BODY-INSERTABLE DEVICE SYSTEM AND IN-VIVO OBSERVATION METHOD

• US 20120265015A1
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawano, Hironao, Takizawa, Hironobu, Segawa, Hidetake, Hirakawa, Katsumi, Kobayashi, Satomi, Ito, Hideo, Aoki, Isao
• Granted Patent: US 8,790,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/273 for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to actively control at least one of the position and direction of the imaging field in a subject and to observe a desired observed region in the subject certainly in a short period of time. A body-insertable device system according to the present invention includes a capsule endoscope 1 introduced into a subject and a permanent magnet 3. An imaging unit of the capsule endoscope 1 for taking an image inside the subject is fixed in a casing. The capsule endoscope 1 includes a drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a which is also introduced in the subject 100. The permanent magnet 3 controls the operation of the drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a.

Claims

1. A capsule endoscope guiding method comprising:

a generating step of generating a magnetic field by a magnetic field generator for a capsule endoscope that is introduced into a subject and includes a permanent magnet; and

a first moving step of moving the capsule endoscope in a vertical direction, which is substantially parallel to a direction of gravitational force, by controlling the magnetic field generator so as to bring the capsule endoscope into a state submerged between a liquid surface and a stomach wall.

2. The capsule endoscope guiding method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second moving step of moving the capsule endoscope in a substantially horizontal direction by controlling the magnetic field generator while the capsule endoscope is in the state submerged between the liquid surface and the stomach wall

3. The capsule endoscope guiding method according to claim 2, further comprising:

a reading step of reading, from a pattern memory, control information for the magnetic field generator concerning the first and second moving steps,

wherein the first and second moving steps are performed such that the magnetic field generator is controlled based on the control information stored in the pattern memory.

4. The capsule endoscope guiding method according to claim 2, wherein the first moving step moves the capsule endoscope vertically upward from a bottom surface of the stomach wall.

5. The capsule endoscope guiding method according to claim 2, wherein the first moving step moves the capsule endoscope vertically downward from the liquid surface.

6. The capsule endoscope guiding method according to claim 4, further comprising:

a third moving step of moving, after the second moving step, the capsule endoscope that is submerged in liquid vertically downward to be brought into contact with the bottom surface of the stomach wall.

7. The capsule endoscope guiding method according to claim 5, further comprising:

a third moving step of moving, after the second moving step, the capsule endoscope that is submerged in liquid vertically upward to be brought into contact with the liquid surface.

8. A magnetic field generator operating method comprising:

a generating step of generating a magnetic field for moving a capsule endoscope, which is in liquid, in a desired direction; and

a first step of controlling a magnitude of the magnetic field, which is exerted on the capsule endoscope in a vertical direction substantially parallel to a direction of gravitational force, so as to bring a whole surface of the capsule endoscope into contact with the liquid.

9. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 8, wherein the first step comprises determining whether the capsule endoscope is under a liquid surface based on position and posture information of the capsule endoscope and controlling the magnitude of the magnetic field exerted on the capsule endoscope based on a result of determination.

10. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 8, further comprising:

a second step of controlling a magnitude of the magnetic field, which is exerted on the capsule endoscope in a substantially horizontal direction, so as to move the capsule endoscope in the substantially horizontal direction while the whole surface of the capsule endoscope is in contact with the liquid.

11. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 10, wherein the second step comprises controlling a magnetic field strength in the vertical direction to maintain the contact of the whole surface of the capsule endoscope with the liquid and moving a magnetic field generator in the substantially horizontal direction.

12. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 10, wherein the second step comprises controlling a magnetic field generator such that sum of magnetic force, gravitational force, and buoyant force, which are exerted on the capsule endoscope in the vertical direction, is substantially zero.

13. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 10,

wherein a specific gravity of the capsule endoscope is larger than a specific gravity of the liquid and a magnetic field generator comprises a magnet for moving that generates the magnetic field,

the first step comprises increasing a magnetic field strength of the magnet for moving to move the capsule in a direction opposite to the direction of gravitational force, and

the second step comprises moving the magnet for moving in the horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravitational force.

14. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 10,

wherein a specific gravity of the capsule endoscope is smaller than a specific gravity of the liquid and a magnetic field generator comprises a magnet for moving that generates the magnetic field,

the first step comprises increasing a magnetic field strength of the magnet for moving to move the capsule in the direction of gravitational force, and

the second step comprises moving the magnet for moving in the horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravitational force.

15. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 10,

wherein a specific gravity of the capsule endoscope is smaller than a specific gravity of the liquid and a magnetic field generator comprises a magnet for moving that generates the magnetic field,

the first step comprises reducing a magnetic field strength of the magnet for moving to move the capsule in a direction opposite to the direction of gravitational force, and

the second step comprises moving the magnet for moving in the horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravitational force.

16. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third step of reducing the magnetic field strength of the magnet for moving until sum of magnetic force, gravitational force, and buoyant force, which are exerted on the capsule endoscope, is directed in the direction of gravitational force.

17. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 14, further comprising:

a third step of reducing the magnetic field strength of the magnet for moving until sum of magnetic force, gravitational force, and buoyant force, which are exerted on the capsule endoscope, is directed in a direction opposite to the direction of gravitational force.

18. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 15, further comprising:

a third step of increasing the magnetic field strength of the magnet for moving until sum of magnetic force, gravitational force, and buoyant force, which are exerted on the capsule endoscope, is directed in the direction of gravitational force.

19. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 8,

wherein a magnetic field generator comprises a magnet for moving that generates the magnetic field, and

the first step comprises changing a magnetic field strength by changing a distance between the magnet for moving and the capsule endoscope.

20. The magnetic field generator operating method according to claim 10, wherein the second step comprises controlling magnetic fields generated by plural electrical magnets, respectively, by a magnetic field generator to change the magnetic field exerted on the capsule endoscope in the horizontal direction.