CAPSULE TYPE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM, AND CAPSULE TYPE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20090204181A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Kawano, Hironao, Uchiyama, Akio, Takizawa, Hironobu, Homan, Masatoshi, Yokoi, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,303,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/067 using accelerometers or gyroscopes

Abstract

A capsule type medical device, including: a capsule shaped casing which can be ingested to within the living body; an electrical stimulation device which comprises a plurality of electrodes which are used for applying electrical stimuli to living body tissue; an electrode selection device which selects an electrode from among the plurality of electrodes, to apply an electrical stimulus; a contact detection device which electrically detects the electrode which is in contact with the living body tissue; and a control section which controls the various devices.

Claims

1. A capsule type medical device, comprising:

a capsule shaped casing which can be ingested to within the living body;

an electrical stimulation device which comprises a plurality of electrodes which are used for applying electrical stimuli to living body tissue;

an electrode selection device which selects an electrode from among the plurality of electrodes, to apply an electrical stimulus;

a contact detection device which electrically detects the electrode which is in contact with the living body tissue; and

a control section which controls the various devices.

2. A capsule type medical device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation device comprises:

a waveform generator which generates a predetermined voltage waveform;

a conversion circuit which converts the voltage waveform to electric current;

a limitation circuit which is used for adjusting the electric current which flows to the electrode; and

an electric current sensor which detects the electric current,

wherein the control section adjusts the gain of the limitation circuit according to the output of the electric current sensor.

3. A capsule type medical device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical stimulation device comprises a resistor between the limitation circuit and the electrode.

4. A capsule type medical device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical stimulation device generates an electric current waveform which is a continuous curve of roughly square form.

5. A capsule type medical device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical stimulation device generates an electric current waveform which is a step shaped triangular wave.

6. A capsule type medical device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical stimulation device comprises:

one electrodes which are connected to the high electrical potential side, and

the other electrodes which are connected to the low electrical potential side,

the electrode selection device comprises;

a first switching device which selects at least one electrode from among the one electrodes and connects it electrically to the conversion circuit; and

a second switching device which selects at least one electrode from among the plurality of the other electrodes.

7. A capsule type medical device according to claim 1, wherein the contact detection device is a force detection device.

8. A capsule type medical device according to claim 7, wherein the sense of force detection device is strain gauges which are equipped to each of the electrodes which are connected to the high electrical potential side and the electrodes which are connected to the low electrical potential side.

9. A capsule type medical device according to claim 1, wherein the contact detection device measures the impedance between the electrode which is connected to the high electrical potential side and the electrode which is connected to the low electrical potential side.

10. A capsule type medical device according to claim 6, wherein:

the one electrode and the other electrode are disposed in multiple steps along the outer surface of the casing, between from one end of the casing in its longitudinal direction to the other end thereof,

a projecting portion which includes an inclined portion which slopes with respect to the axial line along the longitudinal direction of the casing is provided;

the one electrode and the other electrode are provided upon the inclined surface;

the inclined portion comprises a portion which inclines towards a one end of the longitudinal direction of the casing, and a portion which inclines towards the other end of the longitudinal direction of the casing; and

at least one group of the one electrode and the other electrode are disposed in respective portions of the inclined portion.