JP2003135387A - Capsule type medical apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capsule type medical apparatus having advantages such as easy swallowability, easy progressiveness and the like. SOLUTION: The capsule type medical apparatus comprises a first hard capsule 11a having a small profile, a second hard capsule 11b larger than the first capsule and coupled to the first capsule with a soft and slender tube 12 in such a manner that the smaller capsule contains an illuminating means and an imaging means, and the larger capsule contains a battery or the like as a power source. Thus, the apparatus is swallowed from the first smaller capsule 11a side so that a patient can swallow the apparatus without pain. In a body, the apparatus is easily advanced with the smaller capsule as the forward side. In this case, the apparatus can image along the advancing direction, and can pick up an image to be easily diagnosed. Thus, the apparatus is made to have many advantages.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a capsule type medical device for inspecting the inside of a body cavity by using a capsule body containing an image pickup means and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been proposed a capsule endoscope in which a capsule-shaped capsule body is inserted into a body cavity for inspection. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-111985 discloses a spherical capsule in which the capsule shape is divided into two.

[0003]

However, in this prior art, since the capsules have substantially the same size, there is not enough ingenuity to facilitate the process and swallow.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a capsule type medical device having advantages such as easy swallowing and easy progress.

[0005]

In a capsule type medical device which is passed through a body cavity duct of a human or an animal for examination, treatment or treatment, at least two hard parts are connected to the plurality of hard parts. Consisting of a soft connecting part having a smaller diameter than all the hard parts, one of the plurality of hard parts is different in size from the other hard parts, and swallowed from the smaller hard part. This makes it easier to swallow, and the smaller one is the front side so that it can be easily advanced in the lumen.

[0006]

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule endoscope system 1 including the first embodiment of the capsule medical device according to the present invention is a first type for inspecting the inside of a body cavity when a patient 2 swallows from the mouth. Of the embodiment of the present invention, an external unit 5 provided with an antenna 4 arranged outside the body of the patient 2 and wirelessly receiving image information captured by the capsule endoscope 3, and an external unit 5 When the unit 5 is detachably connected, it is composed of a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as personal computer) 7 that can capture an image stored in the extracorporeal unit 5 and display it on the monitor unit 6. A keyboard 9 for inputting data and a monitor unit 6 are connected to a personal computer body 8 of the personal computer 7, and the personal computer 7 is detachably connected to the external unit 5 by a USB cable 10 or the like.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the capsule endoscope 3 according to the first embodiment. This capsule endoscope 3 has a first capsule 11a and a second capsule 11b as two capsule-shaped hard portions having different sizes, and flexibility (softness) to connect them, and both capsules 11a, 11
Both capsules 11a, 1 with a thin tube 12 according to b
It has a structure in which 1b is connected.

In the first capsule 11a, the cylindrical outer periphery of the hard capsule frame 13 is watertightly covered with a dome-shaped hard transparent cover 15 on the opening of the capsule frame 13 via a sealing member 14, and the inside thereof is sealed. The image pickup means and the illumination means are housed inside.

Inside the dome-shaped transparent cover 15, an objective lens 16 which faces the transparent cover 15 and constitutes an image pickup means (observation means) is attached to a light-shielding lens frame 17 at the center thereof. And an image sensor, for example, a CMOS imager 18 is disposed at the image forming position.

Further, for example, a white LED 19 is arranged at a plurality of places around the lens frame 17 as an illuminating means so that the light emitted by the white LED 19 can be transmitted through the transparent cover 15 to illuminate the outside thereof. I have to. Also,
On the back side of the CMOS imager 18, a white LED 19
A driving circuit 20 for driving the CMOS imager 18, and a controller 21 having a function of controlling the driving circuit 20 and performing signal processing on an output signal of the CMOS imager 18,
These are fixed to the capsule frame 13.

The tube 1 is provided at the center of the end face (rear end face) of the capsule frame 13 on the side opposite to the transparent cover 15 side.
2 is provided with a connection mouthpiece portion 22 for connecting and fixing one end of
One end of the tube 12 is watertightly connected and fixed.

The controller 21 has a tube 1
One end of the electric cable 23 inserted through 2 is connected,
The other end is connected to the second capsule 11b. The tube 12 is made of a flexible tube such as urethane, vinyl chloride, and silicon.

