Application-specific ingestible apparatus for in vivo data collection and processing

Abstract

A device which is introduced into the intestinal tract of a living organism and which operates autonomously therein, adapted to obtain data using a sensor apparatus (such as an imaging device), and process the data using an onboard processor core. In one embodiment, the processor core comprises a RISC core with an extension instruction set, the extension instructions of which are specifically selected to optimize the data processing, as well as reducing the power consumption of an integrated circuit of which the core is part (such as by way of reducing gate count in the integrated circuit through elimination of unnecessary core functions).

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A user-configured probe for autonomously operating within the intestinal tract of a living organism, comprising:
 at least one sensor capable of collecting information relating to said organism;   a power supply;   a data processor in data communication with the at least one sensor and powered at least in part by the power supply; and   a communications device in data communication with the data processor;   wherein said data processor comprises a custom core synthesized at least in part through selection by the user of one or more extension instructions specifically adapted for processing data generated by the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The probe of  claim 15 , wherein said data processor core is optimized for reduced power consumption. 
     
     
         17 . The probe of  claim 16 , wherein said optimization comprises the core having a plurality of sleep modes, at least one of the plurality which causes at least a portion of the core to consume less electrical power than when said core is not in said mode. 
     
     
         18 . The probe of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one sleep mode is entered or exited via at least one signal generated internal to said probe, said at least one signal relating to the operation of the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The probe of  claim 16 , wherein said optimization comprises the core having at least one functional portion removed from a generic core design, said selection of said one or more extension instructions enabling such removal from a final synthesized design of the core. 
     
     
         20 . The probe of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises a visual band sensor, and said one or more extension instructions comprise one or more extension instructions which enhance an efficiency of processing of digital data generated based on signals obtained from said visual band sensor by said data processor. 
     
     
         21 . The probe of  claim 19 , wherein said communications device comprises a wireless interface, and the one or more extension instructions comprise one or more extension instructions which are adapted to compress said digital data before transmission thereof via the wireless interface. 
     
     
         22 . The probe of  claim 19 , wherein said probe comprises storage device in data communication with the data processor, and the one or more extension instructions comprise one or more extension instructions which are adapted to compress said digital data before storage thereof in the storage device. 
     
     
         23 . The probe of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said probe further comprises an accelerometer, and said core further comprises a plurality of sleep modes, each of which places the core in a state where electrical power consumed by the core is reduced over that when the core is not operating in the state; and   said probe is configured to cause said core to emerge from at least one of said plurality of sleep modes upon receipt of a signal generated by the accelerometer, the signal generated upon the accelerometer sensing acceleration of the probe.   
     
     
         24 . A substantially autonomous intestinal probe ingestible by a living being, the probe manufactured by the process comprising:
 selecting at least one sensor apparatus for use in said probe, said at least one sensor apparatus being capable of generating data at least while the probe is within the intestinal tract;   generating a design for an integrated circuit useful with said probe, said integrated circuit comprising a processor core having at least a first instruction set and an extension instruction set, said design adapted to optimize the processing of said data by at least utilization of one or more extension instructions within said extension instruction set that are selected based at least in part on said selection of said at least one sensor apparatus;   causing said design to be fabricated as an integrated circuit; and   incorporating said integrated circuit within said probe, said integrated circuit being in operative communication with said at least one sensor apparatus and configured to run at least one computer program, the at least one program including at least one instruction from the first instruction set and the extension instruction set, the at least one program further configured to process the data.   
     
     
         25 . The probe of  claim 24 , wherein the design for the integrated circuit comprises the processor core and at least a portion of a wireless communications interface disposed on a single semi-conductive die. 
     
     
         26 . The probe of  claim 24 , wherein said act of generating further comprises optimizing the power consumption of said integrated circuit by incorporating at least one extension instruction within said extension instruction set which is configured to, when executed, reduce power usage by the core. 
     
     
         27 . The probe of  claim 24 , wherein said core further comprises a plurality of sleep modes, at least one of said sleep modes operative to place at least a portion of the core in a state of reduced power consumption. 
     
     
         28 . The probe of  claim 24 , wherein said optimization comprises processing said data with a lower number of core cycles than would otherwise be utilized without said one or more selected extension instructions. 
     
     
         29 . The probe of  claim 28 , wherein said core comprises a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) core, and said generating comprises use of a hardware description language model of at least said RISC core. 
     
     
         30 . The probe of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of said one or more extension instructions is adapted to perform at least one mathematical operation during said processing of said data, said at least one mathematical transforming said data from a first state to a second state, the second state enabling use of the data for a function which could not be performed with the data in the first state. 
     
     
         31 . The probe of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one mathematical operation comprises a fast-fourier transform (FFT). 
     
     
         32 . The probe of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one mathematical operation comprises a butterfly calculation. 
     
     
         33 . The probe of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one mathematical operation comprises a calculation in support of error correction. 
     
     
         34 . An intestinal probe ingestible by a living being, the probe comprising:
 at least one sensor apparatus, said at least one sensor apparatus being capable of generating sensor data at least while the probe is within the intestinal tract;   processor apparatus in data communication with the sensor apparatus and comprising a processor core having at least a first instruction set and an extension instruction set, said core adapted to optimize the processing of said sensor data by at least utilization of one or more extension instructions within said extension instruction which are adapted to perform mathematical operations on said sensor data, said mathematical operations particular to the processing of the sensor data to achieve on or more desired functions;   a data storage device in data communication with the processor apparatus and configured to store a plurality of digital data;   a wireless interface in data communication with the processor apparatus and configured to at least transmit data wirelessly from the probe to an external receiver while the probe is in the intestinal tract; and   a power supply, the probe configured to supply electrical power from the power supply to at least the processor apparatus;   wherein at least the processor apparatus and at least a portion of the wireless interface are disposed on a single semiconductive die; and   wherein the one or more desired functions comprise at least one of: (i) compression of said sensor data so as to enable storage of more of the sensor data within the data storage device than would otherwise be possible without said compression; and/or (ii) filtering or removal of at least a portion of the sensor data before transmission via the wireless interface.