Medical capsule housing formed by thermal welding

• US 8,709,329 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Akagi, Toshimasa, Segawa, Hidetake
• Primary Examiner(s): Thrower, Larry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, XUE H
• Application Number:
  US13/080,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20110180197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 264/445, 156/73.1
• US Class Current: 264/445
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 600/92 Method of making endoscopes

Abstract

A capsule-type medical apparatus includes a distal-end cover which is formed in a substantially hemispherical dome shape, the distal-end cover having an open bonding end portion; a drum portion cover which is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, the drum portion cover having an open bonding end portion; a function executing unit which executes a predetermined preset function, the function executing unit being accommodated in the drum portion cover; and an electric storage unit which accumulates drive electric power for driving the function executing unit, wherein the bonding end portion of the distal-end cover and the bonding end portion of the drum portion cover are subjected to a surface treatment, the bonding end portion of the distal-end cover and the bonding end portion of the drum portion cover are bonded after the surface treatment to form an outer casing which has a capsule shape insertable into a test subject and which seals an inside in a liquid tight manner.

Claims

1. A method of producing a medical capsule housing including a first outer member and a second outer member, the method comprising:

arranging a die of an ultrasonic welding machine at a step portion that is on an outer circumferential surface of a hollow hemispherical portion of one of the first and the second outer members,

arranging a horn of the ultrasonic welding machine at a step portion that is on an outer circumferential surface of a hollow hemispherical portion of another of the first and the second outer members; and

performing ultrasonic welding of the opening end portions of the first and second outer members by using the ultrasonic welding machine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step portion provided in one of the outer members and the step portion provided in another outer member are formed in the same shape, and the step portions have annular plane portions, the annular plane portion being perpendicular to an axis line connecting centers of the hollow hemispherical portions.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

arranging the ultrasonic welding machine in a vacuum furnace.