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

Further, the electric cable 23 is curled, meandered, or spirally wound in the tube 12 so that tension is hardly applied to the electric cable 23 even if the shape of the tube 12 is changed. There is.

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

A battery 29 of, for example, a button type is electrically connected to the controller 21 in the capsule frame 24, and a transmission / reception circuit 30 for generating a signal to be transmitted and demodulating the received signal is also provided. And an antenna 31 that is connected to the image sensor 18 and that transmits image information captured by the CMOS imager 18 to the extracorporeal unit 5 and receives a control signal wirelessly transmitted from the extracorporeal unit 5.

The battery 29 is connected to the transmitting / receiving circuit 29, the controller 21, and the drive circuit 20 so as to supply drive power.

The cylindrical side surface of the second capsule 11b is provided with a male screw 32, while the battery housing lid 26 is provided with a female screw to be engaged with the male screw 32. In addition, a circumferential groove is provided on the cylindrical side surface of the second capsule 11b to house the sealing member 25 such as an O-ring and to seal the inside of the second capsule 11b with the battery housing lid 26 in pressure contact with the sealing member 25.

The other end of the tube 12 is watertightly fixed to the connection mouthpiece 27 at the center of the capsule frame 24 on the side opposite to the battery storage lid 26 side by an adhesive agent or the like.

The external unit 5 receives a signal from the capsule endoscope 3 through the antenna 4, displays an image demodulated by an internal signal processing circuit (not shown) on the liquid crystal monitor 5a, and has an internal nonvolatile memory. Alternatively, it is compressed and stored in a small hard disk or the like.

Further, the extracorporeal unit 5 is provided with an operating portion 5b. By operating the operating portion 5b, a control signal is transmitted from the antenna 4 as a radio wave, and the capsule endoscope 3 receives this control signal. The controller 21 can change the illumination interval of the illumination means and the imaging cycle of the imaging means.

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

In the capsule endoscope 3 having such a configuration, both the small capsule 11a and the large capsule 11b are connected by the flexible tube 12, and the first capsule 11a has an image pickup means and an illumination means. Etc., and the larger second capsule 11b has a battery 29 and an antenna 31 as a power source.
An electric cable 2 that accommodates etc. and is inserted into the tube 12
Power is supplied to the image pickup means, the illumination means, and the like via 3, and the image signal picked up by the image pickup means is transmitted from the antenna 31 to the outside.

In this case, two capsules 11a and 11b
One of them is made smaller to make it easier to swallow and make it easier to pass through. Further, the illumination means and the imaging means are housed on the front end side (the end opposite to the end connected by the tube 12) on the side of the reduced first capsule 11a, and the advancing direction of the capsule endoscope 3 The front side of is illuminated so that the inside of the illuminated body cavity can be imaged.

Further, the rear end side of the smaller first capsule 11a is chamfered 34 by being diagonally or corner-cut into a spherical shape. Also, the larger second
The outer peripheral shape of the front side end portion of the capsule 11b connected by the tube 12 is chamfered 35 so as to be oblique or spherical so as to improve the passability. This chamfer 35 is the chamfer 3 on the rear end side of the first capsule 11a.
It is chamfered to be larger than 4 so as not to obstruct passage.

Further, the electric cable 23 is longer than the length of the tube 12 so as to follow the deformation of the flexible tube 12. Further, the length of the tube 12 is equal to or longer than the length of the smaller first capsule 11a. By having a certain length or more, the ease of swallowing is improved. Further, by setting the length approximately equal to or twice as long as the length of the smaller first capsule 11a, there is no concern that the soft connecting portion is entangled or a knot is formed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the two capsules 11a and 11b have different sizes, so that the patient 2 swallows the capsule endoscope 3 as shown in FIG. In the case of a microscopic examination, by swallowing from the smaller side, it is possible to smoothly and easily swallow, and the advancing direction can be controlled as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the capsule endoscope 3 is a stomach 3.
When passing through the pylorus 37 and the duodenum 38 from 6, the smaller first capsule 11a tends to enter first, so that the traveling direction and the observation direction can be matched.

