JP4472401B2 - In-subject information acquisition device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-subject information acquisition device introduced into a subject, for example, an in-subject information acquisition device in which electric power is supplied to an electrical load in a swallowable capsule endoscope.

  In recent years, in the field of endoscopes, capsule endoscopes equipped with an imaging function and a wireless function have appeared. This capsule endoscope is used for observation (examination) after being swallowed by the subject, and during the observation period until it is naturally discharged from the subject's living body, organs such as the stomach and small intestine The inside (inside the body cavity) moves along with the peristaltic motion, and images are sequentially captured using an imaging function.

  Also, during this observation period due to movement in these organs, image data captured in the body cavity by the capsule endoscope is sequentially transmitted to an external device provided outside the subject by a wireless function such as wireless communication. Are stored in a memory provided in the external device. When the subject carries the external device having the wireless function and the memory function, the subject does not suffer any inconvenience during the observation period from swallowing the capsule endoscope until it is discharged. Action is possible. After observation, a doctor or nurse can make a diagnosis by displaying an image in the body cavity on a display means such as a display based on the image data stored in the memory of the external device.

  In this type of capsule endoscope, for example, there is a swallow type as shown in Patent Document 1, and the driving of an electric load for performing an imaging function, a wireless function, or the like in the capsule endoscope is controlled. Therefore, a configuration has been proposed in which a reed switch that is turned on and off by an external magnetic field is housed in a package including a permanent magnet that supplies the external magnetic field. That is, the reed switch provided in the capsule endoscope has a structure in which the reed switch is turned on by maintaining the off state and reducing the strength of the external magnetic field in an environment where a magnetic field having a certain intensity or more is applied. For this reason, in the state accommodated in the package, the electric load is not driven. When the capsule endoscope is swallowed, the capsule endoscope is taken out of the package, so that it is separated from the permanent magnet and the capsule endoscope is not affected by the magnetic force, and the driving of the electric load is started. By having such a configuration, the electric load can be prevented from being driven in the state of being accommodated in the package, and after being taken out of the package, the image can be captured by the imaging function of the capsule endoscope and the wireless function. An image signal was being transmitted.

International Publication No. 01/35813 Pamphlet

  However, in such an apparatus, since it takes a certain amount of time to take out the capsule endoscope from the package and introduce it into the subject, the capsule endoscope starts to drive during that time. . In the capsule endoscope, when driving is started, an imaging operation of an image is started by an imaging function, and the obtained image signal is wirelessly transmitted by a wireless function. Therefore, before being introduced into a subject When the capsule endoscope is driven, an imaging operation is performed outside the subject, and there is a problem that unnecessary image signals that are not used for diagnosis or the like are acquired and wirelessly transmitted. .

  The imaging rate of the capsule endoscope is set so that, for example, about 2 images are taken per second. Even if the time taken from opening the package to introduction into the specimen is about several tens of seconds, the capsule endoscope When the mold endoscope operates outside the subject, a large amount of unnecessary image data is acquired. For this reason, a doctor or the like needs to perform a complicated operation of removing the unnecessary image data, and then extract image data captured in the subject to perform diagnosis or the like. Therefore, in order to avoid such acquisition of unnecessary image data, it is necessary to prevent the drive of the electrical load in the capsule endoscope from being started before being introduced into the subject.

  In addition, since a certain amount of driving power is required to acquire image data, when the above-described electrical load is driven outside the subject and unnecessary image data is acquired, the capsule endoscope The power stored in the power is wasted. Therefore, from the viewpoint of power consumption, it is necessary to prevent the capsule endoscope from being started before being introduced into the subject.

