Capsule-type medical device

• US 20030181788A1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Akio, Takizawa, Hironobu, Mizuno, Hitoshi, Yokoi, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,578,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00179 for off-axis viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 : Details of data transmission or power supply

Abstract

A capsule-type medical device comprises a capsule main unit having functions for being inserted into the body cavity and performing medical acts such as taking images or the like. The capsule main unit comprises therein a magnet which is acted upon by external magnetism, and a spiral portion on the outer perimeter, so that rotating force acting upon the magnet is readily converted into a propelling force for propelling the capsule-type medical device. A flexible insertion portion which is long and small in diameter is provided to the capsule main unit to allow smooth progression through the body cavity, and the center of gravity of the device is placed upon the longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit, thus facilitating smooth progression through the body cavity.

Claims

1. A capsule-type medical device comprising:

a capsule main unit for performing medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment within a subject;

a magnet provided to at least a part of the capsule main unit, for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of the subject;

a flexible insertion portion formed on at least one end of the capsule main unit, formed narrower in diameter at the end thereof than the outer diameter of the capsule main unit; and

a propulsion generating unit provided on at least a part of the outer perimeter of the capsule main unit or on the flexible insertion portion, for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into propulsion force.

2. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 1, wherein the capsule main unit is separable into a rigid portion and a flexible portion.

3. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible insertion portion is not readily stretched or compressed in the longitudinal direction, but readily bends in the circumferential direction.

4. A capsule-type medical device comprising:

a capsule main unit for performing medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment within a subject;

a magnet provided to at least a part of the capsule main unit, for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of the subject;

a propulsion generating unit provided on the capsule main unit, for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into propulsion force; and

observation means provided on at least one end of the capsule main unit, having a forward or diagonally-forward observation field of view.

5. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the observation means are provided near both ends of the capsule main unit in the longitudinal direction.

6. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 5, wherein one of the plurality of observation means has an observation field of view facing approximately sideways from the capsule main unit.

7. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 4, wherein the capsule main unit is configured of a plurality of rigid portions and a narrow-diameter soft portion connecting the plurality of rigid portions, with a propulsion generating unit provided to at least one of the plurality of rigid portions.

8. A capsule-type medical device comprising:

a capsule main unit having functions for performing medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment within a subject;

a magnet provided to the capsule main unit, for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of the subject; and

a propulsion generating unit for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into propulsion force;

wherein the center of gravity of the capsule main unit is generally placed upon the longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit.

9. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 8, wherein the center axis of the magnet is generally placed upon the longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit.

10. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of the magnets are disposed on the longitudinal center axis with spacing therebetween.

11. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the magnets are disposed at generally symmetrical positions as to the longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit.

12. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a flexible insertion portion formed narrower in diameter at the end thereof than the outer diameter of the capsule main unit, provided to at least one end of the capsule main unit; and

a propulsion generating unit for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into propulsion force, provided on at least a part of the outer perimeter of the capsule main unit or on the flexible insertion portion.

13. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 8, further comprising observation means provided on at least one end of the capsule main unit, having a forward or diagonally-forward observation field of view.

14. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the observation means are provided near both ends of the capsule main unit in the longitudinal direction.

15. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 8, wherein the capsule main unit is configured of a plurality of rigid portions and a narrow-diameter soft portion connecting the plurality of rigid portions, with a propulsion generating unit provided to at least one of the plurality of rigid portions.

16. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 8, the capsule main unit comprising:

a rigid portion; and

a soft portion which is connected to the rigid portion, with a form wherein the external diameter thereof gradually becomes smaller the farther away from the rigid portion;

wherein the total length of the capsule main unit is longer than the maximum luminal diameter of the large intestine of the subject.

17. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 8, further comprising a string-like recovery tool having a magnet or magnetic substance for generating magnetic pull as to the peripheral polarity of the magnet to draw the capsule main unit by magnetic pull provided on the vicinity of a distal end thereof.

18. A capsule-type medical device according to claim 8, wherein the propulsion generating unit has spiral-like protrusions protruding on the outer face of the capsule main unit.

19. A medical method using a capsule-type medical device, the device comprising

a capsule main unit to be inserted into the body of a subject,

a flexible insertion portion formed on at least one end of the capsule main unit, formed narrower in diameter at the end thereof than the outer diameter of the capsule main unit,

a magnet provided within the flexible insertion portion for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of the subject, and

a propulsion generating unit provided on at least a part of the outer perimeter of the capsule main unit or on the flexible insertion portion, for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into propulsion force;

wherein the flexible insertion portion enters bent portions and narrow portions of the lumen such as in the small intestine and large intestine so as to guide the capsule main unit to a target position within the lumen of the subject, and performs medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment within the subject.

20. A medical method using a capsule-type medical device, the device comprising

a capsule main unit, to which are mounted

a magnet for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of a subject and

a propulsion generating unit for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into propulsion force, and

observation means provided on at least one end of the capsule main unit, having a forward or diagonally-forward observation field of view;

wherein the capsule main unit is guided to a target position within the lumen of the subject, and performs medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment at a desired position within the subject.

21. A medical method using a capsule-type medical device, the device comprising

a capsule main unit, to which are mounted

a magnet for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of a subject and

a propulsion generating unit for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into propulsion force,

with the center of gravity of the capsule main unit generally placed upon the longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit;

wherein the capsule main unit is guided to a target position within the lumen of the subject, and performs medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment at a desired position within the subject.