Power supply starter for capsule endoscope

• US 20090192353A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Segawa, Hidetake
• Granted Patent: US 8,343,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00144 Hygienic packaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

A power supply starter (51) provided with a magnetic body (51e) is mounted on an inner lid portion (42) while a sterilizing sheet (43) is opened for enabling application of a magnetic field from outside of the inner lid portion (42) (inside of the inner lid portion (42)) by the magnetic body (51e), and therefore, the start to drive respective functions of the capsule endoscope (2) is prevented until the magnetic field is applied from outside, and thereby, the start to drive the respective functions of the capsule endoscope can be performed with arbitrary timing and the consumption of power accumulated within the capsule endoscope can be suppressed.

Claims

1. A power supply starter for capsule endoscope, comprising a magnetic body in a capsule endoscope, the magnetic body being capable of applying a magnetic field from outside of a holder, the capsule endoscope being held by the holder within a container case and including a switch for power supply, the switch switching power supply state when applied with the magnetic field.

2. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the holder has a first holder and a second holder which form a holding space region in between for accommodating and holding the capsule endoscope within the holding space region,

the power supply starter detachably engaging with one of the first and second holders.

3. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:

a movement portion allowing the magnetic body to move; and

an inhibiting portion for inhibiting a movement of the magnetic body,

wherein, when the power supply starter contacts the container case, inhabitation by the inhibiting portion is released and the magnetic body moves by the movement portion so as to switch the switch for power supply to a power supply state.

4. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic body includes at least two magnetic bodies opposed to each other with the capsule endoscope being in between.

5. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a confirming unit capable of confirming the power supply state of the capsule endoscope.

6. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 2, further comprising an engagement portion that engages with one of the first and second holders so that one of the first and second holders is detached from the other of the first and second holders.

7. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the capsule endoscope is held by the holder detached.

8. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the at least two magnetic bodies are arranged so that directions of magnetic fields of the magnetic bodies which are applied to the switch are the same.

9. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the confirming unit includes

the holder that has at least a transparent portion;

and

an opening of the power supply starter.

10. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the switch switches the power supply state in such a manner that the power supply starter is turned in a circumferential direction of the capsule endoscope after the power supply starter is engaged with the holder.

11. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 10, wherein the power supply starter is turned 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of the capsule endoscope.

12. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic body is a magnet.

13. The power supply starter for capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein

the power supply starter is able to be detachably engaged with the holder, and

the switch switches the power supply state by the magnetic field of the magnetic body with the power supply starter engaged with the holder.