Micro capsule type robot

• US 6,719,684 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Kim, Taesong, Jeong, Younkoo, Song, Siyoung, Kim, Byungkyu, Park, Jong-Oh
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/131,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20030092964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101, 600/109, 600/118, 600/160, 600/179, 600/476, 348/65, 348/68, 348/74-76
• US Class Current: 600/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00094 Suction openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6886 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue

Abstract

In a micro capsule type robot for examining the internal organs of a human body, by installing stopping unit for stopping or delaying moving of a micro capsule type robot at a certain examination position of the internal organs according to a stop control signal inputted from outside of a human body, the micro capsule type robot can be fixed to a certain position of the internal organs of a human body or its movement can be delayed in case of need in spite of peristalsis of the internal organs in order to examine the certain position minutely, accordingly a lesion judgement rate can be improved and a diagnosis function of the micro capsule type robot can be heightened.

Claims

1. A micro capsule type robot having a camera for examining the internal organs of a human body, the micro capsule type robot, comprising:

a stopping means installed to a body thereof for stopping or delaying moving of the micro capsule type robot at a certain examination position according to a stop control signal inputted from outside of a human body, wherein the stopping means stops or delays moving of the body by hanging on the internal wall of the internal organs by projecting a bridging member of a bridging unit from the body according to the stop control signal, and

wherein the body is constructed with a front unit, a rear unit and a cylinder unit, a plurality of grooves are radially formed on the cylinder unit of the body in a length direction, and the bridging unit includes a plurality of bar-shaped bridging members respectively fixed to the plurality of grooves,

wherein when the micro capsule type robot is moved, the bridging unit is placed inside the groove, when moving of the robot is stopped or delayed, the bridging member is projected from the groove in accordance with the stop control signal.

2. The micro capsule type robot of claim 1, wherein the bridging unit is an actuator made of functional polymer actuator of IPMC (ionic polymer metal composite).

3. The micro capsule type robot of claim 1, wherein the bridging unit is constructed as one body with the body.

4. The micro capsule type robot of claim 1, wherein the body is made of polymer having a biocompatibility.

5. The micro capsule type robot of claim 1, wherein the camera unit is installed to the front surface and the rear surface of the body.

6. A micro capsule type robot having a camera for examining the internal organs of a human body, the micro capsule type robot, comprising:

a stopping means installed to a body thereof for stopping or delaying moving of the micro capsule type robot at a certain examination position according to a stop control signal inputted from outside of a human body wherein the stopping means stops or delays moving of the body by expanding an expansion unit installed to the exterior of the body in accordance with the control signal, and

wherein the expansion unit is expanded by gas supply of a gas supply unit and includes an expansion member contracted by discharging gas when the robot is moved, and

wherein the gas supply unit supplies gas by evaporating liquefied gas.

7. A micro capsule type robot having a camera for examining the internal organs of a human body, the micro capsule type robot, comprising:

a stopping means installed to a body thereof for stopping or delaying moving of the micro capsule type robot at a certain examination position according to a stop control signal inputted from outside of a human body, wherein the stopping means stops or delays moving of the body by expanding an expansion unit installed to the exterior of the body in accordance with the control signal, and

wherein the body is constructed with a hemispheric front unit, a hemispheric rear unit and a cylinder unit, and the expansion unit is formed at the end of the cylinder unit abutting on the rear unit.

8. A micro capsule type robot having a camera for examining the internal organs of a human body, the micro capsule type robot, comprising:

a stopping means installed to a body thereof for stopping or delaying moving of the micro capsule type robot at a certain examination position according to a stop control signal inputted from outside of a human body, wherein the stopping means stops or delays moving of the body by expanding an expansion unit installed to the exterior of the body in accordance with the control signal, and

wherein the body is constructed with a hemispheric front unit, a hemispheric rear unit and a cylinder unit, and the expansion unit is formed at the central portion of the cylinder unit.

9. A micro capsule type robot having a camera for examining the internal organs of a human body, the micro capsule type robot, comprising:

a stopping means installed to a body thereof for stopping or delaying moving of the micro capsule type robot at a certain examination position according to a stop control signal inputted from outside of a human body, wherein the stopping means stops or delays moving of the body by expanding an expansion unit installed to the exterior of the body in accordance with the control signal, and

wherein the body is constructed with a hemispheric front unit, a hemispheric rear unit and a cylinder unit, and the expansion unit is formed at both ends of the cylinder unit abutting on the front portion and the rear portion.

10. A micro capsule type robot having a camera for examining the internal organs of a human body, the micro capsule type robot, comprising:

a stopping means installed to a body thereof for stopping or delaying moving of the micro capsule type robot at a certain examination position according to a stop control signal inputted from outside of a human body, wherein the stopping means stops or delays moving of the body by clinging to the internal wall of the internal organs by a clinging unit installed to the exterior of the body in accordance with the control signal, and

wherein the clinging unit includes a air suction unit arranged inside the body and a suction pipe having one end that is installed to the exterior of the body and another end that is a sucking disc, the suction pipe sucks air by being connected to the air suction unit, and the sucking disc clings to the inter wall of the internal organs, accordingly moving of the body is stopped or delayed.

11. The micro capsule type robot of claim 10, wherein a plurality of suction pipes are radially placed on the exterior of the body, when moving of the body is stopped or delayed by clinging to the internal wall of the internal organs by one of the plurality of suction pipes, connections between other suction pipes and the air suction unit are cut off.

12. The micro capsule type robot of claim 10, wherein the air suction unit is a micro pump.