A locomotion system for use in a medical device, including at least one magnet, a rotor including a plurality of coil windings, and a ferromagnetic member. The rotor is configured, on application of a current to the plurality of coil windings, to travel along the ferromagnetic member and to impact on a surface.

An in vivo device sensing system telecommunicatively coupled to an in vivo device and a remote device and applied in the medical industry to obtain in vivo physiological information includes a main body, a computing module and at least one antenna module. The computing module is telecommunicatively coupled to the remote device. The antenna module is installed at the main body and telecommunicatively coupled to the in vivo device and the computing module and has plural antenna units. The antenna units receives a coordinate signal transmitted by any one of the antenna units and provided for the computing module to compute the coordinate signals and generate coordinate correction information.

Systems and methods for registering, verifying, dynamically referencing, and navigating an anatomical region of interest of a patient are provided. In one embodiment, the anatomical region of interest is imaged using an imaging device such as, for example, an x-ray device. A tracked registration device may then be removably inserted following a path within the anatomical region and the position of the registration device may be sampled by a tracking device as the registration device is moved within the anatomical region through the catheter. The sampled position data is registered to the image data to register the path to the anatomical region of interest. The same or a similar device may be used to dynamically reference the movements affecting the anatomical region and modify the registration in real time. The registration may also be verified.

Ingestible devices and methods useful for providing information useful in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal abnormalities are provided.

A method for performing a medical procedure in an intestine of a patient is provided. The method comprises providing a system comprising: a catheter for insertion into the intestine, the catheter comprising: an elongate shaft comprising a distal portion; and a functional assembly positioned on the shaft distal portion and comprising at least one treatment element. The catheter is introduced into the patient, and target tissue is treated with the at least one treatment element. The target tissue comprises mucosal tissue of the small intestine, and the medical procedure can be configured to treat one or more diseases or disorders based on a measured physiologic parameter of the patient.

An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

A microelectrode array comprises three or more flexible oblong, electrically co-operating microelectrodes in wire and/or ribbon form disposed substantially in parallel. The microelectrodes are electrically insulated except for at a distal section thereof. The array further comprises electrically non-conducting microfibres connecting central portions of the microelectrodes in oblique directions in respect of the array axis. In a preferred array variety the microelectrodes are joined by a glue that is dissolvable or degradable in aqueous body fluid. Also disclosed is a combination of two or more arrays of the invention.

A method for evaluating a gastrointestinal tract may include receiving an electrical signal that includes data pertaining to motility in the gastrointestinal tract of a patient and analyzing one or more characteristics of the electrical signal relative to one or more respective thresholds indicative of an occurrence or an imminence of a condition of the gastrointestinal tract.

A gas sampling bag for gas pH measurement includes a main sampling chamber and an electrochemical test strip accommodating chamber for accommodating an electrochemical test strip. The electrochemical test strip includes a strip body, a working electrode, a pH sensing layer, a reference electrode and a solid water absorption layer. The working electrode has a first part located in a detection area of the strip body. The pH sensing layer is formed on the first part. The reference electrode has a second part located in the detection area. The solid water absorbing layer is formed on the detection area and covers the pH sensing layer and the second part. The solid water absorbing layer is used for absorbing or adsorbing water in the gas sample to form an electrical connection between the first and second parts.