Autofluorescent imaging and target ablation

Abstract

Apparatus, devices, methods, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to autofluorescent imaging and ablation are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for treating or ameliorating  H. pylori  infection, the device comprising:
 an untethered ingestible mass having,
 one or more sensor coupled to control circuitry, the one or more sensors configured to detect one or more environmental parameters; and 
 one or more optical energy source configured to emit variable directional electromagnetic energy in a manner selected to induce photodynamic cell death in  H. pylori  responsive to the one or more sensor detecting the one or more environmental parameters. 
   
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the untethered ingestible mass is a rotationally symmetrical body with an axial dimension greater than an equatorial dimension. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the untethered ingestible mass is spherical. 
     
     
         8 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the untethered ingestible mass is designed to randomly wobble. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor coupled to a movable mass.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the movable mass is configured to vary the moment of inertia of the untethered ingestible mass. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the movable mass is configured to undergo unbalanced rotation. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the movable mass is configured to undergo linear oscillatory motion. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the movable mass is configured to undergo eccentric motion. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a power source including one or more of a battery, a capacitor, or a wireless power source.   
     
     
         19 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the control circuitry is wirelessly coupled to the power source. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is remote-controlled. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is programmed. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to be monitored by one or more external sources. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide one or more outputs to one or more external sources. 
     
     
         36 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more environmental parameters include one or more of pH or orientation of the untethered ingestible mass. 
     
     
         39 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of approximately 408 nm. 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured to emit the electromagnetic energy in multiple directions. 
     
     
         48 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured emit the electromagnetic energy in a pH-dependent manner. 
     
     
         54 - 129 . (canceled) 
     
     
         130 . A untethered device for inducing photodynamic death in a pathogen or a pathological tissue, the device comprising:
 an untethered substantially spherical mass including,
 a first optical energy source configured to emit a first electromagnetic energy that is selected to induce an auto-fluorescent response in at least some of the pathogen or the pathological tissue; 
 a sensor configured to detect the auto-fluorescent response; 
 control circuitry coupled to the sensor and configured to identify at least one target of the at least some of the pathogen or the pathological tissue by analyzing the auto-fluorescent response; and 
 a second energy source configured to emit a second electromagnetic energy that is selected to induce photodynamic death in the at least one target responsive to the control circuitry identifying the at least one target. 
   
     
     
         131 . The untethered device of  claim 130  wherein the untethered substantially spherical mass includes:
 one or more controllable arms connected to and extending from an outer surface of the untethered substantially spherical mass; and 
 one or more paddles connected to corresponding ones of the one or more arms. 
 
     
     
         132 . The untethered device of  claim 131  wherein the untethered substantially spherical mass is configured to randomly rotate based on motion of the one or more arms. 
     
     
         133 . The untethered device of  claim 131  wherein at least some of the one or more paddles have different orientations from each other. 
     
     
         134 . The untethered device of  claim 130  wherein the untethered substantially spherical mass includes an outer surface that is covered with multiple openings. 
     
     
         135 . The untethered device of  claim 134  wherein the first optical energy source is configured to emit the first electromagnetic energy in multiple directions through the multiple openings in the outer surface of the untethered substantially spherical mass. 
     
     
         136 . The untethered device of  claim 134  wherein the induced autoflorescence is detected through multiple openings in the outer surface of the untethered substantially spherical mass. 
     
     
         137 . The untethered device of  claim 134  wherein the second optical energy source is configured to emit the second electromagnetic energy in multiple directions through the multiple openings in the outer surface of the untethered substantially spherical mass. 
     
     
         138 . The untethered device of  claim 134  wherein the multiple openings are spaced from one another and cover the substantially entire outer surface of the untethered substantially spherical mass. 
     
     
         139 . The untethered device of  claim 134 , wherein the multiple openings are positioned on the outer surface to emit the first electromagnetic energy from the first optical energy source and the second electromagnetic energy from the second energy source radiating in all directions from the untethered substantially spherical mass. 
     
     
         140 . The untethered device of  claim 139 , wherein the multiple openings are positioned on the outer surface to detect at the sensors the auto-fluorescence received from all directions at the untethered substantially spherical mass. 
     
     
         141 . The untethered device of  claim 130  wherein the pathogen includes  H. pylori.    
     
     
         142 . The untethered device of  claim 130  wherein the untethered substantially spherical mass includes a central core configured to pass the pathogen or pathological tissue therethrough. 
     
     
         143 . The untethered device of  claim 142  wherein the second electromagnetic energy is selected to induce photodynamic death of the pathogen or pathological tissue passing through the central core of the untethered substantially spherical mass. 
     
     
         144 . A untethered device for inducing photodynamic death in a pathogen or a pathological tissue, the device comprising:
 an untethered substantially spherical mass including an outer surface covered with multiple openings, the untethered substantially spherical mass including,
 a first optical energy source configured to emit a first electromagnetic energy in multiple directions through the multiple openings, the first electromagnetic energy selected to induce an auto-fluorescent response in at least some of the pathogen or the pathological tissue; 
 a sensor configured to detect the auto-fluorescent through the multiple openings in the outer surface; 
 control circuitry coupled to the sensor and configured to identify at least one target of the at least some of the pathogen or the pathological tissue by analyzing the auto-fluorescent response; and 
 a second energy source configured to emit a second electromagnetic energy in multiple directions through the multiple openings, the second electromagnetic energy selected to induce photodynamic death in the at least one target responsive to the control circuitry identifying the at least one target. 
   
     
     
         145 . The untethered device of  claim 144 , wherein the multiple openings are positioned on the outer surface to emit the first electromagnetic energy from the first optical energy source and the second electromagnetic energy from the second energy source radiating in all directions from the untethered substantially spherical mass. 
     
     
         146 . The untethered device of  claim 145 , wherein the multiple openings are positioned on the outer surface to detect at the sensors the auto-fluorescence received from all directions at the untethered substantially spherical mass.