Method and portable device for displaying an image from a capsule type medical device

• US 7,993,263 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Yabe, Hisao, Moriyama, Hiroki, Takizawa, Hironobu, Mizuno, Hitoshi, Segawa, Hidetake, Yokoi, Takeshi, Adachi, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P
• Application Number:
  US11/186,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20050256372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,210 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/160, 600/118
• 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 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A method of displaying an image in a subject is provided. The method including: capturing an image using a capsule type medical device introduced into the subject; generating a wireless signal of the image; receiving the wireless signal of the image at the outside of the subject with an external device; and displaying the image based on the received signal, on a first display portion contained in the same housing as the external device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a swallowable capsule type medical device including;

a first capsule type endoscope and a second capsule type endoscope connected to the first capsule type endoscope via a connection portion;

a first image capturing device for capturing an image of an inside of a subject at a set image pickup cycle while illuminating at a set illumination interval, the first image capturing device being provided in the first capsule type endoscope;

a second image capturing device for capturing an image of an inside of the subject by shifting a timing by a predetermined time period from a timing of the first image capturing device, at the set image pickup cycle while illuminating at the set illumination interval, the second image capturing device being provided in the second capsule type endoscope;

a first transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the image captured by the first image capturing device to outside the subject; and

a second transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the image captured by the second image capturing device to outside the subject,

a portable external device including;

a housing configured to be attached to the subject;

a receiver disposed in or on the housing for receiving signals of the images wirelessly transmitted from the first transmitter and the second transmitter of the capsule type medical device;

a signal processor contained in the housing and adapted to process the signals of the images wirelessly transmitted from the first transmitter and the second transmitter of the capsule type medical device;

a control member which is controlled to change at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle set in the capsule type medical device after the capsule type medical device has started image-pickup;

a third transmitter for wirelessly transmitting to the capsule type medical device a control signal of the at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle changed by operating the control member;

a display portion contained in the housing and adapted to display the image processed by the signal processor, while the swallowable capsule type medical device is in an inside of the subject;

a storage portion contained in the housing and adapted to store data of the image; and

an output portion for downloading the data of the image stored in the storage portion to a terminal, after inspection by the capsule type medical device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the portable external device further comprises a control portion adapted to transmit an instruction for performing a predetermined function to the swallowable capsule type medical device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be worn by the subject.

4. A method of displaying an image in a subject, comprising:

capturing an image using a first image capturing device of a capsule type medical device which includes the first image capturing device and a second image capturing device and which is introduced into the subject at a set image pickup cycle while illuminating at a set illumination interval;

capturing an image using the second image capturing device by shifting a timing by a predetermined time period from a timing of the first image capturing device, at the set image pickup cycle while illuminating at the set illuminating interval;

generating wireless signals of the images captured by the first and second image capturing devices and transmitting the wireless signals to an outside of the subject;

receiving the wireless signals at a portable external device configured to be attached to the subject;

processing the received signals with the external device;

displaying the image based on the received signals, on a first display portion contained in the same housing as the external device, while the capsule type medical device is in an inside of the subject;

changing, with a control member of the external device, at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle set in the capsule type medical device after the capsule type medical device has started image-pickup;

wirelessly transmitting to the capsule type medical device a control signal of the at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle changed with the control member; and

downloading data of an image stored in a storage portion of the external device to a terminal, after inspection by the capsule type medical device.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising storing data of the received image in a storage portion contained in the same housing as the external device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the downloading comprises downloading data of the image stored in the storage portion into a terminal having a second display portion and the method further comprises displaying the image downloaded from the storage portion, on the second display portion.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising detachably connecting the terminal to the external device.

8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising securing the external device to the subject.

