WO2008056642A1

WO2008056642A1 - Capsule type image pickup device

Info

Publication number: WO2008056642A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/071515
Authority: WO
Inventors: Junji Imai; Hiroshi Inoue; Hitoshi Makinaga
Original assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-11-08
Filing date: 2007-11-06
Publication date: 2008-05-15
Also published as: JP2008119057A

Abstract

Provided is a capsule type image pickup device having a camera module constituted of a first MID, and this first MID includes a light emitting element for illuminating the inside of a digestive tract, and an image sensor for taking an image of that inside. A charge storage unit and a charge unit are integrated into a second MID. The charge storage unit has a capacitor, so that the charge stored in the capacitor is released to energize the camera module and a communication module. The charge unit charges the capacitor with an electromotive force induced by a changing magnetic field from the outside. In this constitution, the device can execute both the illumination and the image pick by itself, and can be easily small-sized.

Description

Specification

Capsule type imaging device

Technical field

[0001] The present invention generally comprises an imaging device, and more specifically a capsule and a power camera module housed in the capsule, and transmits an image inside the digestive tract taken through the camera module to the outside by radio communication. The present invention relates to a capsule-type imaging device.

Background art

Such a capsule imaging device has already been proposed. For example, Japanese patent number

2768029 describes a digestive system diagnostic device. The apparatus comprises a micro LED lamp and a micro CCD camera. In addition, each of the lamp and the camera is provided with a power source composed of a battery, and each power source is supplied with external power supply oscillator power. In such a conventional technology, when an ultra-small LED lamp and an ultra-small CCD camera are swallowed, the lamp and the camera pass through the esophagus, stomach and intestines. In the meantime, the camera takes an image inside the extinguisher system illuminated by the lamp, and the image signal is displayed on the monitor TV. As a result, each part of the digestive system is diagnosed sequentially.

However, since the ultra-compact LED lamp and the ultra-compact CCD camera are independent from each other, it is difficult to cause the lamp to properly illuminate the viewpoint range of the camera. Also, when the lamp, camera and power supply are housed in a single capsule, it is difficult to allow the power supply to supply the lamp and camera with sufficient power while forming the capsule in a size that allows the patient to swallow the capsule easily.

Disclosure of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a capsule-type imaging device that enables independent illumination and imaging and is easy to miniaturize.

[0005] A capsule-type imaging device of the present invention includes a camera module, a communication module, and a capsule. The camera module is composed of a 1st MID (molded interconnect device), which includes at least one light emitting element for illuminating the inside of the digestive tract and an image inside the light emitting element. It has an image sensor for taking images. The communication module is configured to transmit an image taken through the camera module to the outside by wireless communication. The camera module and the communication module are housed in a capsule, and the capsule is administered into the digestive tract. According to a feature of the present invention, the imaging device further comprises a charge storage unit and a charging unit. The charge storage unit includes a capacitor and is configured to supply power to the camera module and the communication module by discharging the charge stored in the capacitor. All or part of the charge storage unit is integrated with the second MID. The charging unit is configured to charge the capacitor with an electromotive force induced by a changing magnetic field from the outside, and is integrated with the second MID. The present invention can execute illumination and imaging independently, and can be easily miniaturized.

[0006] In one embodiment, the capsule has an oval shape. The camera module is arranged on one end side of the long axis of the capsule. The charge storage unit and the charging unit are arranged on one end side of the short axis of the capsule. In the present invention, an effective space can be secured in the capsule.

[0007] In one embodiment, the imaging apparatus further includes a container accommodated in the capsule and an ejection mechanism. The container is configured to squeeze a therapeutic drug into the gastrointestinal tract. The ejection mechanism is configured to eject the medicine stored in the container into the digestive tract.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in further detail. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[FIG. 1] FIGS. 1A-1G show a first embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from below. 1C is a partially broken view seen from the front, FIG. 1D is a partially broken view seen from the bottom, FIG. 1E is a partially broken view seen from the top, and FIG. 1F is a view seen from the left. FIG. 1G is a partially cutaway view from the right.

2A-2C show the embodiment with the capsule removed, specifically FIG. 2A is a front view, FIG. 2B is a rear view, and FIG. 2C is a top view. FIGS. 3A-3D show the embodiment with the capsule removed, specifically, FIG. 3A is a front view, and FIG. 3B is a front view of the embodiment with the camera module removed, FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view seen from the back, and FIG. 3D is a back view.

4] It is a block diagram of the embodiment.

