as in  claim 15 , wherein said abnormality is due to the presence of blood.  
     
     
         23 . The system as in  claim 15 , wherein said analysis includes comparing images.  
     
     
         24 . The system as in  claim 15  wherein the image is received from an in-vivo camera imager.  
     
     
         25 . The system as in  claim 15  wherein the image is received from a capsule.  
     
     
         26 . A method for calculation of a reference value for tissue, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving at least a first image and a second image from within a body lumen;    selecting blocks of pixels within said images based on colorimetric parameters;    averaging said colorimetric parameters of said selected blocks of pixels of said at least first and second images; and    filtering said calorimetric parameters, thereby obtaining a reference value for tissue.    
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 26 , wherein said step of receiving includes receiving multiple images.  
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 26 , wherein said colorimetric parameters include hue.  
     
     
         29 . A method as in  claim 26 , wherein said colorimetric parameters include brightness.  
     
     
         30 . A method as in  claim 26 , wherein said tissue is healthy tissue.  
     
     
         31 . A swallowable capsule for detecting colorimetric abnormalities in a gastrointestinal tract, the capsule comprising: 
 an image-receiver for receiving images from said gastrointestinal tract; and    a processor for generating a probability indication for presence of colorimetric abnormalities by comparing color content of said images to at least one reference value.    
     
     
         32 . A capsule as in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one reference value is a pathology sample.  
     
     
         33 . A capsule as in  claim 32  wherein said pathology sample includes blood.  
     
     
         34 . A capsule as in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one reference value includes a healthy tissue reference sample.  
     
     
         35 . A capsule as in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one reference value includes a pathology sample.  
     
     
         36 . A capsule as in  claim 31 , wherein said color content includes spectral characteristics.  
     
     
         37 . A capsule as in  claim 36 , wherein said spectral characteristics include hue.  
     
     
         38 . A capsule as in  claim 36 , wherein said spectral characteristics include saturation.  
     
     
         39 . A capsule as in  claim 36  wherein said spectral characteristics include brightness.  
     
     
         40 . An apparatus for determining calorimetric abnormalities within a body lumen, said apparatus comprising: 
 an image-receiver capable of receiving images from a body lumen;    a spectral analyzer capable of determining color content of said images; and    a processor capable of generating a probability indication for presence of an abnormal condition by comparing said color content to at least one reference value.    
     
     
         41 . An apparatus as in  claim 40  wherein said processor is configured for real-time processing.  
     
     
         42 . An apparatus as in  claim 40 , wherein said processor is configured for post-processing.  
     
     
         43 . An apparatus as in  claim 40 , wherein said pathological condition includes bleeding  
     
     
         44 . An apparatus as in  claim 40 , wherein said at least one reference value includes a value for healthy tissue.  
     
     
         45 . An apparatus as in  claim 40 , wherein said at least one reference value includes a value for pathological tissue.  
     
     
         46 . A system for detection of a calorimetric abnormality within the gastrointestinal tract, said system comprising: 
 a swallowable capsule having an in-vivo imager for obtaining images from within said body lumen;    a transmitter capable of transmitting said images to a receiver; and    a processor capable of generating a probability indication of presence of blood based on comparison of color content of said received images and at least one reference value.    
     
     
         47 . A system according to  claim 36  wherein said colorimetric abnormality indicates a pathological condition.  
     
     
         48 . A system according to  claim 37  wherein said pathological condition includes bleeding.  
     
     
         49 . A system according to  claim 36  wherein said at least one reference value includes a value for healthy tissue.  
     
     
         50 . A system according to  claim 36  wherein said at least one reference value includes a value for pathological tissue.  
     
     
         51 . A system according to  claim 36 , further comprising a position indicators thereby allowing visualization of a location of said results within said body lumen.  
     
     
         52 . A method for detecting abnormalities in-vivo, the method comprising the steps of: 
 analyzing an image stream for at least one spectral characteristic;    creating an abnormality determination based on the analysis; and    presenting to a user the abnormality determination.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the abnormality determination is a determination of the probabiltiy of an abnormality.  
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the image is part of an image stream.  
     
     
         55 . An apparatus for determining colorimetric abnormalities in-vivo, said apparatus comprising: 
 an image-receiver capable of receiving images; and    a processor capable of analyzing color content of said images, generating a an abnormality indication for the presence of an abnormal condition and presenting to a user an abnormality diagnosis.