9. A system comprising:

a swallowable capsule type medical device including;

a first capsule type endoscope and a second capsule type endoscope connected to the first capsule type endoscope via a connection portion;

a first image capturing device for capturing an image of an inside of a subject at a set image pickup cycle while illuminating at a set illumination interval, the first image capturing device being provided in the first capsule type endoscope;

a second image capturing device for capturing an image of an inside of the subject by shifting a timing by a predetermined time period from a timing of the first image capturing device, at the set image pickup cycle while illuminating at the set illumination interval, the second image capturing device being provided in the second capsule type endoscope;

a first transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the image captured by the first image capturing device to outside the subject; and

a second transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the image captured by the second image capturing device to outside the subject;

a portable external device including;

a housing configured to be worn by the subject;

a signal processor contained in the housing and adapted to process a signals of the images wirelessly transmitted from the first transmitter and the second transmitter of the capsule type medical device;

a control member which is controlled to change at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle set in the capsule type medical device after the capsule type medical device has started image-pickup;

a third transmitter for wirelessly transmitting to the capsule type medical device a control signal of the at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle changed by operating the control member;

a display portion contained in the housing and adapted to display the image processed by the signal processor, while the swallowable capsule type medical device is in an inside of the subject;

a storage portion contained in the housing and adapted to store data of the image; and

an output portion for, after data of a plurality of images are stored in the storage portion, downloading the data of the plurality of images to a terminal, in a state where the portable external device is detached from the subject.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the portable external device further comprises a control portion adapted to transmit an instruction for performing a predetermined function to the swallowable capsule type medical device.

11. A method of displaying an image in a subject, comprising:

capturing an image using a first image capturing device of a capsule type medical device which includes the first image capturing device and a second image capturing device and which is introduced into the subject at a set image pickup cycle while illuminating at a set illumination interval;

capturing an image using the second image capturing device by shifting a timing by a predetermined time period from a timing of the first image capturing device, at the set image pickup cycle while illuminating at the set illumination interval;

generating wireless signals of the images captured by the first and second image capturing devices and transmitting the wireless signals to an outside of the subject;

securing a portable external device to the subject;

receiving the wireless signal at the outside of the subject;

processing the received signal with the external device;

changing, with a control member of the external device, at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle set in the capsule type medical device after the capsule type medical device has started image-pickup;

wirelessly transmitting to the capsule type medical device a control signal of the at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle changed by the control member;

displaying the image based on the received signal, on a first display portion contained in the same housing as the external device, while the capsule type medical device is in an inside of the subject; and

after data of a plurality of images are stored in a storage portion in the external device, downloading the data of the plurality of images to a terminal, in a state where the portable external device is detached from the subject.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising storing data of the received image in a storage portion contained in the same housing as the external device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the downloading comprises downloading data of the image stored in the storage portion into a terminal having a second display portion and the method further comprises displaying the image downloaded from the storage portion, on the second display portion.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising detachably connecting the terminal to the external device.

15. A method of displaying an image in a living body, the method comprising:

attaching to the living body an external unit including a recording portion capable of recoding an image, and having a capsule type medical device including a first image capturing device and a second image capturing device swallowed into the living body;

capturing an image of inside of a living body using the first image capturing device at a set image pickup cycle while illuminating at a set illumination interval;

capturing an image using the second image capturing device by shifting a timing by a predetermined time period from a timing of the first image capturing device, at a set image pickup cycle while illuminating at a set illumination interval;

transmitting the images captured by the first and second image capturing devices to outside of the living body by a wireless signal;

receiving the wireless signal by the external unit positioned outside the living body;

changing, with a control member of the external unit, at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle set in the capsule type medical device after the capsule type medical device has started image-pickup;

wirelessly transmitting to the capsule type medical device a control signal of the at least one of the illumination interval and the image pickup cycle changed by the control member;

displaying the received image on a first display portion in a state where the external unit is attached to the living body, while the capsule type medical device is in the inside of the subject;

storing a plurality of images by sequentially storing the received image in the recording portion provided to the external unit;

detaching the external unit from the living body and downloading to a terminal an image stored in the recording portion of the external unit; and

after the downloading, displaying the image downloaded to the terminal on a second display portion.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the external unit is detachably connected to the terminal.