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

Due to its shape, the capsule endoscope 3 is illuminated and observed (imaged) through a dome-shaped window. In that case, there is a high possibility that illumination light will be reflected or irregularly reflected on the inner surface of the dome-shaped transparent cover 15, and it is considered that ghosts or flares may enter the observed image.
The 7 functions become important.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the height h of the lens frame 17 and the distance s between the objective lens 16 and the illumination means are set.
In such a case, the light reflected from the inner surface of the transparent cover 15 from the illumination means is set so as not to enter the objective lens 16 as much as possible. For example, the light emitted from one of the white LEDs 19 constituting the illuminating device in FIG. 4 as shown by the arrow is partially reflected by the inner surface of the transparent cover 15, but most of the reflected light is a mirror body. The field of view by the objective lens 16 is ensured by not entering the objective lens 16 inside the frame 17.

Further, the light reflected by the outer surface of the transparent cover 15 passing through the inner surface thereof is prevented from entering the objective lens 16 as much as possible. In this way, the observing performance is improved by substantially eliminating stray reflected light.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 4, showing an explanatory view for effectively illuminating the visual field range. As shown in FIG. 5, the objective lens 16 attached to the lens frame body 17 arranged at the center
The white LED 19 as an illuminating device arranged on both sides of the visual field range for the observation target object 39 allows illumination. For simplification, the objective lens 16 and the lens frame body 17 are collectively referred to as an objective optical system.

Here, x: distance from the tip surface of the objective optical system to the observation object 39 h: height of the objective optical system (referenced to the end surface of the white LED 19) d: diameter of the objective optical system θ: objective optical system Viewing angle s: distance between the objective optical system and the white LED 19 a: visual field radius b: illumination range Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the illumination light is not blocked by the objective optical system by setting a ≦ b. The field of view can be illuminated effectively.

Here, a = d / 2 + xtan θ b = (x / h))) (s-d / s) -d / 2 Is.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the inside of the body cavity of the patient 2 is inspected by the capsule endoscope 3, the battery 29 needs to be housed as shown in FIG.
In this case, the portion containing the battery 29 can be removed by screwing, and the elastic resin cover 28
When the battery is removed and the battery storage lid 26 is screwed and removed, a new battery 29 can be easily stored.

When the capsule endoscope 3 is started to be used, the patient 2 or the doctor inserts the battery 29 and the battery storage lid 26 is screwed in to turn on the power to start image acquisition and signal transmission / reception. The power can be turned on easily, and no other switch or the like is required. On the contrary, when discarding the capsule medical device, the battery can be easily removed, which is environmentally friendly.

Further, in the present embodiment, the second capsule 1
1b has a battery 29, so if it gets damaged,
There are problems such as discharge and liquid leakage. In order to prevent damage, the elastic resin cover 28 is used for protection. A watertight seal is provided by a sealing member 25 such as an O-ring so that water such as body fluid does not enter the inside of the battery 29.

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

The capsule endoscope 3 illuminates and picks up images at regular intervals, and the picked-up image information is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 31. The image information is received by the extracorporeal unit 5,
It is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5a and saved.

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

Further, in this case, since the illumination and image pickup means is provided at the tip on the side of the first capsule 11a, the inside of the body cavity in the traveling direction can be picked up, and the diagnosis can be performed easily like the diagnosis image by the normal endoscope. You can also get an image.

As another modified example, the following image pickup device may be used instead of the CMOS imager. The image pickup device used here has the advantages of both the CMOS imager and CCD (charge coupled device),
A threshold modulation image sensor (VMIS) which is a next-generation image sensor is used. This sensor has 3
~ The structure is completely different from the conventional CMOS sensor composed of 5 transistors and photodiodes, and there is a technology that modulates the threshold value of the MOS transistor by the electric charge generated by light reception and outputs the change of the threshold value as an image signal. It is a sensor of the structure used. The feature of this image sensor is that both high image quality of CCD, high integration of CMOS sensor and low power consumption are compatible.

Therefore, it is suitable for a disposable capsule endoscope. By utilizing this feature, it is possible to realize a disposable endoscope (flexible endoscope or rigid endoscope) or a low-priced endoscope, so this image sensor (VMIS) is used not only for these endoscopes but also for ordinary videoscopes. Of course, you can. In addition to this, it has the following excellent features. One transistor per image sensor
Simple structure of individual pieces. It has excellent photoelectric characteristics such as high sensitivity and high dynamic range. Since it can be manufactured by the CMOS process, high density and low cost can be realized.

