Medical capsule apparatus

• US 20050143623A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Kojima, Kazuaki
• Application Number:
  US11/013,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50

Abstract

A medical capsule apparatus put into the body cavity which has various types of medical drugs depending on applications and contributes to the reduction in management costs includes at least a main body unit having a function for observing the body cavity, and a medical drug unit having a function for accommodating and discharging the medical drug. The main body unit and the medical drug unit are freely connected and separated.

Claims

1. A medical capsule apparatus put into the body cavity comprising at least:

a main body unit having a function for observing the body cavity; and

a medical-drug unit having a function for accommodating and discharging a medical drug,

wherein the main body unit and the medical drug unit are freely connected and separated.

2. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body unit comprises at least:

observing means for observing the body cavity; and

medical-drug discharge control means for receiving a signal from the observing means and controlling the discharge operation of the medical drug.

3. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body unit comprises at least:

observing means for observing the body cavity;

communication means for externally receiving/sending a signal; and

medical-drug discharge control means for receiving a signal from the communication means and controlling the discharge operation of the medical drug.

4. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the observing means comprises at least:

illuminating means for irradiating a subject;

a solid-state image pick-up device;

an optical system for forming an optical image indicating the subject onto a light receiving surface of the solid-state image pick-up device; and

signal processing means for processing an output signal from the solid-state image pick-up device.

5. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the observing means comprises at least:

illuminating means for irradiating a subject;

a solid-state image pick-up device;

an optical system for forming an optical image indicating the subject onto a light receiving surface of the solid-state image pick-up device; and

signal processing means for processing an output signal from the solid-state image pick-up device.

6. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the observing means is an in-body sensing unit comprising at least a sensor for sensing in-body information and signal processing means for processing a signal from the sensor.

7. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the observing means is an in-body sensing unit comprising at least a sensor for sensing in-body information and signal processing means for processing a signal from the sensor.

8. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the medical-drug discharge control means comprises at least:

a magnetic-force generating portion for generating magnetic force; and

a magnetic-force control portion for controlling the magnetic force of the magnetic-fore generating portion and controlling the discharge operation of the medical drug.

9. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medical-drug discharge control means comprises at least:

a magnetic-force generating portion for generating magnetic force; and

a magnetic-force control portion for controlling the magnetic force of the magnetic-fore generating portion and controlling the discharge operation of the medical drug.

10. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical-drug unit comprises at least:

a medical drug;

a magnetic-force absorbing portion which is arranged at the facing position of the magnetic-force generating portion in the medical-drug discharge control means via the medical drug and which is absorbed by the magnetic-force generating portion;

a spray nozzle for spraying the medical drug; and

spray nozzle opening/closing means for opening/closing the spray nozzle.

11. A medical capsule apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the spray nozzle opening/closing means comprises a soluble film which is solved in the body.