JP2009247493A - Receiving apparatus for capsule medical apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a receiving apparatus for a capsule medical apparatus suppressing a loss of received power and improving external noise resistance. <P>SOLUTION: This receiving apparatus is provided with: a flexible antenna device which disposed with at least one antenna for receiving a wireless signal transmitted from an external capsule medical apparatus, on a flexible sheet two-dimensionally; a sheet-like flexible receiver body formed with a demodulator circuit that converts the wireless signal received by the antenna into a baseband signal; and a sheet-like flexible power supply device for supplying a power to the demodulator circuit, wherein the flexible antenna device, the flexible receiver body and the flexible power supply device are electrically connected in a layer structure at least with the flexible antenna device disposed at the front side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a capsule medical device receiver that receives image data transmitted from a capsule medical device such as a capsule endoscope, and more particularly to an antenna for receiving the image data transmitted as a radio signal. The present invention relates to an integrated receiver for a capsule medical device.

  Conventionally, in the field of endoscopes, swallowable capsule endoscopes having an imaging function and a wireless communication function have been proposed. This capsule endoscope is peristaltic in the body cavity, for example, the inside of an organ such as the stomach and small intestine, after being swallowed from the mouth of the subject for observation (examination) and until it is naturally discharged. The body cavity is sequentially imaged by the imaging function. The captured image data is sequentially transmitted to a capsule medical device receiving apparatus provided outside by a wireless communication function. Then, the capsule medical device receiving device receives the transmitted image data, performs a predetermined process, and saves it in the memory.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a conventional capsule medical device receiver.
In FIG. 8, a capsule endoscope 82 swallowed from the mouth of a subject 81 captures images while moving in the body cavity of the subject 81, and the captured image data is provided outside as a radio signal. Wireless transmission to the medical device receiving device 83. In the capsule medical device receiving device 83, a radio signal as image data transmitted from the capsule endoscope 82 is received by any one of the plurality of antennas 84, and is passed through the cable 85 and the coaxial cable 86. Each processing and image data storage is executed in the receiving apparatus main body 87.

  The antenna 84 provided in such a capsule medical device receiving device 83 receives the weak radio signal from the capsule endoscope 82 taken into the body of the subject 81 as much as possible. Since it is desired to be placed in the vicinity of 82, it is configured with a flexible substrate so that it can be easily attached to the subject 81, but a Li-ion secondary battery that is a power source constituting the receiver main body 87 and various information are displayed. LCD which is a display device for doing so is not flexible. For this reason, the receiving apparatus main body 87 cannot be mounted on the body surface of the subject 81 that is often expanded and contracted, and the subject 81 is carried by using a pochette or the like.

  By using the capsule medical device receiving apparatus having the reception function, the signal processing function, and the storage function in this manner while the subject is carrying the subject, the subject is discharged after swallowing the capsule endoscope. Until it is done, it can act freely (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Further, a sheet-like display device is disclosed as a display device such as a personal computer (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3).
JP 2006-55431 A JP 2005-316672-A JP 2006-30718 A

  However, the capsule medical device receiving device 83 as described above has a configuration in which the antenna 84 and the receiving device main body 87 are separated from each other and are connected by the cable 85 and the coaxial cable 86, so that the received power is lost. However, there is a problem that the external noise resistance is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a capsule medical device receiving apparatus that suppresses loss of received power and has improved external noise resistance.

The present invention employs the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.
That is, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the capsule medical device receiver of the present invention, at least one antenna for receiving a radio signal transmitted from an external capsule medical device is two-dimensionally formed on the flexible sheet. A flexible antenna device disposed; a sheet-like flexible receiver body on which a demodulation circuit that converts a radio signal received by the antenna into a baseband signal is formed; and a sheet-like flexible power source that supplies power to the demodulation circuit The flexible antenna device, the flexible receiver main body, and the flexible power supply device are arranged such that at least the flexible antenna device is disposed on the surface side and is electrically connected in a layer structure.

  The capsule medical device receiving device according to the present invention includes the flexible antenna device, the flexible receiving device body, and the flexible power supply device, wherein at least a part of the flexible antenna device is the flexible receiving device body and the flexible power supply device. Are arranged in the same plane as at least one arranged on the body surface side or on the body surface side from at least one arranged on the body surface side of the flexible receiver main body and the flexible power supply device, and are electrically arranged in a layer configuration. It is desirable to connect to.

