Method and system for measuring a position, position measuring device, and an in vivo radio device

• US 7,032,600 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Atsushi, Tarusawa, Yoshiaki, Terada, Noriyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/758,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 128897-899, 600/407, 600/117, 600/424, 702/152, 702/150
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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 5/062 using magnetic field

Abstract

A system for measuring the position of an in vivo radio device is disclosed. The system comprises the in vivo radio device administered into a living organism, a plurality of ex vivo radio devices disposed outside of the living organism, and a position measuring device. The in vivo radio device includes a transmitter for transmitting a vital information signal or a position measuring signal. Each of the ex vivo radio devices includes a receiver for receiving the vital information signal or the position measuring signal. The position measuring device includes a position measuring unit for measuring the position of the in vivo radio device based on receiving characteristics of the vital information signal or the position measuring signal received by the ex vivo radio devices.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a position of an in vivo radio device administered into a living organism, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a vital information signal or a position measuring signal by the in vivo radio device;

receiving the vital information signal or the position measuring signal by a plurality of ex vivo radio devices disposed outside of the living organism; and

measuring with a position measuring unit the position of the in vivo radio device, based on receiving characteristics of the vital information signal or the position measuring signal received by the ex vivo radio devices, wherein the position measuring unit measures the position of the in vivo radio device, based on one of phase differences of the vital information signals or the position measuring signals received by the ex vivo radio devices, and arriving directions of the vital information signals or the position measuring signals received by the ex vivo radio devices.

2. A position measuring system comprising an in vivo radio device administered into a living organism, a plurality of ex vivo radio devices disposed outside of the living organism, and a position measuring device, wherein,

the in vivo radio device includes a transmitter for transmitting a vital information signal or a position measuring signal;

each of the ex vivo radio devices includes a receiver for receiving the vital information signal or the position measuring signal; and

the position measuring device includes a position measuring unit for measuring a position of the in vivo radio device based on receiving characteristics of the vital information signal or the position measuring signal received by the ex vivo radio devices, wherein the position measuring unit measures the position of the in vivo radio device, based on one of phase differences of the vital information signals or the position measuring signals received by the ex vivo radio devices, and arriving directions of the vital information signals or the position measuring signals received by the ex vivo radio devices.

3. A position measuring system comprising an in vivo radio device administered into a living organism, and a plurality of ex vivo radio devices disposed outside of the living organism, wherein, each of the ex vivo radio devices includes a transmitter for transmitting a position measuring signal;

and

the in vivo radio device includes a receiver for receiving the position measuring signals from the ex vivo radio devices, and a position measuring unit for measuring a position of the in vivo radio device based on receiving characteristics of the position measuring signals from the ex vivo radio devices.

4. A position measuring device for measuring a position of an in vivo radio device administered into a living organism, comprising:

a position measuring unit for measuring the position of the in vivo radio device, based on receiving characteristics of a vital information signal or a position measuring signal transmitted from the in vivo radio device and received by a plurality of ex vivo radio devices, wherein the position measuring unit measures the position of the in vivo radio device, based on one of phase differences of the vital information signals or the position measuring signals received by the ex vivo radio devices, and arriving directions of the vital information signals or the position measuring signals received by the ex vivo radio devices.

5. An in vivo radio device to be administered into a living organism, comprising:

a receiver for receiving position measuring signals transmitted from a plurality of ex vivo radio devices; and

a position measuring unit for measuring a position of the in vivo radio device, based on receiving characteristics of the position measuring signals received from the ex vivo radio devices.

6. The in vivo radio device as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the position measuring unit measures the position of the in vivo radio device, based on one of differences in receiving times of the position measuring signals received from the ex vivo radio devices, phase differences of the position measuring signals received from the ex vivo radio devices, and arriving directions of the position measuring signals transmitted by the ex vivo radio devices and received by the in vivo radio device.

7. The in vivo radio device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, the position measuring unit notifies the ex vivo radio devices of the measured position.

8. A method for measuring a position of an in vivo radio device administered into a living organism, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a position measuring signal by a plurality of ex vivo radio devices disposed outside of the living organism;

receiving the position measuring signals by the in vivo radio device; and

measuring the position of the in vivo radio device, based on receiving characteristics of the position measuring signals received by the in vivo radio device,

wherein the step of measuring the position of the in vivo radio device is based on one of differences in receiving times of the position measuring signals received by the in vivo radio device, phase differences of the position measuring signals received by the in vivo radio device, and arriving directions of the position measuring signals received by the in vivo radio device.