JPH07289504A - Capsule endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a capsule endoscopic device capable of lessening the burden of a patent without restraining the patient's mouth, nose, etc., at all during inspection. CONSTITUTION:This capsule endoscopic device 1 has a self-traveling part 2 having an image pick-up means which is inserted into the celom and is used to observe at least the inside of the body and a power source part 5 which supplies energy. The capsule endoscopic device 1 is provided with a balloon 20 for fixing part of the device in the celom. This balloon 2c and the self- traveling part 2 are connected by a flexible cable 6 in such a manner that the self-traveling part 2 having the image pickup means is advanced and retreated into and out of the fixing part in the celom.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a capsule endoscope apparatus which is inserted into a body cavity such as the small intestine or the large intestine to observe and diagnose the inside of the body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sonde type scope has been known as an endoscope for inspecting the inside of the small intestine. The sonde scope is
The balloon is inflated by pouring water into the balloon provided at the distal end of the scope, and the balloon is advanced by the peristaltic movement of the small intestine to insert the scope. However, the small intestine sonde-type scope has a drawback that it slows down the progress and requires a very long examination time because it depends on the peristaltic movement of the small intestine.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an ultrasonic endoscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-221258 has been developed. This endoscope is configured such that a bellows-shaped elastic member is provided between the first balloon and the second balloon so that the endoscope can be self-propelled in the body cavity by fluid pressure.

That is, in this ultrasonic endoscope, the first and second balloons are alternately inflated and contracted in the direction of the tube wall of the body cavity by fluid pressure, and the bellows-shaped elastic member is expanded and contracted in the axial direction by fluid pressure. The ultrasonic examination can be performed while self-propelled in the body cavity.

[0005]

However, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-221258 requires a fluid tube for supplying / discharging a fluid to / from the first and second balloons and the bellows-like elastic member. The scope is inserted nasally or orally and the fluid tube is connected to a fluid source outside the body.

Therefore, during the examination time, the burden on the patient is still large, for example, the patient must hold the fluid tube coming out of the nose or mouth of the patient and the behavior is restricted.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above circumstances, and the purpose thereof is to enable observation while advancing and retracting inside the body cavity, shorten the examination time, and restrain the patient by the examination. It is to provide a capsule endoscope device that does not move.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a capsule endoscope apparatus which is inserted into a body cavity and has at least an image pickup means for observing the inside of the body and a power supply section for supplying energy. In the capsule endoscope device, a fixing means for fixing a part of the capsule endoscope apparatus in the body cavity is provided, and the imaging means is flexible so that the fixing means and the image pickup means can move forward and backward with respect to the fixing portion in the body cavity. It is characterized by being connected by a cable.

[0009]

[Function] After the patient swallows the capsule endoscope device, the normal endoscope is inserted into the body cavity, the grasping forceps is projected from the channel of the endoscope, and the imaging means is grasped and inserted into the target site. Then, a part of the capsule endoscope device is fixed in the body cavity. Next, the observation means is moved forward, the observation means is inserted to the target site, and then an inspection is performed at the time of removal.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment, and FIG.
1 shows a state in which the capsule endoscope 1 is inserted into a body cavity, for example, the stomach A. The capsule endoscope 1 is composed of a self-propelled portion 2 as an image pickup means, a pump portion 3, a control portion 4, and a power source portion 5, which are connected by a flexible cable 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, an illumination lens 7 and an objective lens 8 are provided on the distal end surface of the self-propelled portion 2 in order to observe the inside of the lumen. The self-propelled unit 2 has a front balloon 2a.
And a rear balloon 2b connected to the balloon 2a via a bellows 9 which is a stretchable member, and the balloons 2a and 2b are inflatable in the radial direction.

A flexible cable 6 connecting the self-propelled portion 2 and the pump portion 3 has an expandable coil portion 10. Further, the pump portion 3 is provided with a fixing balloon 2c as a fixing means for fixing it to the tube wall of the duodenum B or the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the capsule endoscope 1. The self-propelled portion 2 is a bellows-shaped telescopic self-propelled device including a balloon 2a, a balloon 2b and a bellows 9. An air conduit 11 is connected to each of the balloon 2a, the balloon 2b, and the bellows 9, and is connected to a valve 12 provided in the pump unit 3. Valve 12 is pump 1
3 is connected and air is supplied.

Further, an air conduit 11 is connected to the valve 12 so as to supply air to the balloon 2c provided in the pump portion 3 as well. The pump 13 is driven by a pump drive circuit 14 provided in the control unit 4.