  In addition, there is a case where it is desired to delay the start of driving the electric load even after being introduced into the subject. That is, for example, for the purpose of acquiring image data related to the small intestine among the organs in the subject, an image regarding the esophagus, stomach, etc. that passes through to the small intestine is unnecessary, so the capsule endoscope It is preferable to start driving at the time when reaches the small intestine. That is, it is preferable to start driving selectively according to the site to be examined. Therefore, more preferably, even after being introduced into the subject, there is a request to start driving the electric load after reaching the subject site without immediately starting driving.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can supply power to an electrical load in an in-subject information acquisition apparatus immediately before the in-subject information acquisition apparatus is introduced into the subject. An object of the present invention is to provide an in-subject information acquisition apparatus.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an in-subject information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention includes an in-subject information acquisition unit configured to acquire information in a subject, A housing having an information acquisition means and a shape that can be introduced into the subject, a light-transmitting region that is provided in a part of the housing and is capable of transmitting incident light, and the light transmission A light detection means for detecting light incident on the sex region; a power supply means for supplying power to an electrical load that functions as the in-subject information acquisition means based on detection of light by the light detection means; and at least An encircling member that encloses and shields a part of the casing including the light transmissive region, and cancels the encircling of the light transmissive region by the encircling member when introduced into the subject. It is characterized by.

  The in-vivo information acquiring apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the above-described invention, wherein the light detection unit includes a detection unit that detects light as a result of releasing the surrounding of the light-transmitting region by the surrounding member. And a switch unit for controlling power supply from the power supply unit to the electric load based on detection of light by the light detection unit.

  Further, in the in-vivo information acquiring apparatus according to the invention of claim 3, in the above invention, the housing includes a dome portion provided at both ends, and a cylindrical body portion provided between the dome portions. The light-transmitting region is a dome portion provided at the distal end portion of the capsule shape, and before the introduction into the subject, the surrounding member includes the dome portion. It is characterized by being shielded from light.

  Further, in the in-vivo information acquiring apparatus according to the invention of claim 4, in the above invention, the casing includes a dome portion provided at both ends, and a cylindrical body portion provided between the dome portions. The light transmissive region is a window portion provided in the body portion, and before the introduction into the subject, the surrounding member surrounds the window portion. It is characterized by light shielding.

  The power supply device of the in-vivo information acquiring apparatus according to the present invention includes light detection means for detecting light incident in the light transmissive region, and surrounds the light transmissive region with a surrounding member before use, Immediately before introduction into the subject, the surroundings of the light-transmitting region are released and light detection by the light detection means is enabled, so immediately before the in-subject information acquisition device is introduced into the subject, There is an effect that electric power can be supplied to the electric load of the in-vivo information acquiring apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an in-vivo information acquiring apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings of FIGS. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a system conceptual diagram showing a concept of an in-vivo information acquiring system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the capsule endoscope system is disposed outside the subject 1 and a swallowable capsule endoscope 2 as an in-subject information acquisition device introduced into the body cavity of the subject 1. And a communication device 3 that is an extracorporeal device that wirelessly communicates various types of information with the capsule endoscope 2. The in-subject information acquisition system includes a display device 4 that displays an image based on data received by the communication device 3, and a portable recording medium 5 that inputs and outputs data between the communication device 3 and the display device 4. It has.

  As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, for example, the capsule endoscope 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical capsule shape with both ends configured in a hemispherical shape. That is, an optical dome 2a as a dome portion according to the present invention made of a hemispherical transparent optical material is formed on the front side of the capsule endoscope 2, and inside the body cavity is formed in the optical dome 2a. An imaging mechanism unit that captures images and obtains image data is provided. Also, an optical dome 2b is formed on the rear side of the capsule endoscope 2 as a dome portion made of a hemispherical transparent optical material, and various information including image data is transmitted in the optical dome 2b. A wireless mechanism unit as a wireless transmission means and a system control circuit 26 as a power supply device are provided. The system control circuit 26 can also be provided on the front imaging mechanism section side.

  The imaging mechanism unit includes, for example, an illumination source 20 such as a light emitting element (LED) as an illumination unit for irradiating a test site in the body cavity of the subject 1, and reflected light from a region irradiated by the illumination source 20. An imaging device 22 such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a CMOS type imaging camera as an imaging means (intra-subject information acquisition means) for imaging an image (in-subject information) in a certain body cavity, and this imaging device 13 And an optical system component 10 for forming an image. The illumination source 20 illuminates a body part to be examined introduced through the front optical dome 2a, and the imaging device 22 captures the reflected light and images the inside of the body cavity. In the present embodiment, an explanation will be given using an LED as the illumination source 20 and a CCD as the imaging device 22.

