Wireless in-vivo information acquiring system and body-insertable device

• US 20040225184A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nakatsuchi, Kazutaka, Shimizu, Hatsuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,419,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes

Abstract

A pill inserted into a body of a patient acquires in-vivo information on the body of the patient. The in-vivo information on the body of the patient is input to a receiver from the pill through a receiving antenna. The pill receives a power-supply signal from the receiver through a power receiving antenna, and a power recovering circuit recovers power from the power-supply signal. A level determining circuit compares the power recovered with a predetermined value to determine the strength of the power-supply signal, and wirelessly transmits the determination result signal to the receiver.

Claims

1. A wireless in-vivo-information acquiring system comprising:

a body-insertable device that is inserted into a body of a patient; and

an external device that is disposed on outside of the body of the patient, wherein

the external device includes

a first power-supply signal transmitting unit that transmits a power-supply signal from a power source to the body-insertable device with a first magnetic field of one predetermined directivity; and

a second power-supply signal transmitting unit that transmits the power-supply signal from the power source to the body-insertable device with a second magnetic field of other predetermined directivity, and

the body-insertable device includes

a reception strength determining unit that determines strength of a power-supply signal based on a result of comparison between a value of electric power recovered from the power-supply signal and a preset value, and outputs a determination result signal; and

a determination result transmitting unit that modulates the determination result signal, and wirelessly transmits the determination result signal modulated to outside of the body-insertable device.

2. The wireless in-vivo information acquiring system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of preset values is prepared.

3. The wireless in-vivo information acquiring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor that acquires the in-vivo information on the body of the patient, and

an in-vivo information transmitting unit that modulates the in-vivo information acquired by the sensor, and wirelessly transmits the in-vivo information modulated to the outside of the body-insertable device.

4. The wireless in-vivo information acquiring system according to claim 3, wherein the in-vivo information transmitting unit transmits the in-vivo information modulated to the outside of the body-insertable device with a predetermined interval.

5. The wireless in-vivo information acquiring system according to claim 4, wherein the determination result transmitting unit transmits the determination result signal in a period during which the in-vivo information transmitting unit does not transmit the in-vivo information.

6. A body-insertable device comprising:

a function executing unit that executes a predetermined function to acquire in-vivo information on the body of the patient;

a power-supply signal receiving unit that receives a plurality of power-supply signals wirelessly transmitted from outside;

a power recovering unit that recovers electric power from the power-supply signals received;

a reception strength determining unit that determines strength of each of the power-supply signals based on a result of comparison between a value of the electric power recovered and a preset value, and outputs a determination result signal; and

a determination result transmitting unit that modulates the determination result signal, and wirelessly transmits the determination result signal modulated to outside of the body-insertable device.

7. The body-insertable device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of preset values is prepared.

8. The body-insertable device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a sensor that acquires the in-vivo information on the body of the patient, and

an in-vivo information transmitting unit that modulates the in-vivo information acquired by the sensor, and wirelessly transmits the in-vivo information modulated to the outside of the body-insertable device.

9. The body-insertable device according to claim 8, wherein the in-vivo information transmitting unit transmits the in-vivo information modulated to the outside of the body-insertable device with a predetermined interval.

10. The body-insertable device according to claim 9, wherein the determination result transmitting unit transmits the determination result signal in a period during which the in-vivo information transmitting unit does not transmit the in-vivo information.