Living body observation system and method of driving living body observation system

• US 8,398,542 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Sakai, Youhei
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLQUE, RONALD DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/428,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20090275801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101, 600/110, 600/117, 600/118, 600/348, 600/109, 600/114, 600/175, 340/782, 324/207.11, 348/77
• 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 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

A living body observation system of the invention includes a living body information acquiring apparatus including: a living body information acquiring section; a wireless transmission section; a power source section for supplying driving power for driving the living body information acquiring section and the wireless transmission section; a magnetic field detecting section for outputting a detection result of a magnetic field from outside as an electric signal; and a power supply control section for controlling a supplying state of the driving power based on the electric signal, a magnetic field generating coil, a driving circuit for outputting a drive signal to the magnetic field generating coil, a switch for switching a generation state of a magnetic field, and a timer for outputting a signal for stopping output of the drive signal when a predetermined period has passed following switching from off to on of the switch.

Claims

1. A living body observation system comprising,

a living body information acquiring apparatus including:

a living body information acquiring section for acquiring living body information in a living body;

a wireless transmission section for wirelessly transmitting the living body information to outside of the living body;

a power source section for supplying driving power for driving the living body information acquiring section and the wireless transmission section;

a magnetic field detecting section for detecting a magnetic field from outside and outputting a detection result as an electric signal; and

a power supply control section for controlling a supplying state of the driving power supplied from the power source section to the living body information acquiring section and the wireless transmission section based on the electric signal;

wherein

the power supply control section controls the power source section to start supplying driving power upon the detection of the electric signal and controls the power source section to stop supplying driving power upon the detection of the electric signal;

a magnetic field generating section disposed outside the living body information acquiring apparatus, the magnetic field generating section including;

a power source section configured by one of a battery or built-in battery;

a magnetic field generating coil;

a driving circuit for outputting a drive signal for driving the magnetic field generating coil;

a switch for witching between on and off of a generation state of an alternate-current magnetic field in the magnetic field generating coil; and

a timer for outputting a stop signal for stopping output of the drive signal when a predetermined period has passed following switching from off to on of the switch, irrespective of whether the switch is on or off;

wherein

the magnetic field generating section is configured to start a generation of the alternate-current magnetic field when the switch is switched from off to on, and to stop the generation of the alternate-current magnetic field after a predetermined period has passed, irrespective of whether the switch is on or off.

2. The living body observation system according to claim 1, wherein the living body information acquiring apparatus is a capsule endoscope.