On the other hand, the self-propelled portion 2 as an image pickup means is provided with a CCD 15 as a solid-state image pickup element, a drive circuit 16 for driving the CCD 15, and an illumination lamp 17 for illuminating the inside of the lumen. The signal obtained by the CCD 15 becomes a video signal by the video signal synthesizing circuit 18 provided in the control unit 4. Similarly, the control unit 4 is provided with a lamp drive circuit 19 for operating the illumination lamp 17.

Further, the control section 4 has a telemetry circuit 20.
Is provided with video signal, self-propelled unit 2, illumination lamp 17, CC
A control signal such as D15 can be transmitted.
In addition, a battery 21 that supplies electric energy for driving the self-propelled unit 2 and the like is provided in the power supply unit 5.

Next, the operation of the capsule endoscope 1 configured as described above will be described. After the patient swallows the capsule endoscope 1, a normal endoscope is inserted into the stomach A, and the grasping forceps is projected from the channel of the endoscope.
The self-propelled portion 2 is grasped and inserted into the duodenum B. At this time, the balloon 2c of the pump portion 3 left inside the stomach A is expanded. The air supplied by the pump 13 is supplied to the valve 12
Is supplied to the balloon 2c to expand in the radial direction and grip and fix the stomach wall.

After the pump section 3 is fixed to the stomach wall, a signal is transmitted from outside the body and received by the telemetry circuit 20, and then the pump drive circuit 14 drives the balloon 2a, the balloon 2b and the bellows 9 of the self-propelled section 2.

As shown in FIG. 4A, first, air is supplied to the balloon 2b to grip the intestinal wall. next,
When air is supplied to the bellows 9, it extends in the axial direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the balloon 2a is inflated, then the balloon 2b is contracted, and the bellows 9 is also contracted. By repeating this operation, the self-propelled portion 2 advances inside the small intestine via the duodenum B.

The inspection shall be conducted at the time of removal. Again, a normal endoscope is inserted into the stomach A, a part of the capsule endoscope 1 is gripped by gripping forceps, and the balloon 2 of the pump unit 3 is held.
Shrink c and remove. After removing the pump unit 3, the control unit 4, and the battery unit 5 from the mouth, the operator pulls the capsule endoscope 1 by hand to remove the self-propelled unit 2. At this time, the inside of the small intestine is observed to observe the presence or absence of a lesion. Since the inside of the small intestine is complicatedly bent, it may be caught at the time of removal and suddenly come out, but at this time, the self-propelled portion 2 can be operated again and moved forward for observation.

In the telemetry circuit 20, the video signal obtained by the image pickup means is transmitted from the inside of the body to the outside of the body, the control signal from the outside of the body is received to control the operation of the self-propelled portion 2 and the illumination lamp 17 blinks. The drive control of the CCD 15 can be performed from outside the body.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) During the self-propelled examination, the patient's mouth, nose, etc. are not restrained at all, and the burden on the patient can be reduced. (2) By dividing the capsule endoscope into a plurality of capsules (units), the size of the capsule endoscope can be reduced, so that the capsule endoscope can be easily inserted and the patient's pain can be reduced. (3) Since only the self-propelled portion is inserted into the small intestine and the other portion is left in the stomach, the load on the self-propelled portion can be reduced. Therefore, the driving force can be small. The self-propelled speed becomes faster and the inspection time can be shortened. Power consumption can be reduced. (4) The CCD is driven for observation only when removed, and
Power consumption can be reduced because it does not have to be self-propelled when removed. In addition, the battery can be downsized.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the self-propelled portion 2 of the imaging means at the tip is eliminated and the sonde type capsule 22 is used in the same manner as the tip of a normal sonde type small intestine scope.
And a simple structure in which only the balloon 2c is provided in the imaging means. As a result, the pump 13 is unnecessary and the overall size and weight can be reduced.

In this embodiment, since there is no self-propelled means, it is inserted into the small intestine using only the peristaltic movement of the small intestine.
It is carried out at the time of removal in the same manner as in the above example. According to this example,
The same effects as (1) and (2) of the first embodiment are obtained, and the configuration is simplified.

As the image pickup means, an ultrasonic transducer or a coil for nuclear magnetic resonance may be used instead of the CCD to obtain a tomographic image. At this time, no illumination lamp is required, and power consumption can be greatly reduced. Further, by obtaining a tomographic image, it becomes possible to find a deep lesion site.