  The wireless mechanism unit includes an RF transmission unit 24 that modulates an image signal output from the imaging device 22 into an RF signal and transmits the RF signal, and a transmission antenna unit 25 that emits radio waves of the RF signal toward the outside of the subject 1. ing. In addition, the capsule endoscope 2 includes a battery 29 such as a silver oxide battery that supplies power to internal electrical components such as the illumination source 20, the imaging device 22, the RF transmission unit 24, and the transmission antenna unit 25. It is provided in the body part 2c. Furthermore, in the capsule endoscope 2, for example, if the receiving antenna unit 27 is provided, the driving of the illumination source and the imaging device described above is controlled based on various control signals from the communication device 3 that is an extracorporeal device. Is also possible.

  As will be described later, the system control circuit 26 includes a photo interrupter 26a, and serves as a power supply device that supplies power to an imaging mechanism unit and a radio mechanism unit as an electrical load based on light detection of the photo interrupter 26a. It has a function.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a state of the capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment before introduction illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the capsule endoscope 2 according to the present embodiment before use is configured such that a part of the capsule endoscope 2 such as the optical dome 2 b is covered with a protective cap 6 in order to ensure safety. The capsule endoscope 2 is enclosed and protected by gripping.

  The protective cap 6 is disposed, for example, at a cylindrical surrounding member 61 whose one end is closed, and the other end of the surrounding member 61, and is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the capsule endoscope 2 in the circumferential direction thereof. It comprises a gripping member 62 that grips the capsule endoscope 2.

  The surrounding member 61 is formed of a soft and elastic elastic member such as rubber that can be easily processed. The inner wall 63 of the surrounding member 61 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the inner diameter thereof is configured to be larger than the outer diameter of the optical dome 2b on the rear surface of the capsule endoscope 2, whereby the optical property of the capsule endoscope 2 is increased. A space region 64 is formed between the dome 2 b and the inner wall 63. The space region 64 enables the protective cap 6 to be elastically deformed by an external pressure, and facilitates the removal of the capsule endoscope 2 by the subject when introduced into the subject 1.

  The capsule cap 2 gripped by the protective cap 6 before the capsule endoscope 2 is introduced into the subject 1 by surrounding and holding the capsule endoscope 2 with the protective cap 6 thus configured. Due to the mold endoscope 2, the space area 64 is shielded from light. For this reason, the photo interrupter 26a of the system control circuit 26 is in a state where it cannot detect the incident light, and therefore power supply to the imaging mechanism unit and the wireless mechanism unit is stopped.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an electric system of the capsule endoscope shown in FIG. In the following drawings, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals for convenience of explanation. In FIG. 4, the electrical system of the capsule endoscope 2 includes the LED 20 and an LED drive circuit 21 that controls the drive state of the LED 20, a CCD drive circuit 23 that controls the drive state of the CCD 22 and the CCD 22, and the RF transmission. A unit 24 and a transmission antenna unit 25 that wirelessly transmits an RF signal output from the RF transmission unit 24 are provided.

  In addition, the capsule endoscope 2 includes a system control circuit 26 that controls the operations of the LED drive circuit 21, the CCD drive circuit 23, and the RF transmission unit 24. While being introduced, the CCD 22 operates so as to acquire image data of the test site irradiated by the LED 20. The acquired image data is further converted into an RF signal by the RF transmission unit 24 and transmitted to the outside of the subject 1 through the transmission antenna unit 25.

  In addition, the capsule endoscope 2 has a reception antenna unit 27 as a radio reception unit configured to be able to receive a radio signal transmitted from the communication device 3 and a predetermined signal from the signal received by the reception antenna unit 27. A control signal detection circuit 28 that detects a control signal of an input level (for example, reception intensity level), and a battery 29 that supplies power to the system control circuit 26 and the control signal detection circuit 28 are provided.

  The control signal detecting circuit 28 detects a signal (starting signal) having a predetermined input level or higher among the received signals, outputs the starting signal to the system control circuit 26, and detects the contents of the control signal. If necessary, control signals are output to the LED drive circuit 21, the CCD drive circuit 23, and the system control circuit 26. The system control circuit 26 has a function of distributing drive power supplied from the battery 29 to other components (function execution means).

  The system control circuit 26 includes, for example, a switching element having a switching function connected between each component and the battery 29, a latch circuit, and the like. Then, when light is incident from the outside, this latch circuit turns on the switch element, and thereafter keeps this on state, and the drive power from the battery 29 is supplied to each component in the capsule endoscope 2. To supply. In this embodiment, the imaging means having an imaging function, the illumination means having an illumination function, and the wireless transmission means having a wireless function (part) provided in the capsule endoscope 2 are collectively referred to as an electric load. Yes. Specifically, the components excluding the system control circuit 26 are collectively referred to as an electric load.

  FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of system control circuit 26 shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the system control circuit 26 constitutes a latch circuit, one end of which is grounded and the other end is a latch circuit described later, a photo interrupter 26 a serving as a detection unit connected to the battery 29 via a resistor R, and the latch circuit. A flip-flop 26b and an FET (field effect transistor) 26c functioning as a switching element connected between the battery 29 and the electric load are provided. The photo interrupter 26a performs an on / off operation by light incident from the outside. When a clock is input by the on / off operation, the flip-flop 26b sets the FET 26c to an on state and maintains the on state. .

  Thus, in this embodiment, before use of the capsule endoscope 2, a part of the capsule endoscope 2 including the system control circuit 26 is surrounded by the protective cap 6 so that the protective cap 6 is used. Since the inner space region 64 is in a light-shielded state, the photo interrupter 26a cannot detect light. For this reason, the power supply from the battery 29 to the electric load is stopped.

  Next, when introducing the capsule endoscope 2 into the subject 1, when the subject applies external pressure to the protective cap 6 with a finger or the like and removes the capsule endoscope 2 from the protective cap 6, External light is incident on the photo interrupter 26a, and this external light can be detected. Based on this light detection, the FET 26c is set to an on state, whereby the battery 29 and each electric load are connected, and power is supplied from the battery 29 to the electric load. Therefore, immediately before the capsule endoscope is introduced into the subject, electric power can be supplied to the electrical load of the capsule endoscope. Note that the electric load for supplying power may be only the imaging means or only the wireless transmission means.

  The communication device 3 functions as a transmission device as a wireless transmission unit that transmits an activation signal to the capsule endoscope 2 and a wireless reception unit that receives image data in the body cavity wirelessly transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2 As a receiving device. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the communication apparatus 3 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the communication device 3 is worn on the subject 1 and transmitted / received to / from a transmission / reception clothing (for example, a transmission / reception jacket) 31 having a plurality of reception antennas A1 to An and a plurality of transmission antennas B1 to Bm. And an external device 32 that performs signal processing of the wireless signal. Note that n and m indicate an arbitrary number of antennas set as necessary.

  The external device 32 performs predetermined signal processing such as demodulation on the radio signals received by the receiving antennas A1 to An, and extracts image data acquired by the capsule endoscope 2 from the radio signals. The capsule endoscope 2 includes an RF reception unit 33, an image processing unit 34 that performs image processing necessary for the extracted image data, and a storage unit 35 that records the image data subjected to the image processing. The signal processing of the radio signal transmitted from is performed. In this embodiment, image data is recorded on the portable recording medium 5 via the storage unit 35.

  The external device 32 also converts a control signal input unit 36 that generates a control signal (activation signal) for controlling the driving state of the capsule endoscope 2 and converts the generated control signal into a radio frequency. An output RF transmission unit circuit 37 is provided. The signal converted by the RF transmission unit circuit 37 is output to the transmission antennas B1 to Bm and transmitted to the capsule endoscope 2. Furthermore, the external device 32 includes a power supply unit 38 including a predetermined power storage device or an AC power adapter, and each component of the external device 32 uses the power supplied from the power supply unit 38 as driving energy.

  The display device 4 is for displaying an in-vivo image captured by the capsule endoscope 2, and is a workstation that displays an image based on data obtained by the portable recording medium 5. It has a configuration. Specifically, the display device 4 may be configured to directly display an image using a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, or may be configured to output an image to another medium such as a printer.