The sensor type is QCIF.
(QSIF) size, CIF (SIF) size, VGA
There are various types such as type, SVGA type, XGA type,
The wireless communication type capsule endoscope like the present invention,
In terms of ease of drinking, wireless transmission speed, and power consumption, "QCIF
Those having a small (QSIF) size "and" CIF (SIF) size "are particularly suitable.

FIG. 6 shows a first capsule 11 according to a modification.
The part a is shown. In this variant, the first capsule 1 of FIG.
1a, the white LE inside the transparent cover 15
D19, objective lens 16, and watertight seal 40 on the frame 17
Has been given. In other words, the transparent cover 15 has a watertight structure on the front side, but even if the transparent cover 15 is cracked and the watertight function is broken, the electric system such as the drive circuit 20 inside the transparent cover 15 is broken. A watertight seal 40 was used to form a watertight structure on the entire inner surface of the transparent cover 15 facing the transparent cover 15 so as to ensure electrical insulation so that moisture would not enter. The side surface portion is sealed by the seal member 14 as in the case of FIG.

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

This embodiment has the following effects. By splitting one capsule into two and making them smaller, and making one smaller than the other, it is easier to swallow. That is, swallowability can be improved. Also, by changing the size of the capsule, it is easy to make the traveling direction and the observation direction the same. That is, the observability can be improved.

Further, the objective optical system, the illumination and the transparent cover 1
By adjusting the arrangement of No. 5, the stray of reflected light is reduced. That is, the observability can be improved. Also,
Power ON / OFF and battery replacement can be done easily. Easy to handle. Environmentally Friendly.

Further, even if the transparent cover is cracked, the internal circuit is kept watertight so that it is hard to break down.

As a modified example of this embodiment, the transparent cover 15 is provided on the frontmost surface of the objective lens 16 or the lens frame 17.
It may be in contact with the inner surface of the transparent cover 15 and be made to be difficult to deform even if a large force is applied to the transparent cover 15 from the outside.

That is, the objective lens 16 or the body frame 1
Since 7 is placed in contact with the transparent cover 15,
The transparent cover 15 is hard to be deformed or broken, and the strength can be increased.

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

In this case, the first capsules 4 provided at both ends
The first capsule 41a and the third capsule 41c have almost the same outer size, and the second capsule 41 provided in the center of the first capsule 41a
b is a larger outer size.

Further, the first capsule 41a and the third capsule 41c are similar in construction to the first capsule 11a in the first embodiment, and the second capsule 41b and the second capsule 11b are the same. It has a similar configuration.

The first capsule 41a is a capsule frame 13
A cylindrical permanent magnet 43a is inserted in the cylindrical outer peripheral portion of a to open the opening of the capsule frame 13a into a dome-shaped transparent cover 1.
5a, the periphery of the opening is watertightly fixed with a watertight adhesive 44a, and the image pickup means and the illumination means are housed inside. Instead of the permanent magnet 43a, a (strong) magnetic body having a strong magnetic force may be used.

Inside the dome-shaped transparent cover 15a, an objective lens 16a facing the transparent cover 15a and constituting an image pickup means (observation means) is attached to a light-shielding mirror body frame 17a. And an image pickup device, for example, a CMOS imager 18a, is arranged at the image forming position. Note that, for example, the objective lens 16a is arranged so that its outer surface is in contact with the inner surface of the transparent cover 15a.

Further, for example, a white LED 19a is arranged at a plurality of places around the lens frame 17a as an illuminating means so that the light emitted from the white LED 19a can be transmitted through the transparent cover 15a to illuminate the outside thereof. I have to.

On the back side of the CMOS imager 18a, a white LED 19a is driven to emit light, and a CM
A drive circuit 20a for driving the OS imager 18a and a controller 21a having a function of controlling the drive circuit 20a and performing signal processing on an output signal of the CMOS imager 18a are arranged, and these are provided in a capsule frame body 13a. It is fixed.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 6, the transparent cover 1
A watertight seal 40a is provided on the inner side of 5a, and even if the watertightness of the portion covered with the transparent cover 15a is broken and the watertight seal 40a breaks the watertight seal 40a, the electric system such as the drive circuit 20a is insulated. I am trying to keep it.

A connection mouthpiece 22a for connecting and fixing one end of the tube 42a is provided at the center of the end surface of the capsule frame 13a on the side opposite to the transparent cover 15a side, and one end of the tube 42a is watertightly connected and fixed. ing.

