Capsule-type medical device
First Claim
1. A capsule-type medical device comprising:
- a capsule main unit for performing medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment within a subject;
a magnet provided to at least a part of the capsule main unit, for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of the subject;
a flexible insertion portion, at least a portion thereof being covered with flexible rubber, the flexible insertion portion being formed on at least one end of the capsule main unit and formed narrower in diameter at the end thereof than an outer diameter of the capsule main unit;
a propulsion generating unit provided on at least one of;
(a) at least a part of an outer perimeter of the capsule main unit and (b) the flexible insertion portion, for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into a propulsion force; and
a function means for performing one or more medical acts, whereinthe function means is provided on one end of the capsule main unit and the flexible insertion portion is provided on another end;
the magnet is arranged on a center axis of the capsule main unit and magnetized with respect to a plane including the center axis as a boundary, so as to have an N-pole on one side and an S-pole on another side.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A capsule-type medical device comprises a capsule main unit having functions for being inserted into the body cavity and performing medical acts such as taking images or the like. The capsule main unit comprises therein a magnet which is acted upon by external magnetism, and a spiral portion on the outer perimeter, so that rotating force acting upon the magnet is readily converted into a propelling force for propelling the capsule-type medical device. A flexible insertion portion which is long and small in diameter is provided to the capsule main unit to allow smooth progression through the body cavity, and the center of gravity of the device is placed upon the longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit, thus facilitating smooth progression through the body cavity.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A capsule-type medical device comprising:
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a capsule main unit for performing medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment within a subject; a magnet provided to at least a part of the capsule main unit, for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of the subject; a flexible insertion portion, at least a portion thereof being covered with flexible rubber, the flexible insertion portion being formed on at least one end of the capsule main unit and formed narrower in diameter at the end thereof than an outer diameter of the capsule main unit; a propulsion generating unit provided on at least one of;
(a) at least a part of an outer perimeter of the capsule main unit and (b) the flexible insertion portion, for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into a propulsion force; anda function means for performing one or more medical acts, wherein the function means is provided on one end of the capsule main unit and the flexible insertion portion is provided on another end; the magnet is arranged on a center axis of the capsule main unit and magnetized with respect to a plane including the center axis as a boundary, so as to have an N-pole on one side and an S-pole on another side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A capsule-type medical device comprising:
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a capsule main unit for performing medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment within a subject; a magnet provided to at least a part of the capsule main unit, for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of the subject; a flexible insertion portion, at least a portion thereof being covered with flexible rubber, the flexible insertion portion being formed on at least one end of the capsule main unit and formed narrower in diameter at the end thereof than an outer diameter of the capsule main unit; a propulsion generating unit provided on at least one of;
(a) at least a part of an outer perimeter of the capsule main unit and (b) on the flexible insertion portion, for converting rotating motion due to the magnet into a propulsion force; anda function means for performing one or more medical acts, wherein the function means is provided on one end of the capsule main unit and the flexible insertion portion is provided on another end and the function means is an observation device. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A capsule-type medical device comprising:
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a capsule main unit having functions for performing medical acts such as examination, therapy, and/or treatment within a subject; one or more magnets provided to the capsule main unit, for being magnetically acted upon by external magnetism outside of the subject; a propulsion generating unit for converting rotating motion due to the one or more magnets into propulsion force; and a recovery tool formed as a flexible rod, the recovery tool having at least one of a magnet and magnetic substance provided proximate a distal end thereof for generating magnetic pull as to a peripheral polarity of the at least one of the magnet and magnetic substance to draw the capsule main unit by magnetic pull; wherein the center of gravity of the capsule main unit is generally placed upon a longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit, the propulsion generating unit has spiral protrusions protruding on an outer face of the capsule main unit and the recovery tool has a recessed portion formed to provide clearance for the spiral protrusions when the capsule main unit is captured by the recovery tool. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification