Controlled motion capsules and associated systems and methods are described. Controlled motion capsules can decelerate, and stop, without damaging epithelial walls. If any components fail, a controlled motion capsule, without added energy, becomes its most compact shape, passing harmlessly through the GI tract. Controlled motion capsule may include a shape changing material, comprising a reversible soft copolymer, in a container in the capsule, with a nonionizing radiation emitter, and a controller to activate the nonionizing radiation to expand and contract the shape changing material, on detection of certain conditions or instructions. Expansion of the shape changing material, including contact with epithelial walls, decelerates and can stop the controlled motion capsule movement. Motion control allows scientists to study the microbiome, doctors to deliver intestinal drugs at precise locations, and to closely examine signs of precancerous growth.

A method for imaging a patient's gastrointestinal tract using a capsule camera and a patient positioning system are disclosed. According to the method, the capsule camera is administered to a patient by swallowing the capsule camera through patient's mouth. For each target examination position selected from a set of examination positions: the patient positioning system is adjusted to a target positioner bed position associated with the target examination position with the patient on the positioner be. Adjusting patient positioning system comprises adjusting the positioner bed to tilt at a tilt angle, and wherein the set of examination positions comprises at least two different tilt angles; and the patient positioning system still is held at the target examination position for a pre-defined period of dwelling time to allow the capsule camera to capture stable pictures. Image data captured by the capsule camera are then collected.

An upper gastrointestinal bleeding monitoring system includes a detection device and a signal processing device to determine bleeding condition of an upper gastrointestinal tract by using relation of time and intensity ratios of RGB three primary colors. The detecting device is placed to the upper gastrointestinal tract of a patient via his/her mouth or nasal passage and then stay the upper gastrointestinal tract for several days for detection of bleeding. The signal processing device may receive and display signal from the detection device to help medical professionals check if bleeding occurs in an upper gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, a procedure of determination of bleeding in an upper gastrointestinal tract with the upper gastrointestinal bleeding monitoring system is described.

A method of communicating with an ingestible capsule includes detecting the location of the ingestible capsule, focusing a multi-sensor acoustic array on the ingestible capsule, and communicating an acoustic information exchange with the ingestible capsule via the multi-sensor acoustic array. The ingestible capsule includes a sensor that receives a stimulus inside the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, a bidirectional acoustic information communications module that transmits an acoustic information signal containing information from the sensor, and an acoustically transmissive encapsulation that substantially encloses the sensor and communications module, wherein the acoustically transmissive encapsulation is of ingestible size. The multi-sensor array includes a plurality of acoustic transducers that receive an acoustic signal from a movable device, and a plurality of delays, wherein each delay is coupled to a corresponding acoustic transducer. Each delay may be adjusted according to a phase of a signal received by the corresponding acoustic transducer.

Photobiomodulation can be used to treat disorders of the gastrointestinal system. The photobiomodulation can be delivered by an intraluminal device (which can be within the gastrointestinal system) that includes at least one light delivery device configured to provide photobiomodulation; at least one photodetector device to measure reflectance based on the photobiomodulation; a processor to receive a reflectance signal from the at least one photodetector device based on the reflectance measured by the at least one photodetector device and process the reflectance signal; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor to transmit at least a portion of the processed reflectance signal. The wireless transceiver can communicate with an external device that includes a wireless transceiver to receive the at least the portion of the processed reflectance signal.

A medical capsule with a sensor device comprising a light emitting element and a light detecting element with the sensor device being adapted to detect the presence or non-presence of blood and/or Biliverdin based on the light absorption properties of blood and Biliverdin. The capsule is provided with a casing forming a gap at its outer surface. The light emitting element alternatively emits violet light of a wavelength of about 380-450 nm, green light of a wavelength of about 530-580 nm, and red light of a wavelength of about 620-750 nm, whereas the light detecting element generates a separate sensor signal associated with measured light intensities I.sub.violet, I.sub.green, and I.sub.red of at least each of the wavelength ranges of the light from the light emitting element. By evaluating a quotient I.sub.red/I.sub.green, false-positive detection of blood can be avoided. The present disclosure also relates to a calibration method for said medical capsule.

A pellet for testing distal colonic and anorectal function. In one embodiment the pellet comprises a bag comprising the exterior of the pellet wherein the bag is comprised of a polymer that is reactive with a catalyst to form a more solid-like substance. In another embodiment, the pellet may comprise one of a grapheme layer, a wavelength transducer, or a magnetically attractive element. In another embodiment the pellet may comprise a telescopic extender and further comprise a telescope bad coupled to the telescopic extender.

An apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in a rumen of a ruminant, is designed to be orally applied to the ruminant and to stay permanently in the rumen. The apparatus includes: a) at least one sensing unit for sensing a characteristic value of dissolved carbon dioxide in the liquor of rumen and/or reticulum; and b) at least one first communication unit for the wireless communication of data with a respective second communication unit outside the ruminant. The sensing unit includes at least one attenuated total reflectance (ATR) sensor.

Various examples describe a livestock monitoring system and method. A sensor signal may comprise a rotational component describing a rotation of the sensor within an animal and a linear component describing a linear movement of the sensor within the animal. The rotational component may be used to identify an animal respiration signal. The animal respiration signal and the linear component may be used to generate a respiration-corrected linear component. An animal heart signal may be detected from the respiration-corrected linear component.

An ingestible device comprising a capsule, a camera, an antenna, and a propulsion component id disclosed. The camera can capture images of various in vivo environments as the ingestible device traverses the gastrointestinal tract, and these images can be wirelessly transmitted to an electronic device located outside of the living body. The images may be transmitted to the electronic device for review by an operator responsible for controlling the ingestible device.