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

The retainer 45a is connected to the retainer 47a of the second capsule 41b via a connecting metal wire 46a inserted in the tube 42a.
The flexible tube 42a is designed to be freely bendable so that the connection between the 1a and 41b is not disconnected.

The electric cable 23a is wound around the connecting metal wire 46a, for example, so that the tube 4
It is inserted in 2a. Note that the first capsule 41a
A chamfer 34a is formed on the peripheral edge portion of the rear end by obliquely cutting or corner cutting so as to be spherical. Third
The capsule 41c of No. 1 has the same configuration, and the code c is used in place of the code a in the member described in the first capsule 41a.
Will be omitted and the description thereof will be omitted.

The second capsule 41b, which has a larger size than the first and third capsules 41a and 41c, has a seal member 25 inserted on, for example, a cylindrical side surface of the capsule frame 24 having the function of the battery accommodating means (see 3 capsules 41
The open end side (to the c side) is detachably covered with the battery storage lid 48.

Connection caps 27a and 27c for connecting and fixing the tubes 42a and 42b are provided at the centers of the respective end surfaces of the capsule frame 24 and the battery storage lid 48, and the tubes 42a and 42b are made of a watertight adhesive or the like. Watertightly connected and fixed.

Further, the battery storage lid 48 and the capsule frame 2
The outer peripheral portion of 4 is covered with an elastic resin cover 49 up to the vicinity of the connection mouth portions 27a and 27c.

In the capsule frame 24, for example, a button type battery 29 is electrically connected to the controllers 21a and 21c, and a transmission / reception circuit 30 that generates a signal to be transmitted and demodulates the received signal is transmitted and received. An antenna 31, which is connected to the circuit 30 and which transmits image information captured by the CMOS imagers 18a and 18c to an external unit (not shown) and receives a control signal wirelessly transmitted from the external unit, is incorporated. The battery 29 is the transmitting / receiving circuit 3
0, controllers 21a and 21c, drive circuits 20a and 2
0c is connected to supply a driving power source.

A male screw 32 is provided on the cylindrical side surface of the second capsule 41b, while a female screw that is screwed onto the male screw 32 is provided on the battery housing lid 48. In addition, a circumferential groove is provided on the cylindrical side surface of the second capsule 41b to accommodate the sealing member 25 such as an O-ring and the inside thereof is made watertight between the sealing member 25 and the battery housing lid 48 which is pressed against the sealing member 25.

In the capsule endoscope 2B having such a structure, three capsules 41a, 41 formed by dividing into three parts are formed.
b and 41c are connected by flexible tubes 42a and 42b, in which case the two capsules 41a and 41c at both ends have substantially the same diameter, and the central capsule 41b is larger than the capsules 41a and 41c at both ends. ing.

The capsules 41a and 41c at both ends are provided with illumination means, image pickup means, illumination & image pickup means driving means, and processing circuits for the image pickup means, and the capsule 41b in the center is provided with a battery 29, a transmission / reception circuit 30, and an antenna 31, The battery 29 in the center and the transmitting / receiving circuit 30 have capsules 41a, 41 on both ends.
The functions of c are commonly used.

Also, the three capsules 41a, 41b, 4
Flexible tube 4 for exchanging power and signals between 1c
2a, 42b are electrically connected by electric cables 23a, 23c, and metal tubes 46a, 46c for connection are inserted in the tubes 42a, 42b to connect the capsules 41a, 41b and 41b, 41c to each other. The tubes 42a and 42b can be freely curved so as not to come off.

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

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The size of the capsules 41a and 41c at both ends is set to the size of the capsule 4 in the center
By making the size smaller than 1b, one of the capsules at both ends advances in the body cavity 50 as shown in FIG. 8, so that the capsules 41a and 41c at both ends provided with the illumination and imaging means respectively move in the traveling direction. You can observe before and after. In FIG. 8, when moving to the left side, the capsule 41a illuminates and images the front side, and the capsule 41c illuminates and images the rear side. The opposite is true when proceeding to the right.

Further, in this embodiment, the cylindrical permanent magnets 43a, 43c are provided on both the capsules 41a, 41c at both ends.
c (or a magnetic material) is provided. This permanent magnet 4
As shown in FIG. 9, 3a and 43c (or a magnetic substance) cannot be passed because the capsule endoscope 2B is clogged due to a narrowed portion 51 in the body cavity 50 or the like, and a string is required when recovering. The permanent magnet 54 is attached to the tip of the member 53.
It is possible to easily collect when collecting with the collecting tool 55 provided with.

