RADIO OBSERVATION DEVICE

• US 20090137871A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Kentaro
• Application Number:
  US12/276,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20090137871A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0004 for electronic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00055 for alerting the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00057 provided with means for testing or calibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

A radio observation device which transmits information on observation subjects has a first coil, an oscillator, a first frequency controller, a frequency-measuring device, and a transmitter. The oscillator generates signals flowing through the first coil within a certain range of frequencies. The first frequency controller is connected to the oscillator, and adjusts the oscillating frequency of the signal flowing through the first coil by controlling said oscillator. The frequency-measuring device measures a resonance frequency of a signal flowing through the first coil and a signal flowing through a second coil being provided external to the radio observation device. The transmitter transmits the information on the observation subjects through said first coil by a carrier wave which oscillates at the resonance frequency.

Claims

1. A radio observation device which transmits information on observation subjects comprising:

a first coil;

an oscillator that generates signals flowing through said first coil within a certain range of frequencies;

a first frequency controller that is connected to said oscillator, and adjusts the oscillating frequency of the signal flowing through said first coil by controlling said oscillator;

a frequency-measuring device that measures the resonance frequency of a signal flowing through said first coil and a signal flowing through a second coil being provided external to said radio observation device; and

a transmitter that transmits the information on the observation subjects through said first coil by a carrier wave which oscillates at the resonance frequency.

2. The radio observation device according to claim 1,

wherein said frequency measuring device measures current flowing through said first coil when said first frequency controller adjusts an oscillating frequency of said first coil, and determines that the resonance frequency is the oscillating frequency of the signal through said first coil when the current is minimal.

3. The radio observation device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory that stores the resonance frequency.

6. The radio observation device according to claim 1, being a capsule-shaped medical device that is delivered into a body to be tested, and sends information by radio transmission.

7. The radio observation device according to claim 6,

wherein the information is image information.

16. The radio observation device according to claim 1 being a surveillance camera which is provided at a location for observing subjects and transmits images and/or sound from the observation subjects.

4. The radio observation system comprising:

a radio observation device which transmits information on observation subjects comprising a first coil, an oscillator that generates signals flowing through said first coil within a certain range of frequencies, a first frequency controller that is connected to said oscillator, and adjusts the oscillating frequency of the signal flowing through said first coil by controlling said oscillator, a frequency-measuring device that measures the resonance frequency of a signal flowing through said first coil and a signal flowing through a second coil being provided external to said radio observation device, and a transmitter that transmits the information on the observation subjects through said first coil by a carrier wave which oscillates at the resonance frequency; and

,

a first resonator that has a first resonance frequency;

wherein signals flowing through said first coil resonate with said first resonator at the first resonance frequency so that said first frequency controller adjusts the oscillating frequency of signals flowing through said first coil.

5. The radio observation system comprising:

a data receiver having a second resonator that may change the resonance frequency, a second frequency controller that changes the resonance frequency by controlling said second resonator, and a measuring device that measures a first frequency which is suitable for radio transmission; and

,

a radio observation device which transmits information on observation subjects comprising a first coil, an oscillator that generates signals flowing through said first coil within a certain range of frequencies, a first frequency controller that is connected to said oscillator, and adjusts the oscillating frequency of the signal flowing through said first coil by controlling said oscillator, a frequency-measuring device that measures the resonance frequency of a signal flowing through said first coil and a signal flowing through a second coil being provided external to said radio observation device, and a transmitter that transmits the information on the observation subjects through said first coil by a carrier wave which oscillates at the resonance frequency;

wherein said second frequency controller controls said second resonator so that said second resonator has a resonance frequency which is substantially the same as the first frequency.

8. A capsule-shaped medical device system comprising:

a capsule-shaped medical device which is delivered into a body to be tested, and sends information by radio transmission comprising a first coil, an oscillator that generates signals flowing through said first coil, within a certain range of frequencies, a first frequency controller that is connected to said oscillator, and adjusts the oscillating frequency of the signal flowing through said first coil by controlling said oscillator, a frequency-measuring device that measures the resonance frequency of a signal flowing through said first coil and a signal flowing through a second coil which is provided external to said radio observation device, and a transmitter that transmits the information on the observation subjects through said first coil by a carrier wave which oscillates at the resonance frequency;

a first resonator that has a first resonance frequency; and

,

a case that stores said capsule-shaped medical device;

wherein said first resonator has said second coil, and is mounted on said case so that said first coil is adjacent to said second coil, and

wherein said first frequency controller adjusts the oscillating frequency of signals flowing through said first coil so that signals flowing through said first coil resonate with said first resonator at said first resonance frequency.

9. The capsule-shaped medical device system according to claim 8,

wherein said first resonator is mounted on said case so that an axis of said first coil and an axis of said second coil are coaxially arranged and the distance in the axial direction between said first coil and said second coil is in a range in which electromagnetic induction occurs between said first coil and said second coil.

10. The capsule-shaped medical device system according to claim 8 further comprising a power switch which is provided to be operable from the outside of said case, and aid first frequency controller adjusting the oscillating frequency of said first coil by controlling said oscillator when said power switch is operated so as to power the capsule-shaped medical device.

11. An endoscope comprising;

a radio observation device which transmits information on observation subjects comprising a first coil, an oscillator that generates signals flowing through said first coil, within a certain range of frequencies, a first frequency controller that is connected to said oscillator, and adjusts the oscillating frequency of the signal flowing through said first coil by controlling said oscillator, a frequency-measuring device that measures the resonance frequency of a signal flowing through said first coil and a signal flowing through a second coil which is provided external to said radio observation device, and a transmitter that transmits the information on the observation subjects through said first coil by a carrier wave which oscillates at the resonance frequency;

said radio observation device being provided at the distal end of said endoscope; and

the distal end of said endoscope being delivered into a body to be tested and sending information on the interior of the body by radio transmission.

12. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope comprising a radio observation device which transmits information on observation subjects comprising a first coil, an oscillator that generates signals flowing through said first coil, within a certain range of frequencies, a first frequency controller that is connected to said oscillator, and adjusts the oscillating frequency of the signal flowing through said first coil by controlling said oscillator, a frequency-measuring device that measures the resonance frequency of a signal flowing through said first coil and a signal flowing through a second coil which is provided external to said radio observation device, and a transmitter that transmits the information on the observation subjects through said first coil by a carrier wave which oscillates at the resonance frequency, said radio observation device being provided at the distal end of said endoscope, and the distal end of said endoscope being delivered into a body to be tested and sending information on the interior of the body by radio transmission;

an endoscope processor that has a opening that receives the distal end of the endoscope and is connected to the proximal end of the endoscope;

said endoscope processor having a first resonator which is provided around the opening and has a first resonance frequency;

said first resonator having said second coil which is provided in said endoscope processor so that said first coil is adjacent to said second coil; and

said first frequency controller adjusting the oscillating frequency of signals flowing through said first coil so that signals flowing through said first coil resonate with said first resonator at said first resonance frequency.

13. The endoscope system according to claim 12, wherein said endoscope processor comprises a detector which is provided in an inner portion of the opening and detects that said distal end is inserted into the opening.

14. The endoscope system according to claim 13 further comprising a power switch which is provided to be operable from the outside of said case, wherein said first frequency controller adjusts the oscillating frequency of said first coil by controlling said oscillator when said detector detects that said distal end is inserted into the opening.

15. The endoscope system according to claim 13 wherein said distal end has a flexible cylindrical shape, said opening has a cylindrical shape of which the radial length is slightly larger than that of said distal end, and said distal end is restricted to move in the circumferential direction of the opening when said distal end engages said detector.