Medical apparatus, medical apparatus guide system, capsule type medical apparatus, and capsule type medical apparatus guide apparatus

• US 20050085696A1
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Kawano, Hironao, Uchiyama, Akio, Ishiyama, Kazushi, Sendoh, Masahiko, Yokoi, Takeshi, Arai, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• 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: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

In a capsule 3 as a medical apparatus inserted into a body cavity, the lengthwise direction of the capsule 3 is used as an insert axis, a manipulation/input device 8, which is magnetized in a direction orthogonal to the insert axis, is disposed at the center position of the insert axis. A magnetic field generation device 4, which is disposed outside of a body, is caused to generate a vibration magnetic field in a direction parallel with the insert axis of the capsule 3 by turning on a vibration (ON/OFF) switch 8f of a manipulation/input device 8 so that couples having lines of action, which are in parallel with the insert axis, are exerted on the capsule 3, thereby the capsule 3 executes a swiveling motion about the insert axis and smoothly travels along a cavity organ.

Claims

1. A medical apparatus having an insert portion inserted into a body cavity comprising:

a couple generation device for generating couples having lines of action parallel to an insert axis.

2. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the couples generated by the couple generation device change periodically.

3. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lines of action of the couples generated by the couple generation device rotate about the insert axis acting as a center axis.

4. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a thrust generating portion for generating a thrust in the direction of the insert axis.

21. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the couple generation device is a center of gravity position change mechanism for moving the position of center of gravity of the medical apparatus with respect to the insert axis thereof.

5. A medical apparatus having an insert portion inserted into a body cavity comprising:

a medical apparatus having the insert portion inserted into the body cavity having an approximately cylindrical outside shape;

a spiral structure disposed around the side of the medical apparatus main body;

a thrust generation mechanism having rotation drive means for rotating the spiral structure about the cylindrical axis of the medical apparatus main body and generating a thrust in the direction of the cylindrical axis;

a couple generation device having lines of action in parallel with the cylindrical axis.

6. The medical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the couples generated by the couple generation device change periodically.

7. The medical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a magnet is disposed in the medical apparatus with poles facing a direction perpendicular to the thrust generating direction of the thrust generation mechanism.

8. A medical apparatus guide system for guiding a medical apparatus into a body cavity comprising:

a rotation magnetic field;

a magnetic field generation device for generating a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field;

a medical apparatus main body having an insert portion inserted into the body cavity;

a thrust generation structure disposed to the medical apparatus main body;

a magnet disposed to the medical apparatus main body with a magnetic pole direction facing a direction perpendicular to the thrust generating direction of the thrust generation structure.

9. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 8, wherein the thrust generation structure is a spiral structure disposed around the outer periphery of the medical apparatus main body.

10. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 8, wherein a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field is an alternate current magnetic field.

11. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 8 comprising:

magnetic field control means for controlling the magnetic field generation device.

12. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic field control means has a function for switching presence or absence of the magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field.

13. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic field control means has a function for making the strength of the magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field variable.

14. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic field control means has a function for making the frequency of the magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field variable.

15. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 10, wherein a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field is an alternate current magnetic field, and the frequency thereof is 2 Hz or more to 10 Hz or less.

16. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 10, wherein the frequency of the alternate current magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field is higher than the rotation frequency of the rotation magnetic field.

17. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 10, wherein the frequency of the alternate current magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field is two times to ten times higher than the rotation frequency of the rotation magnetic field.

18. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 8, wherein the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field is smaller than the magnetic field strength of the rotation magnetic field.

19. A medical apparatus having an insert portion inserted into a body cavity comprising:

a vibration generation device for periodically changing the direction of an insert axis.

20. The medical apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the vibration generation device is a center of gravity position change mechanism.

22. The medical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the center of gravity position change mechanism is a pager motor.

23. The medical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the center of gravity position change mechanism is composed of a linear drive mechanism and a weight.

24. A medical apparatus guide system for guiding a medical apparatus into a body cavity comprising:

a magnetic field generation device for generating a rotation magnetic field;

a medical apparatus main body having an insert portion inserted into the body cavity;

a thrust generation structure disposed to the medical apparatus main body;

a center of gravity position change mechanism for moving the position of center of gravity set to the medical apparatus main body with respect to the insert axis of the medical apparatus;

a magnet disposed to the medical apparatus main body with a magnetic pole direction facing a direction approximately orthogonal to the thrust generating direction of the thrust generation structure;

transmission means for transmitting a control signal for controlling the center of gravity position change mechanism to the medical apparatus main body.

25. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 24, wherein the center of gravity position change mechanism is a pager motor.

26. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 24, wherein the center of gravity position change mechanism is composed of a linear drive mechanism and a weight.

27. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 24, wherein control means for controlling at least any one of the rotation magnetic field generation device and the center of gravity position change mechanism is provided separately from the medical apparatus.

28. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 27, wherein the control means has a function for switching presence or absence of the operation of the center of gravity position change mechanism.

29. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 27, wherein the control means has a function for making the operation frequency of the center of gravity position change mechanism variable.

30. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 24, wherein the operation frequency of the center of gravity position change mechanism is 2 Hz or more to 10 Hz or less.

31. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 24, wherein the operation frequency of the center of gravity position change mechanism is higher than the frequency of the rotation magnetic field generated by the rotation magnetic field generation device.

32. The medical apparatus guide system according to claim 31, wherein the operation frequency of the center of gravity position change mechanism is two time to 10 times higher than the frequency of the rotation magnetic field generated by the rotation magnetic field generation device.

33. A capsule type medical apparatus inserted into a body cavity comprising:

a capsule type medical apparatus main body having an insert portion inserted into the body cavity;

a thrust generation structure disposed to the medical apparatus main body;

a magnet disposed to the medical apparatus main body in the vicinity of the center in the thrust generating direction of the capsule medical apparatus main body with a magnetic pole direction facing a direction approximately orthogonal to the thrust generating direction of the thrust generation structure.

34. A capsule type medical apparatus inserted into a body cavity comprising:

a capsule type medical apparatus main body having an insert portion inserted into the body cavity;

a thrust generation structure disposed to the medical apparatus main body;

a magnet disposed to the medical apparatus main body in the vicinity of an end in the thrust generating direction of the capsule medical apparatus main body with a magnetic pole direction facing a direction approximately orthogonal to the thrust generating direction of the thrust generation structure.

35. The capsule type medical apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the medical apparatus main body is provided with an image pickup system for obtaining an image in the body cavity, the image pickup system is disposed in the vicinity of an end in the thrust generating direction of the capsule type medical apparatus main body, and the magnet is disposed in the vicinity of the image pickup system.

36. The capsule type medical apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the medical apparatus main body is provided with an image pickup system for obtaining an image in the body cavity, the image pickup system is disposed in the vicinity of an end in the thrust generating direction of the capsule type medical apparatus main body, and the magnet is disposed in the vicinity of the end opposite to the image pickup system.

37. A capsule type medical apparatus guide system comprises:

a magnetic field generation device for generating a rotation magnetic field; and

magnetic field generation means for generating a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotation magnetic field,

wherein the capsule type medical apparatus guide system guides a capsule type medical apparatus having a capsule type medical apparatus main body having an insert portion inserted into a body cavity, a thrust generation structure disposed to the medical apparatus main body, and a magnet disposed to the medical apparatus main body in the vicinity of the center in the thrust generating direction of the capsule medical apparatus main body with a magnetic pole direction facing a direction approximately orthogonal to the thrust generating direction of the thrust generation structure or a capsule type medical apparatus having a capsule type medical apparatus main body having an insert portion inserted into a body cavity, a thrust generation structure disposed to the medical apparatus main body, and a magnet disposed to the medical apparatus main body in the vicinity of an end in the thrust generating direction of the capsule medical apparatus main body with a magnetic pole direction facing a direction approximately orthogonal to the thrust generating direction of the thrust generation structure.

38. A medical apparatus for executing a medical action such as an examination, a treatment, or the like in a cavity organ of a body to be examined comprising:

a main body composed of a rotation symmetrical member having a symmetrical axis in a traveling direction;

a diameter-reduced portion arranged to at least one of the front portion or the rear portion in a traveling direction of the main body, the diameter-reduced portion having a diameter reduced toward the end and an approximately hemispherical end shape;

an electromagnetic field response portion disposed in the main body and acted by the rotation of an electromagnetic field applied from the outside of the body to be examined;

a spiral structure disposed on the outside surface of the main body and converting the rotating motion generated by the electromagnetic field response portion into a thrust,

wherein an end of the spiral structure is disposed to reach the vicinity of an end of the main body.

40. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the pitch of the spiral structure is constant regardless of a shape of the main body.

41. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the medical apparatus includes therein at least one image pickup element, a lens system for condensing the light captured from the outside to the image pickup element, and a light transmitting member formed to at least an end of the main body as the diameter-reduced portion for capturing the light to the lens system, wherein the spiral structure is disposed on the light transmitting member outside the imaging area of the image pickup element.

42. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the electromagnetic field response portion comprises a magnetic substance or a magnet.

43. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the electromagnetic field response portion comprises a dielectric substance.

47. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the spiral structure of the medical apparatus comprises a plurality of spirals.

49. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the diameter-reduced portion is formed in a taper shape.

51. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the spiral structure has a hollow portion.

53. The medical apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the medical apparatus includes therein a storage portion for storing at least a medicine, the medicine stored in the storage portion, and a discharge portion for discharging the medicine, and the medicine discharged by the discharge portion passing through the spiral structure having a hollow structure is discharged from an end of the spiral structure.

