Capsule-type medical device and medical system

• US 7,727,145 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Mizuno, Hitoshi, Adachi, Hideyuki, Yabe, Hisao, Moriyama, Hiroki, Takizawa, Hironobu, Segawa, Hidetake, Yokoi, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P
• Application Number:
  US11/778,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 600/160, 600/109, 600/173, 600/302, 600/476, 600/178
• US Class Current: 600/109
• 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 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A method of transmitting images in a subject to an outside of the subject using a wireless signal is provided. The method including: (a) transmitting to the outside of the subject a first signal corresponding to a first image obtained using a first imaging device, by timing on a first illumination device for illuminating the subject to capture the first image of the subject; (b) transmitting to the outside of the subject a second signal corresponding to a second image obtained using a second imaging device, by turning on a second illumination device for illuminating the subject to capture the second image of the subject; and (c) repeating (a) and (b), where at least initiation of the transmitting the first signal and initiation of the transmitting the second signals is alternately performed and the first and second illumination devices are alternately turned on coincidentally with transmission periods of the first and second signals, respectively.

Claims

1. A capsule type medical device comprising:

a) a first imaging device adapted to capture a first image of a subject;

b) a second imaging device adapted to capture a second image of the subject;

c) a first illumination device for illuminating the subject to capture the first image;

d) a second illumination device for illuminating the subject to capture the second image; and

e) a transmission circuit for transmitting the first and second images using a wireless signal;

wherein

the transmission circuit is adapted to alternately perform at least initiation of transmitting a first signal and initiation of transmitting a second signal, the first and second signals respectively corresponding to the first and second images, and the first and second illumination devices are alternately turned on coincidentally with transmission periods of the first and second signals, respectively.

2. The capsule type medical device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission circuit transmits the first and second signals such that the transmission of the first signal does not overlap with the transmission of the second signal.

3. The capsule type medical device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission circuit is adapted to transmit one of the first and second signals after completion of transmission of the other of the first and second signals.

4. The capsule type medical device according to claim 3, wherein

the second illumination device is adapted to illuminate the subject after the transmission of the first signal by the transmission circuit is completed.

5. The capsule type medical device according to claim 3, wherein the first imaging device and the second imaging device are arranged so as to have a different direction of view with respect to each other.

6. A method of transmitting images in a subject to an outside of the subject using a wireless signal, comprising:

(a) transmitting to the outside of the subject a first signal corresponding to a first image obtained using a first imaging device, by turning on a first illumination device for illuminating the subject to capture the first image of the subject;

(b) transmitting to the outside of the subject a second signal corresponding to a second image obtained using a second imaging device, by turning on a second illumination device for illuminating the subject to capture the second image of the subject; and

(c) repeating (a) and (b), wherein at least initiation of the transmitting the first signal and initiation of the transmitting the second signals is alternately performed and the first and second illumination devices are alternately turned on coincidentally with transmission periods of the first and second signals, respectively.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the transmitting of the first and second signals is performed such that the transmitting the second signal does not overlap with the transmitting the first signal.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein transmission of one of the first and second signals is performed after the transmission of the other of the first and second signals.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first imaging device captures the first image in a first direction;

and

the second imaging device captures the second image in a second direction different from the first direction.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising adding an identification code to the signal capable of identifying at least one of the first imaging device and the second imaging device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein adding the identification code includes adding the identification code to a header of the signal.

12. The method according to claim 6, further comprising adding an information capable of identifying a patient to the signal.

13. A method of transmitting images in a subject to an outside of the subject using a wireless signal, comprising:

(a) turning on a first illumination device for illuminating a subject and obtaining a first image of the subject using a first imaging device;

(b) turning on a second illumination device for illuminating the subject and obtaining a second image of the subject using a second imaging device;

(c) transmitting to the outside of the subject a first signal corresponding to the first image obtained using the first imaging device;

(d) transmitting to the outside of the subject a second signal corresponding to the second image obtained using the second imaging device; and

(e) repeating (c) and (d),

wherein

at least initiation of the transmitting the first signal and initiation of the transmitting the second signal is alternately performed and

the first and second illumination devices are alternately turned on coincidentally with transmission periods of the first and second signals, respectively.