5] FIGS. 5A-5D show a second embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 5A is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the front, and FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from above. 5C is a longitudinal sectional view from below, and FIG. 5D is a longitudinal sectional view from above of the embodiment with the container removed. 6] FIGS. 6A-6D show the embodiment, specifically 6A is a front view of the embodiment with the cover removed, FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view from the back, FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view from the front, and FIG. 6D is from the back. FIG.

[FIG. 7] FIGS. 7A-7D show the embodiment with the capsule removed. Specifically, FIG. 7A is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the front, FIG. 7B is a top view, and FIG. 7C is a bottom view. FIG. 7D is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from above.

[FIG. 8] FIGS. 8A-8F show the embodiment with the capsule removed, specifically, FIG. 8A is a front view, FIG. 8B is a left side view, and FIG. 8C is an A- Fig. 8D is a cross-sectional view taken from the left, taken along the A 'spring, and Fig. 8D is a cross-sectional view taken from the right, taken along the line A-A' in Fig. 8A, and Fig. 8E is shown in Fig. 8A. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken from the right, taken along line BB ′, and FIG. 8F is a right side view.

FIG. 9] is a block diagram of the embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1A-1G show a capsule imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes a capsule 1 to be administered into the digestive tract. The capsule 1 includes a camera module 2 for taking an image of the inside of the digestive tract, and transmits the image to the outside by wireless communication. A communication module 5 is provided. In addition, the capsule 1 includes a charge storage unit 3 for supplying power to the camera module 2 and the communication module 5 and a charging unit 6 for charging the charge storage unit 3. Hereinafter, the left-right direction and the up-down direction in FIG. 1A are defined as the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the device, respectively. Figure 1A The direction perpendicular to the surface of the device is defined as the left-right direction of the device.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1A-1G, 2-8 and 3-8-30, the camera module 2 is composed of a MID (molded interconnect device) 23 corresponding to the first MID of the present invention. Are equipped with four light emitting elements 20 each emitting light, an image sensor 21 and a lens 22. The sensor 21 is a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor. As shown in FIG. 1F, the MID 23 is formed in a circular flat shape, and a square cylindrical through hole 23a is formed in the center of the MID 23. The image sensor 21 is mounted on the rear side of the MID 23 so as to close the through hole 23a. The lens 22 is a biconvex lens, for example, and is mounted on the front side of the MID 23. Four cup-shaped recesses 23b are arranged around the optical axis of the lens 22 and are formed on the front surface of the MID 23 so as to surround the through hole 23a. A light emitting element 20 composed of a white LED is mounted on each bottom surface of the recess 23b. In addition, each recess 23b has a bottom surface and an inner peripheral surface (for example, staking) that are mirror-finished so as to more efficiently reflect the light from the light emitting element 20 forward. The light emitting element 20 and the image sensor 21 are electrically connected to the control unit 4 through a conductor pattern 23c formed on the MID 23 (see FIGS. 3A-3C).

[0011] The control unit 4 is composed of, for example, a one-chip integrated circuit. This control unit 4 controls the function for converting the image signal from the image sensor 21 into a format suitable for wireless communication, the charge storage unit 3 force, and the power supply (discharge) to the image sensor 21. And a function for controlling light emission of the light emitting element 20. The communication module 5 is composed of, for example, a one-chip integrated circuit. The communication module 5 has a transmission function for transmitting an image signal from the control unit 4 by wireless (radio wave) communication, and a control signal transmitted from the outside by the wireless communication, and receives the signal from the control unit. Has a receiving function to pass to 4. The control unit 4 and the communication module 5 are mounted on the inner bottom surface of the bottomed cylindrical MID7. The camera module 2 is coupled to such Ml D7 so as to close the front opening of the MID7.

[0012] The charge storage unit 3 and the charging unit 6 are integrated with a MID 8 corresponding to the second MID of the present invention. Hereinafter, the combination of the MID 8, the charge storage unit 3, and the charging unit 6 is referred to as a power supply module 9. The charge storage unit 3 is a plane parallel capacitor (capacitor) formed of, for example, a copper thin film, a ferroelectric thin film, and a copper thin film, and is mounted on the rear surface of the MID 8. The charging unit 6 is configured to apply a DC (direct current) voltage to the charge storage unit 3 to be charged. For example, the charging unit 6 A primary coil (not shown) placed outside the capsule 1, a secondary coil 60 that is transformer-coupled to the primary coil, and a rectifying / smoothing circuit (not shown). The rectifying / smoothing circuit rectifies and smoothes the AC (alternating current) voltage induced in the secondary coil 60 by the AC (alternating current) current flowing in the primary coil. The secondary coil 60 includes a semicircular coil bobbin 61 provided on the back side of the MID 8 and a coil 62 which is a conductor pattern formed on the outer peripheral surface of the coil bobbin 61. MID7 equipped with control unit 4 and communication module 5 is coupled to the front face of MID8. The power supply module 9 and the control unit 4, the control unit 4 and the communication module 5 and the camera module 2 are electrically connected by conductor patterns 7a, 8a and 23c formed on the MIDs 7, 8 and 23, respectively ( (See Figure 3). The MID 23 of the camera module 2, the MID 7 on which the control unit 4 and the communication module 5 are mounted, and the MID 8 of the power supply module 9 may be one MID.

