JP2005028189A - Capsule endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capsule endoscope capable of being more securely operated even when a dome shape observation window is chapped. <P>SOLUTION: In an open space formed inside the dome shape observation window integrally involving an imaging means, a lighting means, and driving means therefor, exposed parts of the imaging means, the lighting means, and the driving means are water-tightly covered by a sealing means, thereby preventing an electric circuit and the like from being affected even when the dome shape observation window is chapped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a capsule endoscope that examines the inside of a body cavity with a capsule body incorporating an imaging means and the like.

  In recent years, a capsule endoscope has been proposed in which a capsule body having a capsule shape is inserted into a body cavity to perform an inspection or the like.

  For example, a capsule endoscope having a dome-shaped observation window is known.

  In the above-described conventional capsule endoscope, for example, when a dome-shaped observation window is cracked, if an electric circuit or the like is housed therein, there is a risk of deterioration or failure due to moisture.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a capsule endoscope having a dome-shaped observation window, a capsule endoscope that operates more reliably even when the dome-shaped observation window is cracked. The purpose is to provide.

  The capsule endoscope of the present invention includes an illumination optical system, an electrical system including a drive circuit provided behind the illumination optical system, and a front side of the illumination optical system. And a watertight seal that covers the electrical system in a watertight manner together with the illumination optical system.

  According to the present invention, in a capsule endoscope having a dome-shaped observation window, it is possible to provide a capsule endoscope that operates more reliably even when the dome-shaped observation window is cracked.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIGS. 1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a capsule endoscope system including the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment. 3 shows the configuration of the capsule endoscope, FIG. 3 shows an example of use when moving from the stomach to the duodenum, FIG. 4 shows the configuration and function of the illumination means and observation means, and FIG. 5 shows the configuration of FIG. FIG. 6 shows a part of the configuration of a capsule endoscope according to a modification.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a capsule endoscope system 1 having a capsule medical device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a first embodiment in which a patient 2 swallows from a mouth to examine the inside of a body cavity. A capsule endoscope 3 of the form, an extracorporeal unit 5 provided outside the body of the patient 2 and provided with an antenna 4 for receiving image information captured by the capsule endoscope 3 wirelessly, and the extracorporeal unit 5 By being detachably connected, the personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) 7 that can capture images stored in the extracorporeal unit 5 and display them on the monitor unit 6 is configured. The personal computer 7 is connected to a personal computer main body 8 with a keyboard 9 for inputting data and a monitor unit 6, and is detachably connected to the extracorporeal unit 5 by a USB cable 10 or the like.

FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the capsule endoscope 3 according to the first embodiment.
This capsule endoscope 3 has two capsule-shaped hard parts having different sizes, the first capsule 11a and the second capsule 11b, and the flexibility (softness) connecting them, and both capsules Both capsules 11a and 11b are connected to each other by a thin tube 12 of 11a and 11b.

  The first capsule 11a has a cylindrical outer periphery of a hard capsule frame 13 covered with a sealing member 14 and the opening of the capsule frame 13 is covered with a dome-like hard transparent cover 15 in a watertight manner. And the lighting means are accommodated.

  In the interior covered with the dome-shaped transparent cover 15, an objective lens 16 constituting an imaging means (observation means) is attached to a central portion of the transparent cover 15 so as to face the transparent cover 15 and attached to a light-shielding lens frame 17. An image sensor, for example, a CMOS imager 18 is disposed at the imaging position.

  In addition, for example, white LEDs 19 are arranged at a plurality of locations around the lens frame 17 as illumination means so that the light emitted from the white LEDs 19 can pass through the transparent cover 15 to illuminate the outside thereof. . On the back side of the CMOS imager 18, the white LED 19 is driven to emit light, the driving circuit 20 that drives the CMOS imager 18, the driving circuit 20 is controlled, and signal processing is performed on the output signal of the CMOS imager 18. A controller 21 having a function to perform is arranged, and these are fixed to the capsule frame 13.

  In addition, a connection cap 22 for connecting and fixing one end of the tube 12 is provided in the center of the end surface (rear end surface) of the capsule frame 13 on the side opposite to the transparent cover 15 side, and one end of the tube 12 is connected and fixed in a watertight manner. Has been.

  The controller 21 is connected to one end of an electric cable 23 inserted through the tube 12, and the other end is connected to the second capsule 11b. The tube 12 is formed of a flexible tube such as urethane, vinyl chloride, or silicon.

  The length of the tube 12 connecting the first capsule 11a and the second capsule 11b is substantially the same as or longer than the length of the smaller first capsule 11a.

  Further, even if the shape of the tube 12 is changed by curling, meandering or spirally winding the electric cable 23 in the tube 12, almost no tension is applied to the electric cable 23.