55. The medical apparatus according to claim 51, wherein at least a substance-in-body suctioning portion and a storage portion for storing a suctioned substance are disposed in the medical apparatus, and an end of the spiral structure having the hollow portion is used as a suctioning port for a substance-in-body.

57. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the medical apparatus includes therein at least one image pickup element, a lens system for condensing the light captured from the outside to the image pickup element, and a light transmitting member formed to at least an end of the main body as the diameter-reduced portion for capturing the light to the lens system, wherein the spiral structure is also disposed on the light transmitting member inside the imaging area of the image pickup element.

61. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the medical apparatus is a swallowable capsule type medical apparatus.

63. The medical apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the medical apparatus is a medical apparatus comprising a capsule type medical apparatus to which a flexible tube is attached.

39. A medical apparatus for executing a medical action such as an examination, a treatment, or the like in a cavity organ of a body to be examined comprising:

a main body composed of an approximately cylindrical portion and diameter-reduced portions disposed on both the ends of the approximately cylindrical portion, each diameter-reduced portion having a diameter reduced toward an end and an approximately hemispherical end shape;

a magnet disposed in the main body and magnetically acted by a rotation magnetic field applied from the outside of the body to be examined;

a spiral structure disposed on the outside surface of the main body and converting the rotating motion generated by the magnet into a thrust,

wherein the spiral structure is disposed to both the cylindrical portion and the diameter-reduced portions of the main body.

44. The medical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the pitch of the spiral structure is constant regardless of a shape of the main body.

45. The medical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the medical apparatus includes therein at least one image pickup element, a lens system for condensing the light captured from the outside to the image pickup element, and a light transmitting member formed to at least an end of the main body as the diameter-reduced portion for capturing the light to the lens system, wherein the spiral structure is disposed on the light transmitting member outside the imaging area of the image pickup element.

46. The medical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the spiral structure is smoothly connected in a connecting portion between the approximately cylindrical portion and the diameter-reduced portion of the medical apparatus.

48. The medical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the spiral structure of the medical apparatus comprises a plurality of spirals.

50. The medical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the diameter-reduced portion is formed in a taper shape.

52. The medical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the spiral structure has a hollow portion.

54. The medical apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the medical apparatus includes therein a storage portion for storing at least a medicine, the medicine stored in the storage portion, and a discharge portion for discharging the medicine, and the medicine discharged by the discharge portion passing through the spiral structure having a hollow structure is discharged from an end of the spiral structure.

56. The medical apparatus according to claim 52, wherein at least a substance-in-body suctioning portion and a storage portion for storing a suctioned substance are disposed in the medical apparatus, and an end of the spiral structure having the hollow portion is used as a suctioning port for a substance-in-body.

58. The medical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein at least one image pickup element, a lens system for condensing the light captured from the outside to the image pickup element, and a light transmitting member as a thin-diameter portion formed to at least an end of the main body for capturing the light to the lens system, wherein the spiral structure is disposed on the light transmitting member within the imaging area of the image pickup element.

62. The medical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the medical apparatus is a swallowable capsule type medical apparatus.

64. The medical apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the medical apparatus comprises a capsule type medical apparatus to which a flexible tube is attached.

59. A medical apparatus guide system comprising:

a medical apparatus comprising a main body constituting a rotation symmetrical member having a symmetrical axis in a traveling direction, a diameter-reduced portion arranged to at least one of the front portion or the rear portion of the main body in a traveling direction and having an approximately hemispherical end shape whose diameter is reduced toward an end, an electromagnetic field response portion disposed in the main body and acted by the rotation of an electromagnetic field applied from the outside of the body to be examined, a spiral structure disposed on the outside surface of the main body and converting a rotating motion generated by the electromagnetic field response portion into a thrust, wherein an end of the spiral structure is disposed to reach the vicinity of an end of the main body;

electromagnetic field generation means for generating an electromagnetic field acting on the electromagnetic field response portion disposed to the medical apparatus;

electromagnetic field control means for controlling the direction of the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic field generation means,

wherein the electromagnetic field generation means generates the electromagnetic field in three-axis directions and rotates the medical apparatus in a cavity organ.

60. A medical apparatus guide system comprising:

a medical apparatus comprising a main body composed of an approximately cylindrical portion and diameter-reduced portions disposed on both the ends of the approximately cylindrical portion, each diameter-reduced portion having a diameter reduced toward an end and an approximately hemispherical end shape, a magnet disposed in the main body and magnetically acted by a rotation magnetic field applied from the outside of a body to be examined, a spiral structure disposed on the outside surface of the main body and converting the rotating motion generated by the magnet into a thrust, wherein the spiral structure is disposed to both the cylindrical portion and the diameter-reduced portions of the main body;

electromagnetic field generation means for generating an electromagnetic field acting on the electromagnetic field response portion disposed to the medical apparatus;

electromagnetic field control means for controlling the direction of the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic field generation means,

wherein the electromagnetic field generation means generates the electromagnetic field in three-axis directions and rotates the medical apparatus in a cavity organ.