Capsular endoscope

• US 20070173696A1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Miyata, Kenji, Fujimori, Noriyuki, Ogata, Masanori
• Application Number:
  US11/726,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/158
• 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 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3933 Liquid markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3987 Applicators for implanting markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/32 operating autonomously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/72 Micromanipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

According to the present invention, a capsular endoscope having at least an image pickup optical system, an illumination unit, an image pickup portion, and a circuit board comprises a marker shooting unit that indwells a marker member in a body cavity. Consequently, a predetermined marker is indwelled in a desired region such as a lesion discovered using the capsular endoscope so that the region can be readily rediscovered during reexamination.

Claims

1. A capsular endoscope having at least an image pickup optical system, an illuminating device, an image pickup device, and a circuit board, comprising:

a shooting unit for shooting a desired member in a body cavity, wherein the shooting unit includes an urging member for constraining, in the capsular endoscope, a shooting force with which to shoot the desired member, while urging the shooting force to the desired member.

2. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the desired member is liquid.

3. The capsular endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the urging member is a pressurizing member for pressurizing the liquid desired member in advance.

4. The capsular endoscope according to claim 3, wherein a reservoir unit filled with the liquid desired member is attachable to and detachable from a capsule main body.

5. The capsular endoscope according to claim 2, wherein a distal part of a nozzle for ejecting the desired member is within an observation field of view.

6. The capsular endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the liquid desired member is a medicine.

7. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the desired member is a metallic member.

8. The capsular endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the desired member as the metallic member is a marker member.

9. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the desired member is a marker member.

10. The capsular endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the marker member is a fluorescent substance.

11. The capsular endoscope according to claim 9, wherein member is a substance opaque to X-rays.

12. The capsular endoscope according to claim 9, wherein member is a colorant.

13. The capsular endoscope according to claim 9, wherein member is a clip.

14. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein member is a medicine.

15. A method for performing a treatment in a living body, comprising the steps of:

applying a shooting force in a capsule;

filling a shooting member in the capsule;

introducing the capsule into the organic body;

releasing the shooting force at a desired region; and

shooting the member at the desired location.

16. The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to claim 15, wherein the step of shooting the member is a step of shooting a marker member.

17. The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to claim 15, wherein the step of shooting the member is a step of shooting a medicine.

18. The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to claim 15, further comprising the step of observing inside of the organic body by the capsule.

19. The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to claim 15, further comprising the step of detecting a three dimensional posture of the capsule in the organic body.

20. The method for performing a treatment in a living body according to claim 15, wherein the step of filling a shooting member in the capsule is a step of selecting a reservoir unit filled with the shooting member and attaching the reservoir unit to the capsule.