Capsule endoscope

• US 8,439,822 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Shigemori, Toshiaki, Orihara, Tatsuya, Segawa, Hidetake, Kawano, Hironao, Nagase, Ayako
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, PHILIP ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US12/471,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20090299144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 600/103, 600/109, 600/117, 600/118, 600/160
• US Class Current: 600/103
• 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 1/00179 for off-axis viewing
• 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 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

A capsule endoscope includes a capsule-shaped casing and an imaging unit for taking an image of an inside of an organ in a state where the capsule endoscope is floating in liquid introduced inside the organ of a subject. Specific gravity of the capsule endoscope to the introduced liquid is ρ; a plane divides the capsule endoscope such that a volume ratio is to be ρ:1−ρ. A straight line that connects a center of volume of a portion whose volume ratio is ρ and a center of gravity of the capsule endoscope is substantially perpendicular to the plane. The center of gravity is present at a position farther distant from the plane than the center of volume. A surface of a boundary of a field of view that forms an angle of view of the imaging unit and the plane do not intersect outside the capsule endoscope.

Claims

1. A capsule endoscope comprising:

a capsule-shaped casing;

a first imaging unit and a second imaging unit that are arranged inside the capsule-shaped casing in a fixed manner, the first imaging unit being arranged at one end portion of the capsule-shaped casing in a longitudinal direction of the capsule-shaped casing, and the second imaging unit being arranged at another end portion of the capsule-shaped casing, the capsule endoscope taking an image of an inside of an organ by the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit in a state where the capsule endoscope is floating in liquid that is introduced inside the organ of a subject; and

a first illuminating unit that illuminates an imaging field of view of the first imaging unit and a second illuminating unit that illuminates an imaging field of view of the second imaging unit, wherein

specific gravity of the capsule endoscope to the introduced liquid is ρ

wherein (ρ

<

1),

a plane divides the capsule endoscope such that a volume ratio is to be ρ

;

1−

ρ

,

a straight line that connects a center of volume and a center of gravity of the capsule endoscope is substantially perpendicular to the plane, and the center of gravity is present at a position farther distant from the plane than the center of volume, and

a surface of a boundary of a field of view that forms an angle of view of the first imaging unit and the plane do not intersect with each other outside the capsule endoscope,

a surface of a boundary of a field of view that forms an angle of view of the second imaging unit and the plane do not intersect with each other outside the capsule endoscope,

a first optical axis of the first imaging unit intersects with a surface of a portion whose volume ratio is 1−

ρ

that is obtained by dividing the capsule endoscope by the plane,

a second optical axis of the second imaging unit intersects with a surface of the portion whose volume ratio is ρ

that is obtained by dividing the capsule endoscope by the plane,

optical characteristics of the first imaging unit are different from those of the second imaging unit, and

a light emitting amount of the first illuminating unit is different from that of the second illuminating unit.

2. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the plane and at least one of the first optical axis of the first imaging unit and the second optical axis of the second imaging unit are substantially perpendicular to each other.

3. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first optical axis of the first imaging unit and the second optical axis of the second imaging unit are substantially parallel to each other.

4. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising an optical member for each of the first and second imaging units to image an object, wherein

a transparent water-drop protective film is formed on an outer surface of the optical member.

5. The capsule endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the transparent water-drop protective film is any one of a water-repellent film and a hydrophilic film.

6. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein

a distance between the first imaging unit and a focal point of the first imaging unit is longer than a distance between the second imaging unit and a focal point of the second imaging unit, and

the light emitting amount of the first illuminating unit is larger than that of the second illuminating unit.