That is, by bringing the distal end side of the recovery tool 55 closer to the capsule endoscope 2B side, the permanent magnet 54 at the distal end of the recovery tool 55 and the permanent magnet 43a or 43c at the capsule endoscope 2B side are formed. The permanent magnet 54 and the permanent magnet 43a or 43c are attracted by the magnetic force acting between them, and the capsule endoscope 2B can be easily pulled out (recovered) in the attracted state by pulling out the recovery tool 55. Further, although the above description is for the case of collection, it can be used when remotely controlling the position / posture of the capsule endoscope 2B in the body cavity by the external magnetic field.

The present embodiment has the following effects. By dividing the capsule into three parts, the size of one capsule can be reduced, making it easier to swallow. The swallowability can be improved. In this case, the central capsule 41b
By making the size of the capsules 41a and 41c on both sides smaller, it becomes easier to swallow.

Further, since the illuminating means and the image pickup means are provided on the capsules 41a and 41c on both sides, the traveling direction and the observing direction can be made the same, and the front and rear of the traveling direction can be simultaneously observed. Therefore, the observation performance can be improved. Moreover, since the size of the capsules 41a and 41c on both sides of the central capsule 41b is made small, it can be moved easily.

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

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

That is, the stopper 45 in the capsule 41a is prevented.
“A” is slidably arranged in the front-rear direction in a cylindrical body (ring) 56a arranged between the back surface of the controller 21a and the inner surface of the capsule frame 13a. Further, in this modification, the lens frame 17a is in contact with the inner surface of the transparent cover 15a. In this case, the transparent cover 15a is reinforced, and the resistance to the force from the outside is improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the connecting metal wire 46 in the tubes 42a and 42c connecting the three capsules is used.
Although the a and 46c are separate from the electric cables 23a and 23c, as another modified example, the electric cables 23a and 2c.
3c may serve as the connecting metal wires 46a and 46c. In this case, there is an effect that the structure can be simplified.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the electric cables 23a and 23c are slidable and the connecting metal wire 4 is used.
You may make it the structure which serves as 6a and 46c. In this case, the sliding retainer 45a may be provided with a contact so that it can be electrically connected to the controller 21a or the like via the tubular body 56a. As still another modification, a VMIS may be used instead of the CMOS imager.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13.
FIG. 11 shows a capsule medical device 2C according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The capsule medical device 2C has, for example, a pH sensor, an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, or the like on the outer peripheral surface of the first capsule 11a of the capsule endoscope 2 according to the first embodiment. Various sensor means 61 such as a blood sensor (hemoglobin sensor) are provided.

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

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

In particular, by setting the pH value and the amount of hemoglobin in the digestive tract of the living body without causing pain to the subject by the capsule type medical device 2C, the effect of being able to perform diagnosis and physiological analysis of digestive organ diseases is great. . Since various types of sensors are provided according to the purpose, efficient inspection can be performed.

FIG. 12 shows a modified capsule type medical device 2D.
Shows a part of. In this modification, an ultrasonic probe 71 is further provided on the side of the second capsule 11b in the first embodiment. In this case, for example, the battery storage lid 2
6 is formed of a member that allows ultrasonic waves to pass through, a closed space is formed in the battery housing lid 26, a rotary ultrasonic vibrator 72 is housed therein, and the periphery thereof is filled with a transmission medium 73.

The ultrasonic transducer 72 is rotationally driven by the motor 74. Further, the elastic resin cover 28 on the outer surface side of the capsule around the ultrasonic vibrator 72 has a function of an acoustic lens of the ultrasonic vibrator 72. Here, the battery housing lid 26 is detachably fixed to the capsule frame body 24 with screws 76.

The ultrasonic transducer 72 is driven and signal-processed by the control circuit 75 to obtain an ultrasonic slice in the body cavity. The obtained data is transmitted to the receiving means outside the body as in the above case. As a result, it is possible to diagnose the presence or absence of abnormalities in the depth direction of the deep part of the body cavity such as the small intestine. If the observation means and both are provided, both the inner surface of the body cavity and the deep part can be diagnosed at once. An ultrasonic probe of an electronic scanning type may be formed instead of the mechanical scanning type.