  The second capsule 11b having a size larger than that of the first capsule 11a is a capsule frame 24 having a function of battery storage means. For example, the end of the capsule frame 24 that is opened by inserting a seal member 25 into a cylindrical side surface is attached to the battery storage lid. 26 is detachably covered. Further, the outer peripheral side of the battery housing lid 26 is covered with an elastic resin cover 28 having a function of a protective cover up to the vicinity of the connection cap portion 27 of the tube 12 in the capsule frame 24. The elastic resin cover 28 is detachable by its elastic force.

  In the capsule frame 24, for example, a button-type battery 29 and a controller 21 are electrically connected, and a transmission / reception circuit 30 that generates a signal to be transmitted and demodulates the received signal is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 30. In addition, an antenna 31 for receiving image information captured by the CMOS imager 18 to the extracorporeal unit 5 and receiving a control signal transmitted from the extracorporeal unit 5 by radio is incorporated.

  The battery 29 is connected to supply drive power to the transmission / reception circuit 29, the controller 21, and the drive circuit 20.

  A male screw 32 is provided on the cylindrical side surface of the second capsule 11b, while a female screw that is screwed into the male screw 32 is provided on the battery housing lid 26. In addition, a circumferential groove is provided on the cylindrical side surface of the second capsule 11b to house the sealing member 25 such as an O-ring and to make the inside watertight between the battery housing lid 26 that is in pressure contact therewith.

  In addition, the other end of the tube 12 is fixed in a watertight manner by an adhesive or the like to the connection base portion 27 at the center portion of the capsule frame 24 on the side opposite to the battery storage lid 26 side.

  The extracorporeal unit 5 receives a signal from the capsule endoscope 3 through the antenna 4 and displays an image demodulated by an internal signal processing circuit (not shown) on the liquid crystal monitor 5a. Store it compressed on a hard disk or the like.

  The extracorporeal unit 5 is provided with an operation unit 5b. When the operation unit 5b is operated to transmit a control signal by radio waves from the antenna 4, the capsule endoscope 3 receives the control signal, and the controller 21 receives the control signal. Can change the illumination interval of the illumination means and the imaging cycle of the imaging means.

For example, normally, illumination and imaging are performed once every 2 seconds. However, when a control signal is received once at a short interval, for example, illumination and imaging are performed once per second. When the control signal is sent twice at short intervals, illumination and imaging are performed twice per second. Also, when a control signal to be released is sent, the normal illumination and imaging cycle are restored.
Further, after the endoscopic examination by the capsule endoscope 3, the extracorporeal unit 5 is connected to the personal computer 7, so that the image data accumulated in the extracorporeal unit 5 can be taken into the personal computer 7 side and displayed on the monitor 6. it can.

  In the capsule endoscope 3 having such a configuration, both the small and large capsules 11a and 11b are connected by a flexible tube 12, and the first capsule 11a accommodates an imaging means, an illumination means, and the like. The larger second capsule 11b contains a battery 29, an antenna 31, and the like as a power source, and supplies power to the imaging means, the illumination means, etc. via the electric cable 23 inserted into the tube 12, The image signal picked up by the image pickup means is transmitted from the antenna 31 to the outside.

  In this case, one of the two capsules 11a and 11b is made small to facilitate swallowing and easy passage. Further, the illumination means and the imaging means are accommodated on the front end side (that is, the end opposite to the end connected by the tube 12) on the side of the first capsule 11a which has been reduced, and the traveling direction of the capsule endoscope 3 The front side is illuminated so that the illuminated body cavity can be imaged.

In addition, the rear end side of the smaller first capsule 11a is corner-cut so as to be oblique or spherical, and is chamfered 34.
Further, the outer peripheral shape of the front end portion connected by the tube 12 of the larger second capsule 11b is chamfered 35 so as to be oblique or spherical in order to improve passability. The chamfer 35 is chamfered larger than the chamfer 34 on the rear end side of the first capsule 11a so as not to prevent passage.

Further, the electric cable 23 is longer than the length of the tube 12 so that the deformation of the flexible tube 12 can be followed.
The length of the tube 12 is equal to or longer than the length of the smaller first capsule 11a. In this way, ease of swallowing is improved by having a certain length or more. In addition, by setting the length of the first capsule 11a, which is the same as the length of the smaller first capsule 11a, to approximately twice as long, there is no concern that the soft coupling portion will be entangled or knotted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the patient 2 swallows the capsule endoscope 3 and performs an endoscopic examination as shown in FIG. 1 by making a difference in size between the two capsules 11a and 11b. In this case, swallowing from the smaller side facilitates smooth swallowing and allows the traveling direction to be controlled as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the capsule endoscope 3 passes from the stomach 36 through the pylorus 37 and proceeds to the duodenum 38, the smaller first capsule 11a tends to enter first, so the traveling direction and the observation direction are matched. be able to.