  In the capsule medical device receiving device of the present invention, the flexible antenna device, the flexible receiving device main body, and the flexible power supply device may include at least the flexible antenna device from the body surface of the flexible receiving device main body and the flexible power supply device. It is desirable that they are arranged on the side and electrically connected in a layer structure.

  In the capsule medical device receiving device of the present invention, it is preferable that the flexible antenna device, the flexible receiving device body, and the flexible power supply device have a mesh shape.

  In addition, the capsule medical device receiver of the present invention preferably includes a flexible adhesive sheet on a surface different from the surface on which the flexible receiver main body or the flexible power supply device of the flexible antenna device is disposed.

  The capsule medical device receiving device of the present invention further includes a sheet-like flexible display device having a display unit that is supplied with power from the flexible power supply device and displays information on the received data. However, it is desirable to electrically connect the flexible antenna device, the flexible receiver main body, and the flexible power supply device as another surface different from the flexible antenna device in a layer structure.

  In the capsule medical device receiver of the present invention, it is preferable that the flexible receiver main body includes at least one of a signal processing circuit, a recording circuit, a rectifier circuit, and a radio signal generation circuit.

  In the capsule medical device receiving device of the present invention, when it is necessary for the flexible receiving device body to have a rigid part having an area of 1/60 or more of the flexible receiving device body, the flexible receiving device body is provided with the flexible receiving device. It is desirable to arrange in the periphery of the receiver main body.

  In the capsule medical device receiving device of the present invention, it is desirable that a portion excluding at least one of the flexible antenna device, the adhesive sheet, and the flexible display device is covered with a soft resin.

  In the capsule medical device receiver of the present invention, it is desirable to use an elastomer resin as the soft resin.

  According to the present invention, the antenna and the receiving device main body are both configured to be flexible so that the subject does not get in the way when the capsule medical device receiving device is mounted. In addition, since data can be transferred in a non-contact manner to other devices such as an external image processing device and an image display workstation, medical personnel can use a personal computer or the like while maintaining the freedom of the subject. It becomes possible to observe in real time.

  Further, according to the present invention, the antenna and the flexible receiver main body can be integrated by making the antenna and the receiver main body flexible so that the antenna and the flexible receiver main body are electrically connected. Since the wiring for connection could be shortened, it is possible to realize a capsule medical device receiving apparatus that suppresses loss of received power and has increased resistance to external noise. In addition, since power can be supplied from the flexible power supply device in a contacted manner, a waterproof mechanism can be realized at low cost.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since it is covered with a soft resin having a high impact absorption capacity, resistance to impacts such as dropping is improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mounting example of a capsule medical device receiving device according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a capsule endoscope 82 swallowed from the mouth of a subject 81 captures an image while moving in the body cavity of the subject 81, and the captured image data is provided outside as a radio signal. Wireless transmission to the medical device receiver 11. Since the capsule medical device receiving apparatus 11 is entirely made of a flexible material, it can be directly attached to the subject 81 and can be used as image data transmitted from the capsule endoscope 82. A wireless signal is received by any one of a plurality of antennas 241 described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and each process and storage of the processed data are performed by the flexible receiver main body 22, and an external image processing apparatus. Then, transfer to another device such as an image display workstation is executed. When the processed data is transferred to another device, the processed data need not be saved. Transfer to another device may be performed at any time while receiving the radio signal from the capsule endoscope 82 with the capsule medical device receiving device 11 attached to the subject 81, and receiving the signal. May be done after the completion. The transfer method may be wired or wireless (WLAN, UWB, Bluetooth, etc.).

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the capsule medical device receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 2, the capsule medical device receiving apparatus 11 has a size that allows a subject 81 to be easily attached. For example, about 300 mm in length, about 200 mm in width, and about 5 mm in thickness are desirable. The vertical and horizontal sizes are suitable for arranging the image data transmitted by the capsule endoscope 82 while moving in the body cavity of the subject 81 so that the antenna 241 can easily receive the image data. Yes, the thickness is such that the subject 81 does not get in the way of normal life.

  The capsule medical device receiving device 11 includes a flexible display device 21 as a first layer, a flexible receiving device body 22 as a second layer, a flexible power supply device 23 as a third layer, and a flexible antenna device as a fourth layer. It has a four-layer structure of 24 or a five-layer structure including a flexible adhesive sheet 25 as the fifth layer.