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

The drug container 81 and the body fluid container 82 have openings that open to the outer surface of the capsule. Each of the openings is a dissolution film 83, 84 made of gelatin that is erased by gastric juice or a fatty acid film that is digested by intestinal juice. I cover it with. The drug 85 to be treated is stored in the drug storage 81, and when the capsule medical device 2E reaches the target site, the dissolution film 83 is dissolved and the opening is opened, and the direct administration of the drug 85 and the body fluid storage are performed. At 82, bodily fluids can be absorbed.

On the side of the first capsule 11a, for example, a linear actuator 88 for driving the injection needle 87 having a storage portion 86 storing a hemostatic agent inside the transparent cover 15 so as to be capable of projecting and retracting is provided. Then, after confirming the bleeding site with a blood sensor or an observing means, an injection needle 87 for injecting a hemostatic agent, which is usually housed inside the capsule, is projected by communication from the extracorporeal unit 5 outside the body, and the Hemostatic agents such as ethanol and powdered chemicals are sprayed on the bleeding site so that hemostasis can be performed. It should be noted that the embodiments and the like configured by partially combining the above-described embodiments and the like also belong to the present invention.

[Additional Notes] 1. The capsule medical device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the hard parts is provided with a magnet or a magnetic body. 2. The capsule medical device according to claim 2, wherein at least hard portions at both ends of the hard portion are provided with magnets or magnetic bodies. 3. The capsule medical device according to claim 2, wherein the outer diameters or the lengths of the hard portions at both ends have substantially the same value.

4. 3. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein one of the hard parts is provided with a power supply means and a power supply means accommodating portion, the power supply accommodating portion is configured to be dividable, and a sealing means for ensuring watertightness is provided therebetween. Type medical device. 5. The capsule medical device according to appendix 4, wherein a protective cover that can be attached by elastic force can be provided on the outside of the power source storage unit. 6. 5. The capsule medical device according to appendix 4, wherein power supply means is housed in the separable power supply housing, and switch means for turning on the power is provided by assembling the divided power supply housings.

7. The capsule-type medical device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an electric wire means for electrically connecting the hard parts to each other is provided in the soft connecting portion, and the electric wire means is longer than the length of the soft connecting portion. 8. 8. The capsule-type medical device according to appendix 7, wherein the electric wire means is meandered, curled or spirally wound and housed in the soft connecting portion. 9. The capsule medical device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of observation means including an image pickup means and an illumination means, and a power supply means, a wireless transmission means, an imaging drive means, an illumination drive means, and a control means. At least one of the wireless transmission means, the imaging drive means, and the control means is commonly used in a plurality of observation means.

10. The capsule medical device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a wire such as a metal wire is provided in the flexible connecting portion so as to be bendable so that the connection of the hard portions is not disconnected. 11. The capsule medical device according to appendix 10, wherein the wire also serves as an electric wire for electrically connecting the hard portions. 12. 12. The capsule-type medical device according to supplementary note 10 or 11, wherein one end of the wire is a contact that can slide back and forth inside the hard portion.

(Background of Supplementary Notes 10 to 12) Since the conventional split-type capsule endoscope uses a flexible tube or a resin for its connection, one of them is caused by an excessive pulling or bending force. The part could be torn and damaged. Therefore, for the purpose of making it more difficult to damage,
The structure of Supplementary Notes 10 to 12 was used to increase the strength and achieve the purpose.

13. The capsule medical device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an end of a surface of each of the hard parts connected to the soft connecting part is spherically or obliquely chamfered. 14. The end of the surface of the larger hard portion connected to the soft connecting portion is chamfered larger than the end of the surface of the smaller hard portion connected to the soft connecting portion. The capsule type medical device according to claim 1. 15. In a capsule type medical device for examination, treatment or treatment by passing through a body cavity of a human or an animal, an observation means including an objective optical system and an illumination optical system, and a light-shielding mirror provided around the objective optical system. A capsule medical device comprising: a body frame; and a front end surface of the objective optical system protruding from a front end surface of the illumination optical system.

(Background of Supplementary Note 15) In the conventional example, there is a drawback that a part of the illumination light is incident on the objective optical system side and the observation function is deteriorated. Therefore, for the purpose of improving the observation function, the structure of Appendix 15 is adopted to prevent the illumination light from entering the objective optical system side as much as possible, thereby improving the observation function.