  A dome-shaped transparent cover 15 is provided on the front end side of the smaller first capsule 11a so as to cover the front surface of the capsule, and the transparent cover 15 includes imaging means and illumination means. The objective lens 16 constituting the image pickup means is fitted on a light-shielding mirror frame 17 for shielding unnecessary light reflected from the inside of the transparent cover 15, and protrudes forward from the illumination means.

  The capsule endoscope 3 performs illumination and observation (imaging) from a dome-shaped window because of its shape. In that case, reflection of illumination light on the inner surface of the dome-shaped transparent cover 15 and irregular reflection are highly likely to occur, and it is considered that ghosts and flares enter the observation image, and the function of the light shielding mirror frame 17 is important. It becomes.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the height h of the lens frame 17 and the distance s between the objective lens 16 and the illuminating means are set, the reflected light on the inner surface of the transparent cover 15 from the illuminating means is the objective lens 16. It is set so as not to enter as much as possible. For example, a part of the light emitted from one of the white LEDs 19 constituting the illumination unit shown in FIG. 4 as indicated by an arrow is reflected by the inner surface of the transparent cover 15, but most of the reflected light is a mirror body. The field of view by the objective lens 16 is secured so as not to enter the objective lens 16 inside the frame 17.

  Further, light that passes through the inner surface of the transparent cover 15 and is reflected by the outer surface of the transparent cover 15 is prevented from entering the objective lens 16 as much as possible. In this way, the observation performance is improved by substantially eliminating the intrusion of reflected light.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 4 and shows an explanatory diagram for effectively illuminating the visual field range.
As shown in FIG. 5, the visual field range with respect to the observation target 39 by the objective lens 16 attached to the lens frame 17 arranged at the center can be illuminated by the white LEDs 19 as illumination means arranged on both sides thereof. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the objective lens 16 and the lens frame 17 are collectively referred to as an objective optical system.

Here, x: distance from the front end surface of the objective optical system to the observation object 39
h: Height of the objective optical system (based on the end face of the white LED 19)
d: Diameter of the objective optical system
θ: Viewing angle of the objective optical system
s: distance between the objective optical system and the white LED 19
a: Radius of view
b: illumination range and as shown in FIG.
In this way, the illumination range can be effectively illuminated without being blocked by the objective optical system.

here,
a = d / 2 + xtan θ
b = (x / h))). (s−d / s) −d / 2
It is.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When examining the body cavity of the patient 2 with the capsule endoscope 3, it is necessary to store the battery 29 as shown in FIG. In this case, the portion in which the battery 29 is stored can be removed by screwing, and the new battery 29 can be easily stored by removing the elastic resin cover 28 and unscrewing the battery storage lid 26. Can do.

  When the use of the capsule endoscope 3 is started, the patient 2 or a doctor inserts the battery 29 and the battery storage lid 26 is screwed to turn on the power, thereby starting image acquisition and signal transmission / reception. The power can be easily turned on, and no other switches are required. Conversely, when discarding the capsule medical device, the battery can be easily removed, which is environmentally friendly.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the battery 29 is contained in the second capsule 11b, there is a problem such as discharge or liquid leakage when it is damaged. In order to prevent damage, the elastic resin cover 28 protects it. In addition, a water-tight seal is provided by a sealing member 25 such as an O-ring so that moisture such as body fluid does not enter the battery 29.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the patient 2 can swallow the medical capsule 3 smoothly by swallowing the first capsule 11a side having a small outer shape from the mouth.

  The capsule endoscope 3 performs illumination and imaging at a constant cycle, and transmits the captured image information wirelessly from the antenna 31. The image information is received by the extracorporeal unit 5 and displayed or stored on the liquid crystal monitor 5a.

  Therefore, the endoscopy staff can monitor with this liquid crystal monitor 5a. Further, since the first capsule 11a side is made smaller and easier to advance than the second capsule 11b, the first capsule 11a side is likely to be the front side in the traveling direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when going from the stomach 36 through the pylorus 37 to the duodenum 38 side, it is easy to go from the smaller first capsule 11a side to the deep side.

  Further, in this case, since the illumination and imaging means are provided at the tip on the first capsule 11a side, the body cavity in the advancing direction can be imaged, and an image that is easy to diagnose can be obtained in the same way as a diagnostic image obtained by a normal endoscope You can also.

As another modification, the following imaging device may be used instead of the CMOS imager.
The imaging device used here uses a threshold modulation image sensor (VMIS), which is a next-generation image sensor, which has the advantages of both the CMOS imager and the CCD (charge coupled device). This sensor has a completely different structure from the conventional CMOS sensor in which the light receiving part is composed of 3 to 5 transistors and a photodiode, and the threshold value of the MOS transistor is modulated by the charge generated by light reception. It is a sensor with a structure using a technology for outputting as an image signal.
The feature of this image sensor is that it achieves both high image quality of the CCD, high integration of the CMOS sensor, and low power consumption.