  When the subject 81 wears the capsule medical device receiving device 11 having a five-layer structure, the flexible adhesive sheet 25 is the outermost layer in contact with the subject 81, and the flexible display device 21 does not contact the subject 81. Although it is the outermost layer, the flexible receiver main body 22 and the flexible power supply device 23 can exchange their positional relationship. Note that at least a part of the flexible antenna device 24 may be arranged in the same plane as at least one of the flexible receiver main body 22 and the flexible power supply device 23 arranged on the body surface side close to the body surface of the subject 81. Good. At this time, the capsule medical device receiving apparatus 11 may have a three-layer structure.

  In addition, when the subject 81 wears the capsule medical device receiving apparatus 11 having a four-layer structure, the flexible antenna device 24 becomes the outermost layer in contact with the subject 81 and is used for a capsule medical device having a five-layer structure. Similar to the receiving device 11, the flexible display device 21 is the outermost layer that does not contact the subject 81. Attachment to the subject 81 can be performed by contacting the subject 81 without using an adhesive sheet such as the flexible adhesive sheet 25. Also, the same adhesive sheet as the flexible adhesive sheet 25 is attached to the flexible antenna device 24 side of the capsule medical device receiver 11 having a four-layer structure, thereby being the same as the capsule medical device receiver 11 having a five-layer structure. Can be done. In addition, the receiving device 11 for the capsule medical device having the four-layer structure can exchange the positional relationship between the flexible receiving device body 22 and the flexible power supply device 23 in the same manner as the receiving device 11 for the capsule medical device having the five-layer structure. Is possible.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the capsule medical device receiver in the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
The so-called electronic paper is a flexible display device that is light and thin like paper, and can also serve as an outer layer of the capsule medical device receiver 11. Then, digital information such as characters and images handled on the computer can be displayed on the display unit 211. Such a flexible display device 21 is often a light-reflective type and has visibility and handling properties similar to those of paper, and there are various types such as an electrophoretic method and a heat-sensitive method. Furthermore, it is possible to perform color display by using a color filter in combination. The flexible display device 21 can play a role as an exterior of the capsule medical device receiving device 11 by using a soft resin such as an elastomer resin for portions other than the display portion 211. As described above, the use of a soft resin for the exterior of the capsule medical device receiving device 11 increases the shock absorption, and the capsule medical device receiving device 11 is less likely to fail due to an impact such as dropping.

  The flexible receiver main body 22 is thin, rich in flexibility, and has excellent bending characteristics. The flexible receiver main body 22 is made of a copper-clad laminate by adhering a copper foil to a flexible base film made of, for example, polyimide resin or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin via an adhesive. A pattern circuit 221 such as a digital signal processing circuit, a memory, and an RF circuit is formed by etching the copper foil of the laminated plate and removing other portions while leaving a portion to be a wiring. As the pattern circuit 221, in addition to a signal processing circuit essential for processing as image data, after the reception of the radio signal from the capsule endoscope 82 is completed, the demodulated signal is transmitted to an external image processing device, an image display Recording circuit that is an essential component when transferring to other devices such as workstations, rectifier circuit that is an essential component when performing contactless power feeding, and an essential component when performing contactless transfer There is a radio signal generation circuit. If data can be transferred to other devices in a non-contact manner, a medical worker can observe in real time using a personal computer or the like while ensuring the freedom of the subject 81. Moreover, if power can be supplied from the flexible power supply 23 in a contacted manner, a waterproof mechanism can be realized at low cost.

  The pattern circuit 221 such as the digital signal processing circuit can be mounted thinly and small by using a COB (Chip On Board) mounting technique or the like. Then, a protective sheet in which an adhesive layer is formed on the cover lay film is laminated on the pattern circuit 221 so that the adhesive layer becomes the inner surface, and then the adhesive is cured. Yes.

  Further, when it is necessary for the flexible receiver main body 22 to have rigid parts having an area of 1/60 or more of the flexible receiver main body 22, they are arranged in the peripheral portion of the flexible receiver main body 22. Can do. That is, when it is necessary for the flexible receiver main body 22 to have a large part having a certain occupation area such as a compact flash (registered trademark), such a large part is attached to the central portion of the flexible receiver main body 22. The flexibility of the capsule medical device receiving device 11 is not easily lost by arranging it in the peripheral part instead of in the peripheral part. Further, the reason why the area of the flexible receiver main body 22 is set to be 1/60 or more is that the flexible receiver main body 22 easily adheres to the body surface of the subject 81. For example, the size of the capsule medical device receiver 11 is A4. The size of the CompactFlash (registered trademark) can be included.