6 to 8 show a third embodiment. This embodiment is an example used for examination of the large intestine, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Figure 7
As shown in FIG. 3, the capsule endoscope 30 includes an imaging unit 31, a fixed unit 32, a control unit 33, and a power supply unit 5, which are connected by a cable 6. The image pickup unit 31 has a C
A CD 15, a drive circuit 16 for driving the CCD 15, and an illumination lamp 17 for illuminating the inside of the lumen are provided. Further, the image pickup unit 31 includes a gravity sensor 3 for detecting the direction of gravity.
4 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 8, the fixed portion 32 includes:
A balloon 35 that expands in the radial direction, a cable winding unit 26 that winds the cable 6 that connects the imaging unit 31 and the fixing unit 32, and a motor 37 as a drive source thereof are provided.

Further, the control section 33 is provided with a video signal synthesizing circuit 18, a lamp driving circuit 19 and a telemetry circuit 20, as in the first embodiment. Further, a motor drive circuit 38 is provided. Further, a frame memory 39 for recording a video signal is provided.

On the other hand, a telemetry receiving circuit 40 is provided outside the body.
Is provided, which is configured to receive a signal from the gravity sensor 34 and control the posture of the bed 42 by the bed drive circuit 41.

That is, the bed 42 is the modified example 1 of FIG.
As shown in FIG.
The bed 42 is tiltable in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and the posture of the patient X can be changed in any direction. Further, the bed 42 has a receiving circuit 4 for receiving a signal from the capsule endoscope 30.
5, the receiving circuit 45 receives the endoscopic image obtained by the imaging unit 31 and the gravity direction obtained by the gravity sensor 34.

The endoscopic image is input to the calculation unit 47 via the image processing unit 46, the gravity direction by the gravity sensor 34 is input to the calculation unit 47 via the gravity direction detection unit 48, and the calculation unit 47 performs the endoscopic observation. The posture of the bed 42 is calculated from the mirror image and the gravity direction, and the bed drive control unit 49 drives the bed drive unit 44 to tilt the bed 42 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

Next, the operation of the capsule endoscope 30 configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 6A, the fixing portion 32 of the capsule endoscope 30 inserted from the anus is fixed to the rectal wall. At this time, the saline solution is sufficiently injected in front of the fixing balloon 35. Here, the image pickup unit 31 is provided with a weight (not shown), and the image pickup unit 31 moves in the direction of gravity.

Then, the posture of the bed 42 is controlled based on the endoscopic image obtained by the image pickup unit 31 and the data of the gravity direction. For example, in the endoscopic image, when the left direction is the lumen and the gravity direction is the downward direction, the bed 42 is tilted laterally, and the gravity direction and the lumen direction are matched. That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the bed drive control unit 49 drives the bed drive unit 44 to tilt the bed 42 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, thereby changing the patient's posture and changing the S-shaped colon. Pass through. Further, by controlling the body position, the figure (c),
Insert into the ascending colon and ascending colon as shown in (d).
The endoscope image is recorded in the frame memory 39 while being inserted.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The device can be made simple because it is inserted using gravity. (2) By providing the cable winding means, the cable can be easily removed and the operator's labor can be saved. (3) Recording can be left by incorporating the memory. In addition, you can observe slowly later. (4) Since it can be automatically inserted, it can be used for mass screening of the large intestine and the like, and even if the number of operators is small, it is possible to perform simultaneous examination.

Although gravity is used in this embodiment, self-propelled means may be provided as in the first embodiment. In this case, not only the large intestine but also the small intestine can be inserted. As a result of this, it is effective when there is an obstruction in the small intestine and it is desired to observe the terminal ileum. Further, since the entire device is in the intestine, the degree of restraining the patient is low and the burden on the patient can be reduced.

FIG. 10 shows a second modification of the third embodiment, in which the traveling direction of the capsule endoscope 30 is detected by an X-ray image. That is, the X-ray device 50 is provided above the bed 42, and the image signal from the X-ray device 50 is input to the calculation unit 47 via the X-ray image processing unit 51.