Therefore, it is suitable for a disposable capsule endoscope. By utilizing this feature, disposable endoscopes (soft or rigid endoscopes) and low-end endoscopes can be realized, so this image sensor (VMIS) is used for ordinary endoscopes as well as these endoscopes. Of course, you can. In addition, it has the following excellent features.
Simple structure with one transistor per image sensor.
Excellent photoelectric characteristics such as high sensitivity and high dynamic range.
High density and low price can be realized because it can be manufactured by CMOS process.

  There are various types of sensors, such as QCIF (QSIF) size, CIF (SIF) size, VGA type, SVGA type, and XGA type. Smaller “QCIF (QSIF) size” and “CIF (SIF) size” are particularly suitable in terms of ease, wireless transmission speed, and power consumption.

FIG. 6 shows the first capsule 11a portion in the modified example.
In this modified example, in the first capsule 11 a of FIG. 2, a watertight seal 40 is further applied to the white LED 19, the objective lens 16, and the lens frame 17 inside the transparent cover 15. In other words, the inner side of the front side of the transparent cover 15 has a watertight structure. However, even if the transparent cover 15 is cracked and the watertight function is broken, the electrical system such as the drive circuit 20 inside thereof is broken. The entire surface facing the transparent cover 15 inside the transparent cover 15 is made into a watertight structure using a watertight seal 40 so as to ensure electrical insulation so that moisture does not enter. In addition, the side part is sealed with the sealing member 14 similarly to the case of FIG.

  With this configuration, even if the transparent cover 15 is cracked and the watertight function is broken, moisture does not enter the electrical system therein, and electrical insulation can be maintained.

The present embodiment has the following effects.
One capsule can be divided into two parts, the size of which is reduced, and one of them is made smaller than the other, which makes it easier to swallow. That is, swallowability can be improved. In addition, the traveling direction and the observation direction are easily made the same by changing the size of the capsule. That is, the observability can be improved.

Further, by adjusting the arrangement of the objective optical system, the illumination, and the transparent cover 15, the intrusion of reflected light is reduced. That is, the observability can be improved.
Moreover, power ON / OFF and battery replacement can be easily performed. Easy to handle. Environmentally Friendly.

  Furthermore, even if the transparent cover is cracked, it is difficult to break down because the watertightness to the internal circuit is maintained.

  As a modification of the present embodiment, the foremost surface of the objective lens 16 or the lens body frame 17 is in contact with the inner surface of the transparent cover 15 and can be hardly deformed even if a large force is applied to the transparent cover 15 from the outside. You may do it.

  That is, since the objective lens 16 or the lens frame 17 is disposed in contact with the transparent cover 15, the transparent cover 15 is difficult to be deformed or broken, and the strength can be increased.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7 shows a capsule endoscope 2B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The capsule endoscope 2B includes three capsules 41a, 41b, and 41c, adjacent capsules 41a and 41b, and flexible tubes 42a and 42b that connect the capsules 41b and 41c, respectively.

  In this case, the first capsule 41a and the third capsule 41c provided at both ends have substantially the same outer size, whereas the second capsule 41b provided in the center has a larger outer size.

  The first capsule 41a and the third capsule 41c have a configuration similar to the first capsule 11a in the first embodiment, and the second capsule 41b has a configuration similar to the second capsule 11b. It is.

  In the first capsule 41a, a cylindrical permanent magnet 43a is inserted in a cylindrical outer peripheral portion of the capsule frame 13a to cover the opening of the capsule frame 13a with a dome-shaped transparent cover 15a, and the periphery of the opening is watertight. It is fixed in a watertight manner with an adhesive 44a, and the image pickup means and the illumination means are accommodated therein. Instead of the permanent magnet 43a, a (strong) magnetic material on which a strong magnetic force acts may be used.

  In the interior covered with the dome-shaped transparent cover 15a, an objective lens 16a constituting an image pickup means (observation means) is attached to the light-shielding lens frame 17a so as to face the transparent cover 15a. An image sensor such as a CMOS imager 18a is disposed at the image formation position. For example, the objective lens 16a is disposed so that the outer surface thereof is in contact with the inner surface of the transparent cover 15a.

  Further, for example, white LEDs 19a are arranged around the lens body frame 17a at a plurality of locations as illumination means so that light emitted from the white LEDs 19a can be transmitted through the transparent cover 15a to illuminate the outside thereof. .

