Capsule-type medical apparatus

• US 20030020810A1
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Moriyama, Hiroki, Takizawa, Hironobu, Mizuno, Hitoshi, Adachi, Hideyuki, Yabe, Hisao
• Granted Patent: US 7,511,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A battery self-containing body, which self-contains a battery or a battery accommodating body, which accommodates a battery removably is attached to a capsule body including a drive circuit for driving an imaging device and an illuminating device. Thus, the power supply can be turned ON easily. In addition, the inside portion is sealed water-tightly. Thus, the battery self-containing body or a battery can be exchanged easily, which allows the easy reuse. The direction of the visual field of the imaging device is diagonal with respect to the axis of the capsule body. Furthermore, spiral-shape projections are provided on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form. Thus, the rotation allows the surface of canal cavity wall to be examined easily.

Claims

1. A capsule-type medical apparatus, comprising:

a capsule body portion having an imaging device for imaging and an illuminating device for illumination; and

a power-supply portion self-containing a battery, the power supply portion being separated from the capsule body portion,

wherein the power-supply portion is attached to the capsule body portion such that the capsule-type medical apparatus can be water-tight.

2. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power-supply portion is attached to the capsule body portion such that power is supplied thereto from the battery, which turns on the power supply.

10. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the capsule body portion or the external member is in a cylinder form;

a spiral-form portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form; and

the imaging device and the illuminating device are provided in the direction of the cylinder axis.

13. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the capsule body portion or the external member is in a cylinder form;

a spiral-form portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form; and

the imaging device and the illuminating device are provided in the diagonal direction with respect to the cylinder axis.

16. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a magnet; and

a magnetic field generating device provided externally for generating a magnetic field working on the magnet.

19. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a magnet; and

a magnetic field generating device provided externally for generating a magnetic field working on the magnet.

3. A capsule-type medical apparatus, comprising:

a capsule body portion having an imaging device for imaging and an illuminating device for illumination;

a power-supply portion self-containing a battery, the power-supply portion being separated from the capsule body portion; and

an external member covering the capsule body portion and the power supply device water-tightly.

4. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the capsule body portion and the power supply device are covered by the external member such that power is supplied from the power supply device to the capsule body portion, which turns on the power supply.

5. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the power-supply device includes a plurality of batteries.

6. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the external member and the power supply device are formed integrally.

11. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the capsule body portion or the external member is in a cylinder form;

a spiral-form portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form; and

the imaging device and the illuminating device are provided in the direction of the cylinder axis.

14. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the capsule body portion or the external member is in a cylinder form;

a spiral-form portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form; and

the imaging device and the illuminating device are provided in the diagonal direction with respect to the cylinder axis.

17. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a magnet; and

a magnetic field generating device provided externally for generating a magnetic field working on the magnet.

20. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a magnet; and

a magnetic field generating device provided externally for generating a magnetic field working on the magnet.

7. A capsule-type medical apparatus, comprising:

a capsule body portion having an imaging device for imaging and an illuminating device for illumination;

a power-supply portion for supplying power by using a self-contained battery to the imaging device and the illuminating device; and

an external member covering the capsule body portion and the power supply device water-tightly,

wherein the external member is replaced by an unused one to be reused.

8. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the power-supply device is replaced by an unused one to be reused.

9. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the power-supply device includes a plurality of batteries.

12. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the capsule body portion or the external member is in a cylinder form;

a spiral-form portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form; and

the imaging device and the illuminating device are provided in the direction of the cylinder axis.

15. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the capsule body portion or the external member is in a cylinder form;

a spiral-form portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form; and

the imaging device and the illuminating device are provided in the diagonal direction with respect to the cylinder axis.

18. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a magnet; and

a magnetic field generating device provided externally for generating a magnetic field working on the magnet.

21. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a magnet; and

a magnetic field generating device provided externally for generating a magnetic field working on the magnet.

22. A capsule-type medical apparatus, comprising an imaging device for imaging and an illuminating device for illumination,

wherein a cylinder-form exterior and a spiral-form portion on the exterior are formed, and

the imaging device and the illuminating device are provided in the direction of the cylinder axis of the exterior.

24. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 22, wherein a tube-shape inserting portion is attached.

26. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

a magnet; and

a magnetic field generating device provided externally for generating a magnetic field working on the magnet.

23. A capsule-type medical apparatus, comprising an imaging device for imaging and an illuminating device for illumination,

wherein a cylinder-form exterior and a spiral-form portion on the exterior are formed, and

the imaging device and the illuminating device are provided in the diagonal direction with respect to the cylinder axis of the exterior.

25. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a tube-shape inserting portion is attached.

27. A capsule-type medical apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

a magnet; and

a magnetic field generating device provided externally for generating a magnetic field working on the magnet.

28. A method for performing processing for examination or treatment within a body cavity, comprising the steps of:

revolving a capsule-type medical apparatus in which a spiral-shape portion is formed on a cylinder-form exterior and in which a magnet is built by using an external magnetic field generated by an external magnetic field generating device; and

controlling a progress of the capsule-type medical apparatus within the body cavity.