Body-Insertable Apparatus

• US 20090012503A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Kawano, Hironao, Takizawa, Hironobu
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0061 Alimentary tract secretions, e.g. biliary, gastric, intestinal, pancreatic secretions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00345 Micromachines, nanomachines, microsystems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/152 pressurised by contraction of elastic reservoirs containers for dispensing contents by contraction of an elastic bag provided therein, in general B65D83/0061
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/06 Pumps having fluid drive

Abstract

A body-insertable apparatus is introduced in a subject to perform at least one of input and output of a predetermined fluid to and from the subject. The body-insertable apparatus includes a reservoir (2) in which the predetermined fluid is stored; a first communicating channel (4) whose one end is opened to an inside of the reservoir, the first communicating channel (4) being extended in a predetermined direction; a second communicating channel (5) whose one end is opened to an outside space of the body-insertable apparatus, the second communicating channel (5) being extended in a direction substantially parallel to the first communicating channel (4), and the second communicating channel (5) partially running parallel to the first communicating channel (4); and a control mechanism (6) which controls a communication state between the first communicating channel (4) and the second communicating channel (5).

Claims

1. A body-insertable apparatus which is introduced in a subject to perform at least one of input and output of a predetermined fluid to and from the subject, the apparatus comprising:

a reservoir in which the predetermined fluid is stored;

a volume changing member which changes a volume of the reservoir;

a first communicating channel, one end of which is opened to an inside of the reservoir, and the other end of which is opened at a predetermined position in the body-insertable apparatus;

a second communicating channel, one end of which is opened to an outside space of the body-insertable apparatus, the second communicating channel being extended in a direction substantially parallel to the first communicating channel, and the second communicating channel partially running parallel to the first communicating channel;

a communication adjusting mechanism which adjusts a communication state between an opening formed at the other end of the first communicating channel and an opening formed at the other end of the second communicating channel; and

a control mechanism which controls a drive state of the communication adjusting mechanism.

3. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communicating channel and the second communicating channel are formed by the same member.

4. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second communicating channel is substantially formed on an central axis in a longitudinal direction of the body-insertable apparatus.

5. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the volume changing member, the reservoir, the first communicating channel, and the second communicating channel form a reservoir unit, and

the control mechanism, the communication adjusting mechanism, and the reservoir unit are sequentially arranged in the body-insertable apparatus.

6. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reservoir unit is formed while being detachable from other portions of the body-insertable apparatus.

7. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the predetermined fluid outputted to the subject is previously stored in the reservoir, and the reservoir is formed such that a volume of a region in which the predetermined fluid is stored is changed according to the output of the predetermined fluid, and

the reservoir unit further has an air space region whose volume is changed according to the volume change of the region, and the reservoir unit is formed such that the air space region and other space regions in the body-insertable apparatus are kept in a communicated state while the reservoir unit is mounted on the body-insertable apparatus.

8. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a weight member which is arranged near the opening of the second communicating channel, the opening of the second communicating channel being opened to the outside space of the body-insertable apparatus, the weight member acting so that the opening is opened downward in the subject.

9. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body-insertable apparatus is formed so that a center of gravity is located near the opening of the second communicating channel to the outside space of the body-insertable apparatus.

11. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening at the other end of the first communicating channel and the opening at the other end of the second communicating channel are formed on the substantially same plane.

12. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first communicating channel and the second communicating channel are extended in directions parallel to each other at least near the other end of each of the first communicating channel and the second communicating channel,

the communication adjusting mechanism includes a sheet member which is arranged such that the openings at the other end of each of the first communicating channel and the second communicating channel are covered with the sheet member, the openings being in the same plane, and

the control mechanism controls the communication state between the first communicating channel and the second communicating channel by applying a variable pressing force to the sheet member in a direction parallel to the direction in which the first communicating channel and the second communicating channel are extended near the other ends and in the direction in which the sheet member abuts onto at least one of the openings at the other end of the first communicating channel and at the other end of the second communicating channel.

13. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the communication adjusting mechanism further includes a pressing member which generates the pressing force applied by the sheet member.

14. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communicating channel and the second communicating channel are formed to be extended in directions substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body-insertable apparatus at least near the other end of the first communicating channel and the other end of the second communicating channel.

16. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a watertight member is provided between the sheet member and the openings of at least one of the first communicating channel and the second communicating channel.

17. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sheet member is a coupling member which couples the opening at the other end of the first communicating channel and the opening at the other end of the second communicating channel.

18. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pressing member is a shape-variable member whose shape is changed by one of a temperature change and electrical current passage.

19. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sheet member is a shape-variable sheet whose shape is changed by one of the temperature change and the electrical current passage.

20. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the pressing member further includes an elastic member which generates a pressing force, and

when the shape-variable member is driven, the shape-variable member is deformed in the direction in which the pressing force generated by the elastic member is released.

21. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume changing member includes a piston forming a part of an outer wall portion of the reservoir, and an elastic member moving the piston.

22. The body-insertable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume changing member includes an elastic membrane.

2. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

23. A method, comprising:

injecting a fluid into a reservoir;

mounting a reservoir unit on a body-insertable apparatus, the reservoir unit including the reservoir;

introducing the body-insertable apparatus into a subject; and

performing at least one of input and output of a predetermined fluid to and from the subject.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising storing the reservoir unit after the injecting.

25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising taking the body-insertable apparatus after use.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

separating the reservoir unit from the body-insertable apparatus taken;

mounting other reservoir unit on the body-insertable apparatus taken; and

introducing the body-insertable apparatus taken into a subject.