  Further, on the back side of the CMOS imager 18a, the white LED 19a is driven to emit light, the drive circuit 20a for driving the CMOS imager 18a, the drive circuit 20a are controlled, and signal processing is performed on the output signal of the CMOS imager 18a. A controller 21a having a function to perform is disposed, and these are fixed to the capsule frame 13a.

  Further, as described with reference to FIG. 6, a watertight seal 40a is applied to the inside of the transparent cover 15a, and even if the transparent cover 15a is cracked and watertight due to a portion covered by the transparent cover 15a is broken, the watertight seal 40a The electrical system such as the drive circuit 20a can be kept in an insulated state.

  Further, a connection cap 22a for connecting and fixing one end of the tube 42a is provided at the center of the end face of the capsule frame 13a on the side opposite to the transparent cover 15a, and one end of the tube 42a is connected and fixed in a watertight manner.

  The controller 21a is connected to one end of the electric cable 23a inserted through the tube 42a through the hole of the disc-shaped retaining member 45a, and the other end is connected to the second capsule 41b side.

  The stopper 45a is connected to the stopper 47a of the second capsule 41b via a connecting metal wire 46a inserted into the tube 42a so that the capsules 41a and 41b are not disconnected from each other. The flexible tube 42a can be bent freely.

The electric cable 23a is inserted into the tube 42a so as to be wound around the connecting metal wire 46a, for example. A chamfer 34a is formed at the rear edge of the first capsule 41a by cutting it diagonally or corner-cut so as to be spherical.
The third capsule 41c has the same configuration, and a reference c is used instead of the reference a in the member described for the first capsule 41a, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The second capsule 41b having a size larger than that of the first and third capsules 41a and 41c is formed by inserting a seal member 25 on a cylindrical side surface of the capsule frame 24 having a function of battery storage means (third capsule). The end side that opens (to the side 41c) is detachably covered with a battery storage lid 48.

  Connection cap portions 27a and 27c for connecting and fixing the tubes 42a and 42b are respectively provided at the centers of the end faces of the capsule frame 24 and the battery storage lid 48. The tubes 42a and 42b are watertight with a watertight adhesive or the like. Connection is fixed.

  Further, the outer peripheral portions of the battery storage lid 48 and the capsule frame 24 are covered with an elastic resin cover 49 up to the vicinity of the connection cap portions 27a and 27c.

In the capsule frame 24, for example, a button-type battery 29 and controllers 21 a and 21 c are also electrically connected to generate a signal to be transmitted and a transmission / reception circuit 30 that demodulates the received signal. An antenna 31 that is connected and transmits image information captured by the CMOS imagers 18a and 18c to an external unit (not shown) and receives a control signal transmitted wirelessly from the external unit is built in.
The battery 29 is connected to supply drive power to the transmission / reception circuit 30, the controllers 21a and 21c, and the drive circuits 20a and 20c.

  A male screw 32 is provided on the cylindrical side surface of the second capsule 41 b, while a female screw that is screwed into the male screw 32 is provided on the battery storage lid 48. In addition, a circumferential groove is provided on the cylindrical side surface of the second capsule 41b to house the sealing member 25 such as an O-ring and to make the inside watertight between the battery housing lid 48 that is in pressure contact therewith.

  In the capsule endoscope 2B having such a configuration, the three capsules 41a, 41b, and 41c formed by dividing into three are connected by the flexible tubes 42a and 42b. The size of 41c is substantially the same diameter, and the capsule 41b at the center is larger than the capsules 41a and 41c at both ends.

  The capsules 41a and 41c at both ends are provided with illumination means, imaging means, illumination & imaging means driving means, and processing circuits for the imaging means. The central capsule 41b is provided with a battery 29, a transmission / reception circuit 30, and an antenna 31, and the central battery 29 and the transmission / reception circuit 30 share the functions of the capsules 41a and 41c at both ends.

  In addition, the exchange of power and signals between the three capsules 41a, 41b, 41c is electrically connected by the electric cables 23a, 23c in the flexible tubes 42a, 42b, and in the tubes 42a, 42b, The connecting metal wires 46a and 46c are inserted so that the capsules 41a and 41b and 41b and 41c are not disconnected from each other, and the tubes 42a and 42b can be freely bent.

  Further, in the elastic resin cover 49 having the function of a protective cover, the corner portion facing the first capsule 41a and the corner portion facing the third capsule 41c are chamfered 35a chamfered larger than the chamfers 34a and 34c. , 35b are formed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
By making the size of the capsules 41a and 41c at both ends smaller than the capsule 41b at the center, one of the capsules at both ends moves forward in the body cavity 50 as shown in FIG. The front and rear in the traveling direction can be observed by the capsules 41a and 41c provided at both ends. In FIG. 8, when moving to the left side, the capsule 41a illuminates and images the front side, and the capsule 41c illuminates and images the rear side. The opposite is true when proceeding to the right.

