Capsule-type medical device and medical system

• US 20070142710A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Moriyama, Hiroki, Takizawa, Hironobu, Mizuno, Hitoshi, Segawa, Hidetake, Yokoi, Takeshi, Adachi, Hideyuki, Yabe, Hisao
• Application Number:
  US11/707,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142710A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• 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 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A capsule-type medical device which is advanced through a digestive tract of a human being or animal for conducting an examination, therapy, or treatment is provided. The capsule-type medical device includes: a plurality of capsule bodies; a soft linking unit which links the plurality of capsule bodies and has an outer diameter less than that of any of the capsule bodies; and a joining member which joins two or more of the plurality of capsule bodies in a prescribed position.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining images in a subject using a capsule type medical device, the method comprising:

introducing the capsule type medical device having a first imaging device and a second imaging device into the subject;

obtaining a first image with a first angle of view using the first imaging device;

obtaining a second image with a second angle of view having a broader angle of view than the first angle of view using the second imaging device;

transmitting the first image to outside of the subject by a wireless signal; and

transmitting the second image to outside of the subject by the wireless signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the first image using the first imaging device includes obtaining the first image in a first direction;

and obtaining the second image using the second imaging device includes obtaining the second image in a second direction.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein obtaining the second image includes obtaining the second image in the second direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction.

4. A capsule type medical device, comprising:

a first imaging device for obtaining a first image, the first imaging device having a first angle of view; and

a second imaging device for obtaining a second image, the second imaging device having a second angle of view which is broader than the first angle of view.

5. The capsule type medical device according to claim 4, wherein the first imaging device is arranged so as to obtain the first image in a first direction, and the second imaging device is arranged so as to obtain the second image in a second direction.

6. The capsule type medical device according to claim 5, wherein the first and the second imaging devices are arranged so as to be directed toward opposite directions with respect to each other.

7. A method of obtaining images in a subject using a capsule type medical device, the method comprising:

introducing the capsule type medical device having a first imaging device with a first imaging characteristic and a second imaging device with a second imaging characteristic different from the first imaging characteristic into the subject;

obtaining a first image using the first imaging device having the first imaging characteristic;

obtaining a second image using the second imaging device having the second imaging characteristic;

transmitting the first image to outside of the subject by a wireless signal; and

transmitting the second image to outside of the subject by the wireless signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first imaging characteristic is a first field of view and the second imaging characteristic is a second field of view having a larger field of view than the first field of view.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first imaging characteristic is a first viewing direction and the second imaging characteristic is a second viewing direction having a different angle of view relative to a longitudinal axis of the capsule type medical device than the first viewing direction.