Capsular endoscope

• US 8,246,537 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Fujimori, Noriyuki, Ogata, Masanori, Miyata, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, PHILIP ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US11/961,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600117-118, 600/160, 600/302
• US Class Current: 600/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3933 Liquid markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3987 Applicators for implanting markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/32 operating autonomously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/72 Micromanipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

According to the present invention, a capsular endoscope having at least an image pickup optical system, an illumination unit, an image pickup portion, and a circuit board comprises a marker shooting unit that indwells a marker member in a body cavity. Consequently, a predetermined marker is indwelled in a desired region such as a lesion discovered using the capsular endoscope so that the region can be readily rediscovered during reexamination.

Claims

1. A capsular endoscope comprising:

a first capsular housing containing a power supply;

a second capsular housing containing an image pickup optical system, an illumination unit and a circuit board;

coupling means for coupling the first capsular housing and the second capsular housing in a body cavity, the first capsular housing and the second capsular housing being swallowed separately by a subject, and the coupling means being disposed inside the first capsular housing and the second capsular housing; and

power feeding means for feeding power from the power supply only when the first capsular housing and the second capsular housing are coupled, the power feeding means being disposed in the first capsular housing and the second capsular housing.

2. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means is a permanent magnet.

3. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means is an electromagnet.

4. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the power feeding means includes a transformer.

5. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a battery.

6. The capsular endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the battery includes primary cells.

7. The capsular endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the battery includes secondary cells.

8. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a generation device.

9. The capsular endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the power supply is composed of fuel cells.

10. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a power receiving unit for receiving power externally fed by radio.

11. The capsular endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the power feeding means is a transformer, and a primary coil and a secondary coil of the transformer are disposed inside the first capsule case and the second capsule case, respectively.