  In the present embodiment, cylindrical permanent magnets 43a and 43c (or magnetic bodies) are provided on both capsules 41a and 41c at both ends. The permanent magnets 43a and 43c (or magnetic bodies) are used when the capsule endoscope 2B is clogged due to the narrowed portion 51 in the body cavity 50 and cannot pass through as shown in FIG. Can be easily recovered when the collection member 55 is provided with a permanent magnet 54 at the tip of the string-like member 53.

That is, by bringing the distal end side of the collection tool 55 closer to the capsule endoscope 2B side, the permanent magnet 54 at the distal end of the collection tool 55 and the permanent magnet 43a or 43c on the capsule endoscope 2B side work. The permanent magnet 54 and the permanent magnet 43a or 43c are attracted by the magnetic force, and the capsule endoscope 2B can be easily pulled out (recovered) in the attracted state by pulling out the collecting tool 55.
Although the above description has been given for the case of recovery, it can be used to remotely control the position and posture of the capsule endoscope 2B in the body cavity by an external magnetic field.

The present embodiment has the following effects.
By making capsules divided into three, the size of one capsule body can be reduced, and it is easy to swallow. Swallowability can be improved. In this case, swallowing can be facilitated by reducing the size of the capsules 41a and 41c on both sides of the central capsule 41b.

  Moreover, since the illumination means and the imaging means are provided in the capsules 41a and 41c on both sides, the traveling direction and the observation direction can be made the same, and the front and back in the traveling direction can be observed simultaneously. Therefore, the observation performance can be improved. Moreover, since the size of the capsules 41a and 41c on both sides of the central capsule 41b is reduced, it can be easily moved.

In addition, since the power supply function and signal transmission / reception function for a plurality of illumination means and imaging means are shared, the number of parts can be reduced, which is advantageous for downsizing. That is, downsizing and swallowability can be improved.
Further, by providing the cylindrical permanent magnets 43a and 43c (or magnetic material), recovery and magnetic induction are possible. The collection is easy and the operability is improved.

FIG. 10 shows, for example, a first capsule 41a portion in a modification of the present embodiment.
One end of the connecting metal wire 46a in the tube 42a connecting the capsules 41a and 41b, that is, the capsule 41a side in FIG.

That is, the retainer 45a in the capsule 41a is slidable in the front-rear direction within a cylindrical body (ring) 56a disposed between the back surface of the controller 21a and the inner surface of the capsule frame 13a.
In this modification, the lens frame 17a is in contact with the inner surface of the transparent cover 15a.
In this case, the transparent cover 15a is reinforced, and there is an effect that resistance to the force from the outside is improved.

In the present embodiment, the connecting metal wires 46a, 46c in the tubes 42a, 42c connecting the three capsules are separate from the electric cables 23a, 23c. However, as another modification, the electric cables 23a, 23c may also serve as the connecting metal wires 46a and 46c.
In this case, there is an effect that the structure can be simplified.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the electric cables 23a and 23c may also serve as the connecting metal wires 46a and 46c. In this case, a contact may be provided on the sliding stopper 45a so that the controller 21a or the like can be electrically connected via the cylindrical body 56a.
As another modification, a VMIS may be used instead of the CMOS imager.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 shows a capsule medical device 2C according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
For example, in the capsule endoscope 2 of the first embodiment, the capsule medical device 2C includes, for example, a pH sensor, an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, or the like on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule 11a. Various sensor means 61 such as a blood sensor (hemoglobin sensor) are provided.

  The various sensor means 61 are fixed to a capsule exterior member such as the transparent cover 15 so that the sensing part is exposed to the outside and the inside of the capsule is kept watertight. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  From the sensing part, the chemical amount (pH value) of the in-vivo fluid, the brightness of the body, the temperature of each organ, the pressure from the inner surface of the lumen applied to the outer surface of the capsule when passing through the capsule, the amount of hemoglobin in each organ (presence of bleeding) The obtained data is temporarily stored in a memory inside the capsule (not shown), and then transmitted to receiving means such as the external unit 5 placed outside the body by the transmission / reception circuit 30 and the antenna 31. . Then, by comparing the data obtained by the receiving means with a reference value, it is possible to determine whether there is an abnormality such as illness or bleeding, and to determine the capsule passage position and passage state outside the body, such as a medical worker such as a doctor or a comedy. Can be done.

  In particular, by setting the pH value and the amount of hemoglobin in the digestive tract of a living body without the pain of the subject by the capsule medical device 2C, the effect of being able to diagnose gastrointestinal diseases and perform physiological analysis is great. Various sensors can be efficiently inspected by having a plurality of types according to the purpose.

