In-vivo image capturing system

• US 9,063,393 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimoto, Seiichiro, Akagi, Toshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEWTON, ALEXANDRA L
• Application Number:
  US11/642,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,107 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/117, 600/118, 600/160
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00055 for alerting the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/067 using accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/023 Multi-image cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/22 Double cameras

Abstract

Provided is an in-vivo image capturing system including a capsule casing, an analyzing unit, and a warning unit. The capsule casing is insertable into a body of a subject from an oral cavity and it includes an imaging optical system which may obtain images only in one end direction. The analyzing unit analyzes the image components within the oral cavity obtained by the imaging optical system. The warning unit issues a warning to a user about the direction of the capsule casing based on the analytical result by the analyzing unit.

Claims

1. An in-vivo image capturing system comprising:

a capsule casing insertable into a subject from an oral cavity, the capsule casing including an imaging optical system capable of capturing images only in one end direction;

an analyzing unit which determines whether an imaging direction of the capsule casing is heading for the throat side or teeth side of the subject by analyzing image components captured by the imaging optical system within the oral cavity; and

a warning unit which issues a warning to a user about a direction of the capsule casing based on the determination by the analyzing unit.

2. The in-vivo image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing unit checks whether the image components obtained by the imaging optical system include more than a predetermined amount of white image components.

3. The in-vivo image capturing system according to claim 2, wherein the warning unit issues a warning when the analyzing unit is determines that the imaging direction of the capsule casing is heading for the teeth side of the subject.

4. The in-vivo image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing unit checks whether the image components captured by the imaging optical system include more than a predetermined amount of brightness.

5. The in-vivo image capturing system according to claim 4, wherein the warning unit issues a warning when the analytical result by the analyzing unit is positive.

6. The in-vivo image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing unit and the warning unit are included in the capsule casing.

7. The in-vivo image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing unit is provided inside the capsule casing and the warning unit is provided outside the capsule casing.

8. The in-vivo image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing unit checks whether the image components obtained by the imaging optical system include more than a predetermined amount of red image components.

9. The in-vivo image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing unit checks whether the image components obtained by the imaging optical system include more than a predetermined amount of white image components and more than a predetermined amount of brightness.

10. The in-vivo image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the warning unit displays a message as the warning.