Capsule-type medical device

• US 20070173691A1
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Akio, Takizawa, Hironobu, Mizuno, Hitoshi, Yokoi, Takeshi
• Application Number:
  US11/702,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/118
• 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 method of obtaining images of a subject using a capsule type medical device, the method comprising:

swallowing the capsule type medical device;

obtaining images in the subject at a first image capture rate; and

obtaining images in a small intestine at a second image capture rate lower than the first image capture rate.

2. A terminal device being placed outside a subject used with a swallowable capsule type medical device introduced into the subject, the terminal device comprising:

an input portion adapted to allow a user to input a command; and

a storage portion adapted to store a control program that generates a control signal associated with the command;

wherein the terminal device is adapted to communicate with the capsule type medical device using a wireless signal.

3. The terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising a display portion adapted to display images transmitted from the capsule type medical device using the wireless signal.

4. A swallowable capsule type medical device comprising:

a swallowable housing;

a first coil contained in the housing adapted to generate electricity;

an electric storage device placed in the housing adapted to store the electricity generated by the first coil; and

a second coil placed in the housing adapted to be magnetized by the electricity.

5. The capsule type medical device according to claim 4, wherein the first coil is adapted to serve the second coil.

6. A capsule type medical device comprising:

a swallowable housing introduced into a subject;

a battery placed in the housing;

a magnet placed in the housing; and

an antenna placed in the housing and adapted to wirelessly communicate with a device located outside the subject;

wherein the battery is arranged on a first side of the magnet and the antenna is arranged on a second side substantially opposite to the first side with respect to the magnet.

7. The capsule type medical device according to claim 6, wherein the capsule type medical device further includes an illumination device placed in the housing, the illumination device being arranged on a substantially opposite side to the antenna with respect to the magnet.

8. The capsule type medical device according to claim 6, wherein the magnet is provided with one of a permanent magnet and a coil.

9. A capsule type medical device comprising:

a swallowable housing introduced into a subject

a battery placed in the housing;

a magnet placed in the housing; and

an antenna placed in the housing and adapted to wirelessly communicate with a device located outside the subject;

wherein the magnet is arranged on a first side of the battery and the antenna is arranged on a second side substantially opposite to the first side with respect to the battery.

10. The capsule type medical device according to claim 9, wherein the capsule type medical device further comprises an illumination device placed in the housing, the illumination device being arranged on a substantially opposite side to the antenna with respect to the battery.

11. The capsule type medical device according to claim 9, wherein the magnet is provided with one of a permanent magnet and a coil.

12. A capsule type medical device comprising:

a swallowable housing introduced into a subject; and

a spiral provided on at least a part of a surface of the housing;

wherein the spiral is formed such that a fluid flows from one side of the housing to an another side substantially opposite to the one side.

13. A capsule type medical device comprising:

a swallowable housing introduced into a subject, the housing having an axis in a first direction; and

plural built-in components each disposed in the housing;

wherein a heaviest component of the plural components is positioned on a central axis of the housing having substantially a same direction as the first direction such that a center of gravity of the capsule type medical device is positioned on the central axis of the housing.

14. The capsule type medical device according to claim 13, wherein the heaviest component is positioned at the center of the central axis such that the center of gravity of the capsule type medical device is positioned at the center of the housing.

15. The capsule typo medical device according to claim 13, wherein the heaviest component is a battery.

16. The capsule type medical device according to claim 15, wherein the capsule type medical device further comprising a magnet disposed in the housing, the magnet being arranged such that a center of a magnetism direction thereof is placed substantially on the central axis.

17. The capsule type medical device according to claim 16, wherein the magnet is arranged so that the magnetism direction thereof has a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis.

18. The capsule type medical device according to claim 15, wherein a magnet is further provided in the housing, the magnet being arranged such that a magnetism direction thereof has a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis.

19. The capsule type medical device according to claim 15, wherein the battery comprises plural button batteries.

20. A method of delivering a medicine using a capsule type medical device, the method comprising:

swallowing the capsule type medical device having a housing;

sampling a body fluid;

mixing a medicine stored in the housing with the body fluid; and

ejecting the mixture from the housing.

21. A method of performing a medical action using a capsule type medical device, the method comprising:

swallowing the capsule type medical device having a housing;

detecting bleeding using a senior; and

performing, if the bleeding is detected, an action to treat the bleeding.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the performing of the action comprises ejecting a hemostatic agent stored in the housing.

23. A capsule type medical device comprising:

a first portion forming at least a part of a swallowable housing and having a first end;

a second portion forming at least a part of the housing and having a second end positioned substantially opposite to the first end; and

an imaging device having a field of view and placed in at least one of the first portion and the second portion, the imaging device adapted to capture at least a part of the other of the first and second portions within the field of view.

24. The capsule type medical device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a magnet arranged in at least one of the first and second portions; and

a mark provided on the swallowable housing to indicate a magnetism direction of the magnet;

wherein the imaging device is arranged such that the mark is captured within the field of view thereof.

25. The capsule type medical device according to claim 24, wherein the mark is provided so as to indicate at least one of the poles of the magnet.

26. The capsule type medical device according to claim 24, wherein a portion between the first portion and the second portion has a width smaller than those of the first portion and the second portion, in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction defined by connecting the first end and the second end.

27. A capsule type medical device comprising:

a swallowable housing having a longitudinal axis;

a magnet disposed in the housing and having a magnetism direction in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

a mark provided on the housing and adapted to indicate the magnetization direction.

28. The capsule type medical device according to claim 27, wherein the mark is adapted to indicate one of the poles of the magnet.

29. The capsule type medical device according to claim 27, the magnet is provided with one of a permanent magnet and a coil.

30. The capsule type medical device according to claim 27, further comprising a spiral provided on the housing.