[0013] The capsule 1 is composed of a hemispherical body la and a hemispherical force bar lb covering the front end of the body la. The cover lb is made of a transparent material and is joined to the body la so as to cover the camera module 2 from the front.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the first embodiment. The control unit 4 is activated by the electric power supplied from the charge storage unit 3. In this case, the control unit 4 turns on / off the power supply from the charge storage unit 3 to the camera module 2 according to the control signal received through the communication module 5. The control unit 4 also converts the image signal from the camera module 2 into a format suitable for wireless communication. Subsequently, the converted image signal is transmitted from the communication module 5 by wireless communication. As a result, the image signal is received by a communication device (not shown) outside the patient's body. Subsequently, the image pickup force of the camera module 2 is displayed on a monitor device (not shown) based on the received image signal. Thus, an operator (for example, a doctor) can examine the state of the patient in the digestive tract. By the way, the communication device and the monitor device are connected to the computer system, and the control unit 4 turns on and off the power supply according to a control command given by the computer device via the communication device.

In the first embodiment, the camera module 2 includes a MID 23 on which the light emitting element 20 and the image sensor 21 are mounted. The camera module 2, the charge storage unit 3, and the charging unit 6 are integrated into the MID 8. Therefore, the capsule-type imaging device alone is used for illumination and imaging. And can be easily miniaturized.

[0016] FIGS. 5A-5D, 6A-6D, 7A-7D, 8A-8F and 9 show capsule-type imaging devices according to the second embodiment of the present invention. For clarity, the same symbols as in the first embodiment are assigned to similar elements.

In the second embodiment, the capsule 1 is extended in the front-rear direction. That is, the capsule 1 has an oval shape with a cylindrical portion at the center. The power supply module 9 is arranged on one end side (lower side) of the short axis (vertical direction) of the capsule 1. In addition, the capsule 1 further includes a container 10 and an ejection mechanism therein. The container 10 stores a medicine (chemical solution) and is disposed in a space formed above the power supply module 9. The ejection mechanism is configured to eject the drug solution into the digestive tract.

The power supply module 9 includes a charge storage unit 3 and a charging unit 6 that are integrated with the MID 8 as in the first embodiment. The MID 8 is formed by integrating a rectangular flat piece 80, a cylindrical coil bobbin 81, and a pair of connecting portions 82 and 82. The flat piece 80 protrudes rearward from the lower part of the rear surface of the MID 7 on which the control unit 4 and the communication module 5 are mounted. The coil pobbin 81 is disposed below the flat piece 80 so as to be separated from the flat piece 80. The pair of connecting portions are disposed at both ends of the flat piece 80 in the major axis direction of the capsule 1 and connect the coil bobbin 81 to the flat piece 80. The charge storage unit 3 is a plane parallel capacitor (capacitor) formed of, for example, a copper thin film, a ferroelectric thin film, and a copper thin film, and is disposed on the upper surface of the flat piece 80. The secondary coil 60 of the charging unit 6 is formed of a helical conductor pattern disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the coil bobbin 81 (see FIGS. 7A and 7C). A rectifying / smoothing circuit for rectifying and smoothing the AC voltage induced in the secondary coil 60 is not shown.

