AN APPLICATION OF EMBEDDED SYSTEM Seminar

[born_for seminars]

Abstract

The video capsule is specifically designed to view the inner lining of the Esophagus. The capsule is equipped with miniature cameras on both ends and is about the size of a multi-vitamin, which can be swallowed easily. Three sensor arrays are strategically placed on the patient’s chest and connected to a data recorder, worn on a belt around the waist.
The patient swallows the capsule lying down, and is then raised in a series of inclinations over a total of 5 minutes. The PillCam™ ESO travels through the esophagus by normal peristaltic waves, flashing 14 times per second, each time capturing images of the inner lining of the esophagus.
As it continues down the esophagus, the images captured may identify potential abnormalities, such as Esophagitis – which is inflammation of the lining of the esophagus often caused by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. Severity of symptoms is measured by a Grading system, and in severe cases, esophageal ulcers can appear.
Images captured by the PillCam™ ESO may also identify symptoms of Barrett's Esophagus, which occurs as a result of abnormal cell growth in the lower esophagus. Columnar cells, typically found in the lining of the stomach, replace the squamous cells in the lining of the esophagus, which can lead to a cancerous condition.
During this five-minute procedure, the PillCam™ ESO captures images, which are transmitted to the sensor arrays. These images then travel from the sensors, along the wires to the DataRecorder™. At this point, the patient is permitted to get up and walk or remain seated for an additional 15 minutes to ensure the capsule has traveled the entire length of the esophagus. After dropping into the stomach, the pill is later excreted naturally.
Once all equipment is removed from the patient, the portable DataRecorder™ downloads the video images to a designated workstation, from which the physician views and assesses the results in order to recommend next steps in the patient’s treatment

INTRODUCTION

An embedded system is some combination of computer hardware and software; either fixed in capability or programmable that is specifically designed for a particular kind of application device. Industrial machines, automobiles, medical equipment, cameras, as well as the more obvious cellular phone are among the myriad possible hosts of an embedded system. Embedded systems that are programmable are provided with a programming interface
In the past, doctors who needed to diagnose digestive problems would either use X-rays or endoscopy, which involves sedating a person and guiding a narrow tube with a camera attached down the throat and into the stomach and upper intestinal tract. Before endoscopy, doctors would have to perform surgery to assess some problems. Capsule endoscopy allows us to see places inside the small bowel where other methods cannot reach.
Endoscopy is the examination of the inside of the body using a lighted, flexible instrument called an endoscope. In general, an endoscope is placed into the body through a natural opening like the mouth or anus. The most common endoscopic procedures evaluate the esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, and portions of the intestine, colon.
Capsule camera, endoscopic capsule or video pill is a camera with the size and shape of pill. The Imaging Capsule contains a miniature camera, battery, light, computer chip and wireless transmitter. The target destination for the device is the small bowel, where the miniature camera may help physicians detect sources of bleeding or diagnose disease.



DESCRIPTION
The capsule itself is larger than an aspirin, about 11 mm x 26 mm in size and about 4grams in weight. Called the M2A, it is not a medication, but rather a single-use video color-imaging capsule. Besides the miniature color video camera, the capsule contains a light source, batteries, a transmitter, and an antenna.

Once swallowed this capsule/camera travels easily through the digestive tract and is naturally excreted. It is never absorbed in the body. The patient wears a wireless Given Data Recorder on a belt around his or her waist, much like a portable “Walkman.” This device receives and records signals transmitted by the camera to an array of sensors placed on the patient’s body. These signals can also track the physical course of the capsule’s progress. During this procedure, users feel no pain or discomfort and are able to continue their regular activities as the camera works inside the body and the sensors and belt work outside. The entire process takes about eight hours.

Once all equipment is removed from the patient, the portable DataRecorder™ downloads the video images to a designated workstation, from which the physician views and assesses the results in order to recommend next steps in the patient’s treatment.
A computer workstation using Given’s Imaging propriety software processes the data and produces a video of the images together with additional relevant information from the digestive tract. Doctors can then view, edit, and save both individual images and the streaming video. The images produced are of an especially high quality.