  The portable recording medium 5 can be connected to the external device 32 and the display device 4 and has a structure in which information can be output or recorded when the portable recording medium 5 is attached to and connected to both. In this embodiment, the portable recording medium 5 is inserted into the external device 32 and transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2 while the capsule endoscope 2 is moving in the body cavity of the subject 1. Record data. Next, after the capsule endoscope 2 is ejected from the subject 1, that is, after imaging of the inside of the subject 1 is completed, the capsule endoscope 2 is taken out from the external device 32 and inserted into the display device 4, and this display is performed. The apparatus 4 is configured to read data recorded on the portable recording medium 5. For example, the portable recording medium 5 is composed of a compact flash (registered trademark) memory or the like, and inputs / outputs data between the external device 32 and the display device 4 indirectly via the portable recording medium 5. Unlike the case where the external device 32 and the display device 4 are directly connected by wire, the subject 1 can freely operate during imaging in the body cavity.

  By the way, the capsule endoscope 2 shown in the first embodiment is subjected to pressurized gas sterilization in a state surrounded by the protective cap 6 before use. However, in the state before use of the first embodiment, the inside of the protective cap 6 may be close to the sealed state. Therefore, gas enters the protective cap 6 from between the gripping member 62 and the body portion 2c. There is something wrong. For this reason, gas sterilization of the capsule endoscope 2 may not be complete. Embodiments 2 and 3 below improve this point.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a state of the capsule endoscope according to the second embodiment before introduction illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 7, the capsule endoscope 2 is provided with a window portion 2d made of a transparent optical material in the vicinity of the longitudinal center of the body portion 2c, and a system control circuit 26 is provided inside the window portion 2d. Provided, it is possible to detect the light transmitted through the window 2d.

  Further, the protective cap 6 is provided with a cylindrical surrounding member 61 having both ends opened, an opening 65 disposed at one end of the surrounding member 61, and the other end of the surrounding member 61. 2 and a gripping member 62 that grips the capsule endoscope 2 in contact with the circumferential direction of the capsule endoscope 2. The length of the holding member 62 in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the window 2d in the longitudinal direction so that the window 2d can be shielded.

    By holding the capsule endoscope 2 so as to surround the capsule endoscope 2 with the protective cap 6 configured as described above and to shield the window portion 2d with the holding member 62, the inside of the subject 1 Before the capsule endoscope 2 is introduced, the window portion 2d is in a light shielding state. For this reason, the photo interrupter 26a of the system control circuit 26 is in a state where it cannot detect the incident light, and therefore power supply to the imaging mechanism unit and the wireless mechanism unit is stopped. On the other hand, the space area 64 in the protective cap 6 communicates with the outside through the opening 65 and is in an open state. For this reason, even when gas sterilization is performed, since the gas can easily enter the space region 64, the entire capsule endoscope 2 can be sufficiently gas sterilized.

  As described above, in this embodiment, before the capsule endoscope 2 is used, the window portion 2d is shielded by the gripping member 62 so that light cannot be detected by the photo interrupter 26a, and the light enters the subject 1. When the capsule endoscope 2 is introduced, the subject applies external pressure to the protective cap 6 with a finger or the like, and the capsule endoscope 2 is taken out of the protective cap 6 to enable light detection. Since electric power is supplied to each electric load, electric power can be supplied to the electric load of the capsule endoscope immediately before the capsule endoscope is introduced into the subject.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the space region 64 in the protective cap 6 is opened and gas sterilization can be easily performed in the space region 64, the capsule endoscope 2 as a whole is sufficiently sterilized. be able to.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a state of the capsule endoscope according to the third embodiment before introduction illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 8, the capsule endoscope 2 has the same configuration as that of the second embodiment, but the protective cap 6 is disposed at a cylindrical surrounding member 61 having both ends opened and at one end of the surrounding member 61. In addition, the capsule endoscope 2 includes holding members 62 and 66 that hold the capsule endoscope 2 in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the optical domes 2a and 2b of the capsule endoscope 2 in the circumferential direction.