16. A dome-shaped observation window integrally including the observation means is provided on the front surface of the observation means, and is fixed in a state where the inner surface of the dome-shaped observation window and a part of the objective optical system or the light-shielding mirror body frame are in contact with each other. 15. The capsule medical device according to appendix 15, which is characterized in that 16-1. 3. The capsule medical device according to claim 1, further comprising an image pickup means using a VMIS (threshold modulation type image sensor).

(Background of Supplementary Notes 16 and 16-1) In the conventional example, since the inner surface of the observation window having a space inside and the constituent elements of the observation means such as the objective lens are not in contact with each other, the observation window is easily broken and the strength is improved. Is desired. Therefore, for the purpose of improving the strength, the constitutions of Supplementary Notes 16 and 16-1 are adopted to achieve this purpose.

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

19. In a capsule-type medical device for examination, treatment, or treatment by passing through a body cavity duct of a human or an animal, an observation means including an objective optical system and an illumination optical system, and the observation means provided in front of the observation means are provided. A dome-shaped observation window that is integrally contained is provided, and the inside of the dome-shaped observation window is made watertight with a sealant, and the inside of the dome-shaped observation window and other parts of the capsule medical device are kept watertight. Capsule type medical device. (Background of Supplementary Note 19) In the conventional example, when the dome-shaped observation window is cracked, if an electric circuit or the like is housed inside, it may be deteriorated or broken due to moisture. For this reason,
In order to achieve more reliable operation even when the dome-shaped observation window is cracked, the structure of Appendix 19 is adopted to achieve the object.

[0106]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a capsule type medical device for performing inspection, treatment or treatment by passing through a body cavity duct of a human or animal, at least two hard parts and a plurality of the above Of the hard connecting portion, consisting of a soft connecting portion having a smaller diameter than all the hard portions, one of the plurality of hard portions, because the size is different from the other hard portion, By swallowing from the smaller hard part, it can be swallowed more easily, and it can be made easier to advance inside the lumen with the smaller one on the front side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a capsule endoscope system including a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a capsule endoscope when moving from the stomach to the duodenum side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration and a function of an illumination unit and an observation unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a part of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a partial configuration of a capsule endoscope of a modified example.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a capsule endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a body cavity is inspected by a capsule endoscope.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a state of collecting with a collecting tool when it is clogged in a narrowed portion.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a first capsule portion in a modified example.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a capsule medical device according to a third embodiment of the present invention with a part cut away.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of a capsule medical device according to a first modified example.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a capsule medical device according to a second modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Capsule type endoscope system 2 ... patient 3 ... Capsule type endoscope 4 ... antenna 5 ... External unit 6 ... Monitor section 7 ... PC 11a ... the first capsule 11b ... second capsule 12 ... tube 13, 24 ... Capsule frame 15 ... Transparent cover 16 ... Objective lens 17 ... Mirror frame 18 ... CMOS imager 19 ... White LED 20 ... Drive circuit 21 ... Controller 26 ... Battery storage lid 28 ... Elastic resin cover 29 ... Battery 30 ... Transceiver circuit 31 ... Antenna

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Eiji Segawa             2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside Npus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Yokoi             2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside Npus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4C038 CC03 CC07 CC09                 4C061 AA01 BB01 CC06 DD10 FF50                       HH60 JJ19 LL01 NN01 NN03                       QQ06 QQ07 UU06

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A capsule-type medical device for examination, treatment, or treatment by passing through a body cavity duct of a human or an animal, wherein at least two rigid parts are connected to the plurality of rigid parts. A capsule medical device comprising a flexible connecting portion having a diameter smaller than that of the portion, wherein one of the plurality of hard portions has a size different from that of the other hard portions. 2. A capsule-type medical device for examination, treatment or treatment by passing through a body cavity duct of a human or an animal, wherein at least three or more hard parts are connected to the plurality of hard parts. Of a hard connecting portion having a smaller diameter than the hard portion, the outer diameter or the length of the hard portion at both ends of the plurality of hard portions is smaller than the other hard portions. Medical device. 3. The capsule medical device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the flexible connecting portion is substantially equal to or longer than the minimum length of all the hard portions. .