CAPSULE TYPE ENDOSCOPE

• US 20070232870A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Mizuno, Hitoshi
• Application Number:
  US11/765,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232870A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• 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 1/0607 for annular illumination
• 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 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes

Abstract

A capsule-type endoscope comprising a capsule body, an image pickup element an illuminating elements, an image signal processing circuit, a memory, an image information transmitting circuit and an antenna for wireless transmission. The capsule body contains the pickup element, the illuminating elements, the processing circuit the memory, transmitting circuit and the antenna. While the capsule body remains in a living body, the image pickup element takes images of an interior of the living body. The processing circuit processes the image, generating image information. The memory stores the information. The transmitting circuit reads the information and supplies it to the antenna. The antenna transmits the information by radio, from the living body.

Claims

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

a) introducing the capsule type medical device having an imaging device into the subject;

b) capturing a first image in the subject;

c) capturing a second image in the subject;

d) storing the first image into a storage device;

e) storing the second image into the storage device;

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

g) transmitting the second image to outside of the subject by the wireless signal;

h) wherein the storing of the second image is at least initiated before completion of the transmission of the first image.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the capturing of the first and second images includes capturing the first image using a first imaging device and capturing the second image using a second imaging device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the capturing of the first image includes capturing the first image in a first direction and the capturing of the second image includes capturing the second image in a second direction.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the storing of the first image and the second image includes storing the first image into a first storage device and storing the second image into a second storage device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first image and the second image are consecutive images with respect to time.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the capturing of the first image includes capturing the first image using a first imaging device and the capturing of the second image includes capturing the second image using a second imaging device;

and

wherein the capturing of the first image is at least initiated before the capturing of the second image is initiated.

9. A capsule type medical device adapted to obtain an image comprising:

a) an imaging device adapted to capture a first image and a second image;

b) a storage device adapted to successively store the first image and the second image; and

c) a transmission portion adapted to successively read the first image and second image stored in the storage device and successively transmit the first image and the second image by a wireless signal;

d) wherein the storage device is adapted to at least initiate storing the second image before completion of the transmission of the first image.

10. The capsule type medical device according to claim 9, wherein the imaging device includes a first imaging device and a second imaging device.

11. The capsule type medical device according to claim 9, wherein the first imaging device is adapted to capture the images in a first direction and the second imaging device is adapted to capture the images in a second direction.

12. The capsule type medical device according to claim 11, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

13. The capsule type medical device according to claim 12, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other.

14. The capsule type medical device according to claim 11, wherein the storage device includes a first storage device and a second storage device.

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

a) introducing the capsule type medical device having an imaging device into the subject;

b) capturing an image in the subject;

c) storing the image into a storage device;

d) reading the image from the storage device; and

e) transmitting the image to outside of the subject by a wireless signal;

f) wherein the transmitting of the image is initiated before completion of the reading of the image.