  The length of the surrounding member 61 in the longitudinal direction is substantially the same as the length of the capsule endoscope 2 in the longitudinal direction, and the entire capsule endoscope 2 is surrounded by the protective cap 6. Moreover, since the diameter of the opening part of the holding members 62 and 66 is configured to be slightly smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the optical domes 2a and 2b, the holding members 62 and 66 have inner corners (edges) 62a and 66a. This part is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the optical domes 2a and 2b and in the circumferential direction thereof. Further, the radial lengths of the gripping members 62 and 66 are configured such that the space region 64 can be formed between the inner wall 63 of the surrounding member 61 and the capsule endoscope 2.

  Thus, in this embodiment, before using the capsule endoscope 2, the capsule endoscope 2 is held by the holding members 62 and 66 provided at both ends of the surrounding member 61, and the capsule endoscope By enclosing the entire mirror 2, the photo interrupter 26 a cannot detect light. When the capsule endoscope 2 is introduced into the subject 1, the subject applies external pressure to the protective cap 6 with a finger or the like. The capsule endoscope 2 is taken out of the protective cap 6 to enable light detection and power is supplied to each electric load. Therefore, immediately before the capsule endoscope is introduced into the subject. The electric power can be supplied to the electric load of the capsule endoscope.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the capsule endoscope 2 is gripped only by the inner edges 62a and 66a of the gripping members 62 and 66, the gas in the space region 64 is also obtained when pressurized gas sterilization is performed. However, the capsule endoscope 2 as a whole can be sufficiently sterilized.

It is a system conceptual diagram which shows the concept of the in-subject information acquisition system concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the capsule type endoscope shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a state of the capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment before introduction illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the electric system of the capsule type endoscope shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a system control circuit shown in FIG. 4. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the communication apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the capsule endoscope concerning Embodiment 2 before the introduction shown in FIG. Similarly, it is a schematic block diagram which shows the state of the capsule endoscope concerning Embodiment 3 before introduction.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subject 2 Capsule type | mold endoscope 2a, 2b Optical dome 2c Body part 2d Window part 3 Communication apparatus 4 Display apparatus 5 Portable recording medium 6 Protective cap 10 Optical system component 13 Imaging apparatus 20 Illumination source (LED)
21 LED drive circuit 22 Imaging device (CCD)
23 CCD drive circuit 24, 37 RF transmission unit 25 Transmitting antenna section 26 System control circuit 26a Photo interrupter 26b Flip-flop 26c FET
27 reception antenna section 28 control signal detection circuit 29 battery 32 external device 33 RF reception unit 34 image processing unit 35 storage unit 36 control signal input unit 38 power supply unit 61 surrounding member 62, 66 gripping member 62a, 66a corner (edge)
63 Inner wall 64 Spatial region 65 Opening A1 to An Receiving antenna B1 to Bm Transmitting antenna R Resistance

Claims (4)

In-subject information acquisition means configured to be able to acquire information in the subject;
A housing having a built-in information acquisition means within the subject and having an outer shape that can be introduced into the subject;
A light transmissive region capable of transmitting incident light provided in a part of the housing;
Light detection means for detecting light incident in the light transmissive region;
Based on detection of light by the light detection means, power supply means for supplying power to an electrical load that functions as the in-subject information acquisition means;
A surrounding member that surrounds and shields a part of the housing including at least the light transmissive region;
An in-subject information acquisition apparatus comprising: releasing the surrounding of the light-transmitting region by the surrounding member when introduced into the subject. The light detecting means detects a light as a result of releasing the surrounding of the light transmissive region by the surrounding member, and
A switch unit for controlling power supply from a power supply unit to the electric load based on detection of light by the light detection unit;
The in-vivo information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: The housing is formed in a capsule shape having a dome portion provided at both end portions and a cylindrical body portion provided between the dome portions,
The light transmissive region is a dome portion provided at the tip of the capsule shape,
The in-vivo information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surrounding member surrounds the dome portion and shields light before being introduced into the subject. The housing is formed in a capsule shape having a dome portion provided at both end portions and a cylindrical body portion provided between the dome portions,
The light transmissive region is a window portion provided in the trunk portion,
The in-vivo information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surrounding member shields light by surrounding the window portion before introduction into the subject.

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