The container 10 has a bullet shape and protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the MID 7 in parallel with the flat piece 80. In the container 10, a pair of disk pieces (walls) 12 and 13 are provided in the container 10 so as to move in the front-rear direction. The interior of the container 10 is divided into three regions SI, S2 and S3 via disc pieces 12 and 13 (see FIG. 5A). The return spring 14 is disposed in the first region S 1 closest to the MID 7, and the disk piece 12 is held in the initial position by the return spring 14. Here, a jetting opening 15 for jetting a chemical solution is formed in the sides of the container 10 and the capsule 1. The ejection opening 15 is closed by the disk piece 12 at the initial position (see FIG. 5A). See). The chemical solution is stored in the second region S2 between the disk pieces 12 and 13, while the gas (for example, an inert gas such as helium) is stored in the third region S3 partitioned by the disk piece 13. Yes. In the temperature range between room temperature (25 ° C) and body temperature (about 36-38 ° C), the gas pressure in the third region S3 is balanced with the spring force of the return spring 14 via the chemical solution. . Accordingly, the disk piece 12 is held at the initial position. If the disk piece 13 is moved forward by thermally expanding the gas in the region S3, the disk piece 12 can be moved forward from the initial position by being piled on the spring force of the return spring 14 via the chemical solution. As a result, the ejection opening 15 closed by the disk piece 12 is opened to the second region S2, so that the chemical solution in the region S2 can be ejected into the digestive tract through the ejection opening 15. In short, the ejection mechanism of the second embodiment is composed of the disk pieces 12 and 13, the return spring 14 and the ejection opening 15.

[0020] Next, the ejection mechanism driving unit 30 for driving the ejection mechanism to eject the chemical liquid will be described. The drive unit 30 includes a heater for thermally expanding the gas in the third region S3. When this heater is supplied with power through the control unit 4, the gas is thermally expanded, and the disk piece 13 can move forward. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 8A, the heater (driving unit 30) faces the third region S3 on the outside of the container 10 with the narrow conductor pattern folded back periodically. It is formed by placing it at the site.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of the second embodiment. The control unit 4 is activated by the electric power supplied from the charge storage unit 3. In this case, the control unit 4 turns on / off the power supply from the charge storage unit 3 to the camera module 2 according to the control signal received through the communication module 5. The control unit 4 converts the image signal from the camera module 2 into a format suitable for wireless communication. Subsequently, the converted image signal is transmitted from the communication module 5 by wireless communication. As a result, the image signal is received by a communication device (not shown) outside the patient's body. Subsequently, the captured image of the camera module 2 is displayed on a monitor device (not shown) based on the received image signal. This allows an operator (eg, a doctor) to examine the patient's state in the digestive tract. The communication device and the monitor device are connected to a computer system used by an operator. Therefore, when the operator gives an instruction to eject the drug solution to the capsule imaging device in the patient's body while viewing the image in the digestive tract displayed on the monitor device, the communication device responds to the instruction. The control signal is transmitted by wireless communication. The control signal is received by the communication module 5 and passed to the control unit 4. In accordance with the control signal command, the control unit 4 drives the ejection mechanism drive unit 30, that is, supplies power to the heater. As a result, the chemical solution in the container 10 is dispensed into the digestive tract.

In the second embodiment, the camera module 2 is arranged on one end side of the long axis of the capsule 1, and the charge storage unit 3 and the charging unit 6 are arranged on one end side of the short axis of the capsule 1. Therefore, an effective space can be secured in the capsule 1. Since the container 10 and the ejection mechanism are disposed in the space, the drug solution in the container 10 that can capture an image in the digestive tract can be ejected through the ejection mechanism, and the affected area can be treated. In addition, since the container 10 and the ejection mechanism can be arranged in the space, the capsule 1 can be prevented from being enlarged.

[0023] Power describing the invention in several preferred embodiments Various modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A camera module comprising at least one light emitting element for illuminating the inside of the digestive tract and an image sensor for taking an image of the inside, a first MID (molded interconnect device);

A communication module for transmitting an image taken through the camera module to the outside by wireless communication;

A capsule in which the camera module and the communication module are housed and administered into the digestive tract;

A capsule imaging device comprising:

The imaging apparatus further includes a charge storage unit and a charging unit,

The charge storage unit includes a capacitor, and is configured to supply power to the camera module and the communication module by discharging the charge stored in the capacitor, and all or part of the charge storage unit is a second MID. Integrated with

The charging unit is configured to charge the capacitor with an electromotive force induced by a changing magnetic field from the outside, and the charging unit is integrated with the second MID.

Capsule type imaging device.

[2] The capsule has an oval shape;

The camera module is disposed on one end side of the long axis of the capsule,

The capsule-type imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the charge storage unit and the charging unit are arranged on one end side of a short axis of the capsule.

[3] It further comprises a container accommodated in the capsule and an ejection mechanism,

The container is configured to squeeze a therapeutic drug into the gastrointestinal tract, and the ejection mechanism is configured to eject the drug accommodated in the container into the gastrointestinal tract.

The capsule imaging apparatus according to claim 2.