  FIG. 12 shows a part of a capsule medical device 2D according to a modification. In this modification, an ultrasonic probe 71 is further provided on the second capsule 11b side in the first embodiment. In this case, for example, the battery housing lid 26 is formed of a member that allows ultrasonic waves to pass therethrough, and a sealed space is formed in the battery housing lid 26, and a rotary ultrasonic transducer 72 is housed therein and transmitted around the space. The medium 73 is full.

  The ultrasonic vibrator 72 is rotationally driven by a motor 74. In addition, the elastic resin cover 28 on the outer surface side of the capsule around the ultrasonic vibrator 72 has a function of an acoustic lens of the ultrasonic vibrator 72. Here, the battery storage lid 26 is fixed to the capsule frame 24 so as to be removable by screws 76.

  The ultrasonic transducer 72 is driven and signal-processed by the control circuit 75 to obtain an ultrasonic tomography in the body cavity. The obtained data is transmitted to the receiving means outside the body as in the above case. This makes it possible to diagnose whether there is an abnormality in the depth direction of the deep part of the body cavity such as the small intestine. If the configuration is provided with both the observation means, it is possible to diagnose both the body cavity surface and the deep part at once. Note that an electronic scanning ultrasonic probe may be formed instead of the mechanical scanning type.

FIG. 13 shows a capsule medical device 2E of a second modification. This capsule medical device 2E is provided with treatment / treatment means.
For example, in the capsule endoscope 2 according to the first embodiment, the capsule medical device 2E includes a medicine storage unit 81 and a body fluid storage unit 82 in, for example, the elastic resin cover 28 in the second capsule 11b.

  The medicine container 81 and the body fluid container 82 have openings that open to the outer surface of the capsule, and each opening is covered with dissolved films 83 and 84 made of gelatin that is erased by gastric juice or fatty acid films that are digested by intestinal fluid. I have to. The medicine 85 to be treated is stored in the medicine storage part 81, and when the capsule medical device 2E reaches the target site, the dissolution film 83 is dissolved and the opening is opened. In 82, body fluid can be absorbed.

Further, on the first capsule 11a side, for example, a linear actuator 88 is provided which drives a syringe needle 87 having a storage portion 86 storing a hemostatic agent in the transparent cover 15 portion so as to be able to project and retract.
After confirming the bleeding site with a blood sensor or observation means, the injection needle 87 for injecting the hemostatic agent normally stored inside the capsule is protruded by communication from the external unit 5 outside the body, A hemostatic agent such as ethanol or powdered medicine is sprayed on the bleeding site to stop the bleeding.
Embodiments configured by partially combining the above-described embodiments and the like also belong to the present invention.

[Appendix]
1. 2. The capsule medical device according to claim 1, wherein a magnet or a magnetic material is provided on at least one of the hard portions.
2. 3. The capsule medical device according to claim 2, wherein a magnet or a magnetic material is provided at least at the hard portions at both ends of the hard portion.
3. 3. The capsule medical device according to claim 2, wherein the outer diameters or lengths of the hard portions at both ends are substantially the same.

4). 3. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein a power supply means and a power supply storage section are provided in one of the hard parts, the power supply storage section is configured to be splittable, and a sealing means for ensuring watertightness is provided therebetween. Type medical device.
5. The capsule-type medical device according to appendix 4, wherein a protective cover that can be attached by an elastic force can be provided outside the power storage unit.
6). The capsule-type medical device according to appendix 4, wherein power supply means is housed in the power supply storage section that can be divided, and switch means that is turned on by assembling the divided power supply storage sections is provided.

7. 3. The capsule medical device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an electric wire means for electrically connecting the hard portions is provided in the soft connecting portion, and the electric wire means is longer than the length of the soft connecting portion.
8). The capsule medical device according to appendix 7, wherein the electric wire means is meandered, curled, or spirally wound and accommodated in the flexible connecting portion.
9. 3. The capsule medical device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of observation means including an imaging means and an illumination means, and further provided with a power supply means, a wireless transmission means, an imaging drive means, an illumination drive means, and a control means. At least one of the wireless transmission unit, the imaging drive unit, and the control unit is commonly used in the plurality of observation units.

10. 3. The capsule medical device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a wire such as a metal wire is provided on the flexible connecting portion so as to be bent so that the connection between the hard portions is not removed.
11. The capsule medical device according to appendix 10, wherein the wire also serves as an electric wire for establishing electrical continuity between the hard portions.
12 The capsule medical device according to appendix 10 or 11, wherein one end of the wire is a contact that can slide back and forth within the hard portion.

(Background of Appendix 10-12)
The conventional split-type capsule endoscope used a flexible tube or resin for its connection, so that part of it could be broken and damaged when excessive pulling or bending force was applied. .
For this reason, in order to make it harder to break, it was made the structure of additional remarks 10-12, the intensity | strength was raised, and the objective was achieved.