According to the above-mentioned embodiments, the following constitution can be obtained. (1) In a capsule endoscope apparatus that is inserted into a body cavity and includes at least an imaging means for observing the inside of the body, a pump section, and a power supply section that supplies energy, the capsule endoscope apparatus is provided in the body cavity. A fixing means for fixing the inside of the body cavity is provided, and the image pickup means is connected by a flexible cable to the pump portion provided with the fixing means so that the image pickup means can advance and retreat with respect to the fixed portion in the body cavity. Capsule endoscopy device. (2) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the image pickup means is a tomographic image pickup means. (3) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (2), wherein the tomographic image is an ultrasonic tomographic image. (4) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (2), wherein the tomographic image is a nuclear magnetic resonance tomographic image. (5) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the image pickup means is a solid-state image pickup element. (6) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the fixing means is an expanding means. (7) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (6), wherein the expanding means is a balloon. (8) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the flexible cable is a stretchable flexible cable. (9) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the imaging unit has a self-propelled unit that advances and retracts with respect to a fixed portion in a body cavity. (10) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (9), wherein the self-propelled means is a bellows-shaped elastic member. (11) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (1), characterized in that the imaging means has a balloon. (12) The capsule endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein the image pickup means is provided with a gravity detection means, and means for controlling the posture of the patient by a detection signal is provided. (13) A telemetry means for transmitting the signal obtained by the imaging means to the outside of the body is provided (1)
The capsule endoscope apparatus described.

According to the above (1), after the capsule endoscope device inserted into the body cavity is fixed by the fixing means near the insertion opening, the image pickup means can be inserted into the deep part of the body cavity.
According to (2), a diagnosis in the depth direction of the luminal organ and a tomographic image of the peripheral organ can be obtained. According to (3) and (4), detailed data of ultrasonic waves and nuclear magnetic resonance tomographic images can be obtained. Therefore, not only in the inserted body cavity, but also in the deep direction and the surrounding organs can be examined.

According to (5), the image pickup means can be housed in the capsule, and an image of the inside of the lumen can be obtained. (6), (7)
According to the method, even if there are different lumens and mucus, they are securely fixed. According to (8), the image pickup means is connected to the fixing means by the elastic flexible cable, which does not hinder the insertion. Therefore, by fixing and holding the capsule endoscope device in the body cavity, the patient behaves as if he / she is not examining.

According to (9), the image pickup means can be moved back and forth by the self-propelled means. According to (10)
It can also be self-propelled against a flexible conduit. By adding the self-propelled means in this way, the examination time is shortened and the burden on the patient is further reduced. According to (11), it can be combined with a sonde scope. According to (12), the gravitational force is detected and the posture of the patient is controlled, so that the imaging means can be moved forward and backward. According to (13), the imaging data can be transmitted outside the body and observed in real time. In this way, by using the telemetry means, the capsule endoscope device inserted into the body cavity can be made smaller and lighter, and by constantly obtaining the inspection data, the affected area can be overlooked and the patient is not restrained in the examination room. It has the effect of living.

FIG. 11 shows a capsule endoscope 53 provided with a cylindrical piezoelectric element 52. An objective lens 54 is provided at the front end portion of the capsule endoscope 53, and a CCD 55 is opposed to the objective lens 54. It is provided. The CCD 55 is connected to a transmission circuit 57 via a process circuit 56, and the gravity direction is input to the transmission circuit 57 from a gravity sensor 58. According to the capsule endoscope 53, the cylindrical piezoelectric element 52 can vibrate the capsule endoscope 53 to improve the insertability into the lumen.

It should be noted that the bed 42 may be provided with a vibrating means such as a piezoelectric element, or the bed driving section 44 may be provided with a focused intense ultrasonic wave generating means to vibrate the capsule endoscope 53. FIG. 12 shows a first disclosed example of a traveling device that is self-propelled in a lumen, in which a front member 61 and a rear member 62 are connected by an external pressure type expandable bellows 63. The front member 61 and the rear member 62 include legs 61a bent rearward,
62a is provided, and the rear member 62 is provided with a battery 64.

Inside the bellows 63, a fibrous mechanochemical 65 and an electrolyte solution 66 are filled. Electrodes 67 are provided at both ends of the mechanochemical 65 so that they can be energized, and can be extended / contracted by switching the energizing direction.

Further, the front member 61 is provided with two electrode plates 68a and 68b jutting rearward in parallel, and the rear member 62 is provided.
The switch 70 is provided with a contact plate 69, which is formed of a magnet and protrudes forward and is interposed between the two electrode plates 68a and 68b.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), two batteries 64 may be used and one switch 70 may be used. As shown in FIG. 13 (b), one battery 64 may be used.
Alternatively, the number of switches may be two, and the number of switches may be two.

Next, the operation of the traveling device thus constructed will be described. As shown in FIG. 12A, in the initial state, the bellows 63 is expanded, the contact plate 69 contacts the lower electrode plate 68b, and the mechanochemical 65 is energized in the contracting direction.

Therefore, the mechanochemical 65 contracts and the bellows 63 contracts, as shown in FIG.
At this time, the contact plate 69 slides on the lower electrode plate 68b.
And the upper electrode plate 68a is contacted by the magnetic force.