  The flexible power supply device 23 is formed, for example, by laminating a flexible positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet containing an active material so as to sandwich an electrolyte sheet. The flexible power supply device 23 is configured such that a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode current collector plate are laminated on a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet to make the potential distribution generated in the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet uniform and take out a potential difference between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet as a current Yes. By sealing the laminated body thus laminated with a flexible package sheet, a sheet-like flexible power supply device 23 is formed. By using it as a terminal of the device 23, desired electricity can be obtained.

  The flexible antenna device 24 has a sheet shape formed of a flexible material, like the flexible display device 21, the flexible receiver main body 22, or the flexible power supply device 23. The antenna wiring is provided on the flexible substrate. At least one, for example, nine antennas 241 provided as a power receiving antenna substrate are provided. A wireless signal as image data transmitted from the capsule endoscope 82 is received by any one of the nine antennas 241 and transmitted to the flexible receiver main body 22.

  The flexible display device 21, the flexible receiver main body 22, the flexible power supply device 23, and the flexible antenna device 24 are electrically connected. That is, the flexible display device 21 and the flexible receiver main body 22 are operated by the power supplied from the flexible power supply device 23, and image data received by any antenna 241 on the flexible antenna device 24 is received by the flexible receiver main body 22. The upper digital signal processing circuit or the like performs processing, and for example, the processed result is displayed on the display unit 211 on the flexible display device 21.

  As a data transfer method from the flexible receiver main body 22 to other devices such as an external image processing apparatus and an image display workstation, contactless transfer using wireless communication such as WLAN, UWB, Bluetooth, etc. is desirable. . At that time, a radio signal generation circuit is essential as a component. In addition, it is desirable that the power supply from the flexible power supply device 23 be charged in a non-contact manner. At that time, a rectifier circuit is essential as a component.

  By performing such contactless transfer and contactless charging, there is no need to provide contact points for signal transmission and power supply on the exterior of the flexible receiver main body 22. Thereby, a waterproof mechanism can be realized at low cost. Further, by performing non-contact transfer, a medical worker can perform real-time observation with a personal computer or the like while ensuring the freedom of the subject 81.

  The flexible pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 25 is, for example, a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet having a predetermined peeling force and having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on both the front and back surfaces of the base sheet, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has an isocyanate group made of a diisocyanate cyclic polymer. It is an adhesive sheet made of a reaction product of an agent and an adhesive polymer having an active hydrogen-containing group. The flexible adhesive sheet 25 serves to temporarily bond the flexible antenna device 24 and the subject 81 while observing (inspecting) the subject.

  The capsule medical device receiving device 11 according to the first embodiment described above is used by being attached to the body surface (for example, the abdomen side) of the subject 81 and has flexibility. With the expansion and contraction of the surface, the shape of the capsule medical device receiving device 11 changes and is always in close contact with the body surface.

  FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a capsule medical device receiving apparatus according to the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 5 is a flexible receiving apparatus according to the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied. It is a figure which shows a main body.

  In FIG. 4, the capsule medical device receiving device 41 has a size that allows a subject 81 to be easily mounted, like the capsule medical device receiving device 11. The capsule medical device receiver 41 is similar to the capsule medical device receiver 11 in that the flexible display device 21 is the first layer, the flexible power supply device 23 is the third layer, and the flexible antenna is the fourth layer. Instead of the device 24 and the flexible receiver main body 22, a four-layer structure of the flexible receiver main body 42 as the second layer or a five-layer structure including the flexible adhesive sheet 25 as the fifth layer is provided.

Like the flexible receiver main body 22, the flexible receiver main body 42 is thin, rich in flexibility, and has excellent bending characteristics.
Compared with the flexible receiver main body 22 in which the pattern circuit 221 such as a digital signal processing circuit, a memory, and an RF circuit is disposed as a whole, the flexible receiver main body 42 has the digital signal processing as shown in FIG. A difference is that a pattern circuit 221 such as a circuit, a memory, and an RF circuit is mounted on the circuit mounting portion 422 as a circuit unit 421 and has a plurality of circuit units 421 divided into several groups. Each of these circuit units 421 does not have flexibility, but is connected to each other by a flexible cable 423 formed of a plurality of conductors and a flexible insulator.

  FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a receiving device for a capsule medical device in the third embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 7 is a capsule medical in the third embodiment to which the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram of the receiver for apparatuses.

  In FIG. 6, the capsule medical device receiving device 61 has a size that allows the subject 61 to be easily mounted, as with the capsule medical device receiving device 11. The capsule medical device receiver 61 is similar to the capsule medical device receiver 11 in that the flexible display device 71 is the first layer, the flexible receiver body 72 is the second layer, and the flexible power supply device 73 is the third layer. And, it has a four-layer structure of the flexible antenna device 74 as the fourth layer, or a five-layer structure provided with the flexible adhesive sheet 75 as the fifth layer.