13. The capsule medical device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an end of a surface connected to the soft coupling portion of each of the hard portions is chamfered spherically or obliquely.
14 The end of the surface connected to the soft connecting portion of the larger hard portion is chamfered larger than the end of the surface of the smaller hard portion connected to the soft connecting portion. The capsule medical device according to claim 1.
15. In a capsule medical device that conducts examination, treatment, or treatment by passing through a body cavity duct of a human or animal,
An observation means comprising an objective optical system and an illumination optical system;
A light shielding mirror frame provided around the objective optical system,
A capsule medical device, wherein the distal end surface of the objective optical system protrudes from the distal end surface of the illumination optical system.

(Background to Appendix 15)
In the conventional example, there is a defect that a part of the illumination light is incident on the objective optical system side and the observation function is deteriorated.
Therefore, for the purpose of improving the observation function, the observation function is improved by adopting the configuration of Supplementary Note 15 so that illumination light does not enter the objective optical system as much as possible.

16. A dome-shaped observation window that integrally includes the observation means is provided in front of the observation means, and is fixed in a state where the inner surface of the dome-shaped observation window is in contact with a part of the objective optical system or a part of the light-shielding lens frame. 15. The capsule medical device according to appendix 15, wherein
16-1. The capsule medical apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an imaging unit using a VMIS (threshold modulation type image sensor).

(Background to supplementary notes 16 and 16-1)
In the conventional example, the observation window inner surface having a space inside and the constituent elements of the observation means such as the objective lens are not in contact with each other. For this reason, for the purpose of improving the strength, the configurations of Supplementary Notes 16 and 16-1 are adopted to achieve this purpose.

17. A dome-shaped observation window that integrally includes the observation means is provided on the entire surface of the observation means, and the light shielding is performed so that unnecessary light such as reflected light from the illumination optical system on the inner surface of the dome-shaped observation window does not substantially enter the objective optical system. The capsule-type medical device according to appendix 16, wherein the height of the body frame for use is set.
18. When the illumination light from the illumination optical system illuminates the observation range of the objective optical system, the outer diameter and height of the light-shielding lens frame are prevented from being blocked by the light-shielding lens frame. The capsule medical device according to appendix 15, wherein the distance between the objective optical system and the illumination optical system is set.
(Background of Supplementary Notes 17 and 18) Same as the background of Supplementary Notes 16 and 16-1.

19. In a capsule medical device that conducts examination, treatment, or treatment by passing through a body cavity duct of a human or animal,
An observation means comprising an objective optical system and an illumination optical system;
A dome-shaped observation window that integrally includes the observation means provided on the front surface of the observation means;
A capsule medical device characterized in that the inside of the dome-shaped observation window is water-tight with a sealant and the water-tightness between the inside of the dome-shaped observation window and the other part of the capsule medical device is maintained.
(Background to Appendix 19)
In the conventional example, when the dome-shaped observation window is cracked, if an electric circuit or the like is housed inside, there is a possibility of deterioration or failure due to moisture.
For this reason, the configuration of Supplementary Note 19 is adopted so that the object can be achieved so as to operate more reliably even when the dome-shaped observation window is cracked.

The block diagram of the capsule endoscope system provided with the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of the capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the capsule type endoscope in the case of moving to the duodenum side from the stomach. The figure which shows the structure and function of an illumination means and an observation means part. The figure which shows a part of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of a part of capsule type endoscope of a modification. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the capsule endoscope of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows a mode that the inside of a body cavity is test | inspected with a capsule type | mold endoscope. The figure which shows a mode that it collect | recovers with a collection | recovery tool when clogged in a constriction part. Sectional drawing which shows the 1st capsule part in a modification. The perspective view which notches one part and shows the structure of the capsule type medical device of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the principal part of the capsule type medical device of a 1st modification. The figure which shows the structure of the principal part of the capsule type medical device of a 2nd modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Capsule type endoscope system 2 ... Patient 3 ... Capsule type | mold endoscope 4 ... Antenna 5 ... Extracorporeal unit 6 ... Monitor part 7 ... Personal computer 11a ... 1st capsule 11b ... 2nd capsule 12 ... Tube 13, 24 ... capsule frame 15 ... transparent cover 16 ... objective lens 17 ... mirror body frame 18 ... CMOS imager 19 ... white LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Drive circuit 21 ... Controller 26 ... Battery storage cover 28 ... Elastic resin cover 29 ... Battery 30 ... Transmission / reception circuit 31 ... Antenna
Attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (1)

Illumination optics,
An electrical system including a drive circuit provided behind the illumination optical system;
A dome-shaped observation window provided on the front side of the illumination optical system and covering the illumination optical system in a watertight manner;
A capsule endoscope comprising a watertight seal that covers the electrical system together with the illumination optical system.

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