Memory-type two-section endoscopic system

• US 20080177141A1
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology Armaments Bureau MND (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology Armaments Bureau MND (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Wu, Hsien-Ming, Huang, Ker-Jer, Chen, Yen-Chung
• Application Number:
  US11/656,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177141A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging

Abstract

The present invention provides a memory-type two-section endoscopic system, which includes an endoscope that comprises a light-emitting device, an image-capturing device, a storage module, and a transmission module adapted in a shell. A disconnectable cable connects to the shell, and can depart form the shell. When the endoscope examines the esophagus and the stomach, the disconnectable cable can be used to control the endoscope for obtaining image data of the esophagus and the stomach for the image-capturing device. Then the image data is stored in the storage module or transmitted to the transmission module. When the endoscope examines the intestines, the shell will depart from the disconnectable cable and the endoscope will continue examinations of the intestines without wire control. The image data obtained by examining the intestines is stored to the storage module. Thereby, the esophagus, the stomach, and the intestines can be examined at a time, and the efficiency of an endoscope is enhanced.

Claims

1. A memory-type two-section endoscopic system, comprising:

a shell, having a transparent hood covering the shell;

a light-emitting device, adapted in the shell, and producing a light source illuminating a target through the transparent hood;

an image-capturing device, adapted in the shell, receiving the reflected light from the target and producing image data;

a storage module, adapted in the shell, and storing the image data;

a transmission module, adapted in the shell, connecting with the storage module and the image-capturing device, transmitting the image data and receiving a control signal to control the image-capturing device and the storage module; and

a disconnectable cable, connecting to the shell, and disconnectable from the shell.

2. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, and further comprising a transmission control device, which couples to the disconnectable cable, transmits the control signal to the transmission module via the disconnectable cable and a wireless transmission interface, and receives the image data transmitted by the transmission module via the disconnectable cable and the wireless transmission interface.

3. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 2, wherein when the disconnectable cable disconnects from the shell, the transmission control device will be driven to transmit the control signal to the transmission module via a wireless transmission interface, and to receive the image data transmitted by the transmission module via the wireless transmission interface.

4. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein when the disconnectable cable disconnects from the shell, the transmission module will be driven to stop transmitting the image data and receiving the control signal, and to store the image data to the storage module.

5. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, and further comprising a transmission control device, which transmits the control signal to the transmission module via a wireless transmission interface, and receives the image data transmitted by the transmission module via the wireless transmission interface.

6. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, and further comprising a disconnect module, which is adapted between the shell and the disconnectable cable, and disconnects the disconnectable cable from the shell.

7. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 6, wherein the disconnectable cable further has a disconnect button, which connects to the disconnect module, and controls the disconnect module to disconnect from the shell.

8. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 6, wherein the disconnectable cable further has a current output device, which connects to the disconnect module, and produces a current to drive the disconnect module to disconnect from the shell.

9. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, and further comprising a power supply, which couples power to the image-capturing device, the light-emitting device, and the storage module.

10. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 9, and when the disconnectable cable disconnects from the shell, the power supply will be driven to supply power to the image-capturing device, the light-emitting device, and the storage device.

11. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the disconnectable cable includes a plurality of power lines and a plurality of signal lines, the plurality of power lines supplying power to the image-capturing device, the light-emitting device, the storage device, and the transmission module, and the plurality of signal lines transmitting the control signals to the image-capturing device, the storage device, and the transmission module.

12. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the disconnectable cable includes a flexible soft tube, which covers the disconnectable cable and connects to the shell.

13. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the shell is a capsule shell.

14. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is a light-emitting diode.

15. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the storage module is a memory module.

16. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 15, wherein the memory module has a plurality of dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), a plurality of nanometer-scale non-volatile memories, or a combination of said two memory types.

17. The memory-type two-section endoscopic system of claim 15, wherein the memory module further has a control chip controlling data access of the memory module.