  The capsule medical device reception device 61 is thin and has a bending property that is more flexible and superior to the capsule medical device reception device 11 by forming each layer in a mesh shape. It becomes easier to attach to the camera, and it is possible to suppress loss of received power and enhance external noise resistance. Further, when the flexible adhesive sheet 75 is used as the fifth layer, the flexible antenna device 74 is more likely to be in close contact with the body surface of the subject 61 as compared with the case where the flexible adhesive sheet 75 is not used. Can be increased.

  The embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described above. However, the capsule medical device receiving apparatus to which the present invention is applied is limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the function is executed. Without departing from the spirit of the present invention, various configurations or shapes can be employed.

It is a block diagram of the receiver for capsule type medical devices in a 1st embodiment to which the present invention is applied. It is sectional drawing of the side surface of the receiver for capsule type medical devices in 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the mounting example of the receiver for capsule type medical devices in 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is sectional drawing of the side surface of the receiver for capsule type medical devices in 2nd Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the flexible receiver main body in 2nd Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is sectional drawing of the side surface of the receiver for capsule type medical devices in 3rd Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram of the receiver for capsule type medical devices in 3rd Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional receiver for capsule type medical devices.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Receiving device for capsule type medical device 21 Flexible display device 22 Flexible receiving device body 23 Flexible power supply device 24 Flexible antenna device 25 Flexible adhesive sheet 41 Receiving device for capsule type medical device 42 Flexible receiving device body 61 Receiving device for capsule type medical device DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 71 Flexible display apparatus 72 Flexible receiver main body 73 Flexible power supply apparatus 74 Flexible antenna apparatus 75 Flexible adhesive sheet 81 Subject 82 Capsule type endoscope 83 Receptor for capsule medical apparatuses 84 Antenna 85 Cable 86 Coaxial cable 87 Receiver main body 211 Display unit 221 Pattern circuit 241 Antenna 421 Circuit unit 422 Circuit mounting unit 423 Flexible cable

Claims (10)

A flexible antenna device in which at least one antenna for receiving a radio signal transmitted from an external capsule medical device is two-dimensionally arranged on a flexible sheet;
A sheet-like flexible receiver body in which a demodulation circuit for converting a radio signal received by the antenna into a baseband signal is formed;
A sheet-like flexible power supply for supplying power to the demodulation circuit;
With
The flexible antenna device, the flexible receiver main body, and the flexible power supply device are arranged such that at least the flexible antenna device is disposed on the surface side and electrically connected in a layer structure.   The flexible antenna device, the flexible receiving device main body, and the flexible power supply device are flush with at least one of the flexible antenna device disposed on the body surface side of the flexible receiving device main body and the flexible power supply device. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the body is disposed closer to the body surface than at least one of the body of the flexible receiver main body and the flexible power supply device disposed on the body surface side, and is electrically connected in a layer configuration. Capsule type medical device receiver.   The flexible antenna device, the flexible receiving device main body, and the flexible power supply device are arranged such that the flexible antenna device is disposed at least on the body surface side of the flexible receiving device main body and the flexible power supply device, and is electrically connected in a layer structure. The capsule medical device receiver according to claim 1, wherein:   The capsule-type medical device receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flexible antenna device, the flexible receiver main body, and the flexible power supply device have a mesh shape.   The capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a flexible adhesive sheet is provided on a surface different from a surface on which the flexible receiver main body or the flexible power supply device of the flexible antenna device is disposed. Type medical device receiver. A sheet-like flexible display device having a display unit that is supplied with power from the flexible power supply device and displays information about the received data;
Further comprising
The flexible display device is electrically connected to the flexible antenna device, the flexible receiver main body, and the flexible power supply device as another surface different from the flexible antenna device in a layer structure. 6. The capsule medical device receiver according to any one of 1 to 5.   The capsule medical device receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flexible receiver main body includes at least one of a signal processing circuit, a recording circuit, a rectifier circuit, and a wireless signal generation circuit.   When it is necessary for the flexible receiver main body to have a rigid part having an area of 1/60 or more of the flexible receiver main body, they are arranged in the periphery of the flexible receiver main body. The capsule medical device receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The capsule medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a portion excluding at least one of the flexible antenna device, the adhesive sheet, and the flexible display device is covered with a soft resin. Receiving device.   10. The capsule medical device receiver according to claim 9, wherein an elastomer resin is used as the soft resin.