As a result, the energizing direction is switched, and the mechanochemical 65 begins to expand, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the bellows 63 expands. At this time,
The contact plate 69 slides on the upper electrode plate 68a, but when the contact plate 69 advances by a certain distance or more, the contact plate 69 separates from the upper electrode plate 68a, contacts the lower electrode plate 68b by a magnetic force, and returns to FIG. By repeating such actions,
The traveling device moves forward while kicking the inner wall of the lumen with the legs 61a and 62a.

A liquid crystal actuator device may be used in place of the mechanochemical 65, and as shown in FIG. 14, a cable 71 is connected to a rear member 62, and a main switch 72 at the tip of the cable 71 is used for traveling. -It may be configured to stop and collect the device.

According to this embodiment, switching control is performed by the movements of the driving parts themselves of the front member 61 and the rear member 62, so that the control mechanism can be simplified. FIG. 14 shows a second disclosed example of a traveling device that self-propels in a lumen, in which a front member 73 and a rear member 74 are connected by an internal pressure type expandable bellows 75. The front member 73 and the rear member 74 include a slanted leg 73 inclined rearward.
a, 74a are provided, and the battery 7 is attached to the rear member 74.
6 is provided.

A battery 7 is installed inside the bellows 75.
A SMA (shape memory alloy) spring 77, which can be energized by means of 6 and is stored in the extension direction, is provided, and its end is connected to the front member 73 and the rear member 74. Further, a switch 78 that can be freely contacted and separated is provided on the side surfaces of the bellows 75 that face each other in the mountain portion.

Next, the operation of the traveling device thus constructed will be described. As shown in FIG. 15A, since the switch 78 is in contact, the SMA spring 77 is electrically heated, and the SMA spring 77 is electrically heated. Therefore, when the SMA spring 77 reaches the transformation point temperature or higher, As shown in (b), the SMA spring 77 extends and the bellows 75 also extends.

Therefore, the front member 73 advances forward,
As the bellows 75 expands, the switch 78 separates, the SMA spring 77 is cut off, and the SMA spring 77 is gradually cooled. When the temperature of the SMA spring 77 falls below the transformation temperature, the SMA spring 77 contracts due to the spring force acting in the contraction direction of the bellows 75, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the rear member 74 moves forward and returns to FIG. By repeating such an action, the traveling device advances while kicking the inner wall of the lumen by the bevelled legs 73a and 74a.

As shown in FIG. 16, by mounting the endoscope 79 on the traveling device, the endoscope 79 can be self-propelled while observing the inside of the lumen, and instead of the endoscope 79, the CCD is attached to the front member 73.
May be mounted. Also, instead of the switch 78 provided on the bellows 75, the bellows 75 comes into contact with the outside when contracted,
A switch 80 may be provided that is separated when the extension is performed.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, the patient's mouth, nose, etc. are not restrained during the examination, and the burden on the patient can be reduced, and by dividing into a plurality of units, it is small and lightweight. It is possible to reduce the pain of the patient by making it easier to insert and remove.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a first embodiment of the present invention in which a capsule endoscope apparatus is inserted into a body cavity.

FIG. 2 is a side view and a front view of the capsule endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a capsule endoscope apparatus of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is a state diagram in which the capsule endoscope device is inserted into a body cavity.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention and is a state diagram in which the capsule endoscope device is inserted into a body cavity.

FIG. 7 is a side view and a front view of the capsule endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the capsule endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram showing a modified example 1 of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an overall configuration diagram showing a second modification of the same embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the capsule endoscope apparatus of the modified example.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of disclosure example 1 of the traveling device.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of the disclosure example.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a modified example of the disclosure example 1 of the traveling device.

FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of disclosure example 2 of the traveling device.

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional side view showing a modified example of the disclosure example 2 of the traveling device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Capsule endoscope device 2 ... Self-propelled part 3 ... Pump part 4 ... Control part 5 ... Power supply part 6 ... Flexible cable

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Hiroki Moriyama 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yutaka Fujisawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A capsule endoscope apparatus which is inserted into a body cavity and comprises at least an imaging means for observing the inside of the body and a power supply section for supplying energy, wherein a part of the capsule endoscope apparatus is placed inside the body cavity. A capsule endoscope apparatus characterized in that a fixing means for fixing is provided, and the fixing means and the image pickup means are connected by a flexible cable so that the image pickup means can move forward and backward with respect to a fixed portion in a body cavity.