Power supply starter for capsule endoscope

• US 8,343,038 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Segawa, Hidetake
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Philip R
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOU, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US11/631,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,539 Days
• Field of Search: 600/118, 600/109, 600/102, 600/103, 348/74, 348/76
• 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 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00144 Hygienic packaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

A power supply starter (51) provided with a magnetic body (51e) is mounted on an inner lid portion (42) while a sterilizing sheet (43) is opened for enabling application of a magnetic field from outside of the inner lid portion (42) (inside of the inner lid portion (42)) by the magnetic body (51e), and therefore, the start to drive respective functions of the capsule endoscope (2) is prevented until the magnetic field is applied from outside, and thereby, the start to drive the respective functions of the capsule endoscope can be performed with arbitrary timing and the consumption of power accumulated within the capsule endoscope can be suppressed.

Claims

1. A power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope, which has a switch being switched from an off-state to an on-state when applied with a magnetic field, the power supply starter system comprising:

a container for accommodating and holding the capsule endoscope, the container having a projecting portion formed along a longitudinal direction of the capsule endoscope to hold the capsule endoscope and the switch therein, the container having a sheet for covering an opening of the container; and

a power supply starter that comprises

a cylindrical portion in which the projecting portion is inserted along the longitudinal direction when the sheet is removed from the container and the power supply starter is set in the container through the opening, and

a magnetic body that applies the magnetic field to the switch when the projecting portion holding the capsule endoscope is inserted in the cylindrical portion, the magnetic body being provided on an inner wall of the cylindrical portion.

2. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises an outer case and an inner lid, and

the capsule endoscope is adapted to be held in a space between the outer case and the inner lid with both ends thereof inserted in holding portions provided in the outer case and the inner lid.

3. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the inner lid and the outer case are provided with respective engagement portions that detachably engage with each other.

4. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the capsule endoscope remains held by one of the inner lid and the other case when the inner lid and the outer case are detached from each other.

5. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the engagement portions are projections provided in the side in which the power supply starter is set, and

the power supply starter has grooves in the bottom thereof such that rotating the power supply starter with the power supply starter pressed against the inner lid causes the inner lid and the outer case to be detached from each other.

6. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the inner lid has a projecting portion projecting from a bottom surface toward a power supply starter setting side and having a hole for holding the capsule endoscope, the projecting portion fitting into a hole portion of the power supply starter when the power supply starter is set in the inner lid, and

the magnetic body is imbedded in the power supply starter such that a rotation of the power supply starter set in an engaged with the inner lid causes the change in the magnetic field generated thereby and applied to the switch.

7. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the power supply starter is turned 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of the capsule endoscope.

8. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the inner lid has a projecting portion projecting from a bottom surface toward a power supply starter setting side and having a hole for holding the capsule endoscope, the projecting portion fitting into a hole portion of the power supply starter when the power supply starter is set in the inner lid, and

a part of the hole portion of the power supply starter which does not contact with the projecting portion of the inner lid is tapered.

9. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the power supply starter has at least one reflection mirror on the tapered part of the hole portion thereof.

10. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the power supply starter has at least a part of the tapered part of the hole portion thereof minor finished.

11. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the power supply starter comprises:

a groove slanted off a circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion, the groove allowing the magnetic body to move therein, the groove having a first end and a second end positioned lower than the first end; and

an inhibiting portion, provided at the first end of the groove, for inhibiting the magnetic body from starting sliding along the groove, the inhibiting portion is adapted to be arranged as to release the magnetic body when the power supply starter contacts the inner lid.

12. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the power supply starter includes at least two magnetic bodies each pair of which are opposed to each other with the capsule endoscope being in between when the power supply starter is set in the container.

13. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 12, wherein the at least two magnetic bodies are arranged such that directions of magnetic fields of the magnetic bodies which are applied to the switch are the same.

14. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a confirming unit for permitting a user to confirm the power supply state of the capsule endoscope.

15. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 14, wherein the confirming unit includes a light emitting unit which emits light during an on-state of the power supply,

the inner lid has a transparent portion for permitting a user to see the light, and

the power supply starter has an opening through which the user can see the light.

16. The power supply starter system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic body is a magnet.