CAPSULAR ENDOSCOPE

• US 20080114204A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Miyata, Kenji, Fujimori, Noriyuki, Ogata, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 8,246,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/130
• 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

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A capsular endoscope comprising:

a power capsule including a first armor member that seals at least a power unit selected from a group consisting of an image pickup optical system, an illumination unit, an image pickup system, a circuit board, and the power unit;

a main capsule including a second armor member that seals a component of the group not included in the power capsule; and

a coupling/decoupling member for coupling and decoupling the power capsule and the main capsule to and from each other, the coupling/decoupling member being disposed to at least one of the power capsule and the main capsule.

8. The capsular endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the coupling/decoupling member is a permanent magnet.

9. The capsular endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the coupling/decoupling member is an electromagnet.

10. The capsular endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the power capsule and the main capsule further each include a transformer.

11. The capsular endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the power unit is a battery.

12. The capsular endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the battery includes primary cells.

13. The capsular endoscope according to claim 12, wherein the battery includes secondary cells.

14. The capsular endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the power unit is a generation device.

15. The capsular endoscope according to claim 14, wherein the power unit is composed of fuel cells.

16. The capsular endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the power unit is a power receiving unit for receiving power externally fed by radio.