JP2005185496A - Capsule type medical device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure the liquid-tightness of a container of a capsule type medical device to improve the safety of the same. <P>SOLUTION: A colorless and transparent insulation film with very little permeability to vapor and gas is at least applied on an electric terminal which connects a luminary 31 exposed in a hermetic vessel 2 excepting a contacting part and a chip component for driving the luminary 31, and an antenna of a wireless transmission means 7 by insulation film coating with CVD or the like using organic series resin such as parylene resin, polyimide resin or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a capsule medical device such as a swallowable capsule endoscope that is introduced into a subject and collects information in the subject, and particularly relates to a capsule medical device that maintains high liquid tightness. Is.

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

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

  In this type of capsule endoscope, there is a swallow type as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, in order to perform the above function. This capsule-type endoscope externally receives image data from illumination means such as LEDs, solid-state image sensors such as CCD and CMOS, drive circuits for these illumination means and solid-state image sensors, power supplies including batteries, and solid-state image sensors. There has been proposed a function execution means such as a transmission unit for transmitting to the apparatus, which is housed in a sealed capsule-shaped container. The capsule-shaped container includes a hemispherical transparent cover for illuminating the outside of the container by the illuminating means or receiving reflected light from the illuminating light to image the outside of the container, and a cylindrical shape for housing these function executing means The capsule-shaped container was hermetically sealed by liquid-tightly joining the transparent cover and the outer case at the time of manufacture.

JP 2001-91860 A

  In such a capsule endoscope, in order to reduce the weight, the transparent cover and the outer case are formed of a thin resin member, and the transparent cover and the outer case are joined with an adhesive, thereby liquid-tight. Is secured. However, since the capsule endoscope is swallowed by the subject through the mouth and passes through the body cavity of the subject, it is preferable that the safety is ensured in many layers.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said problem, Comprising: It aims at providing the capsule type medical device which can ensure the liquid tightness of a container and can improve safety | security further.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, a capsule medical device according to the present invention is formed in a capsule shape that can be introduced into a subject, and an exterior case that seals the inside liquid-tightly; A function execution means accommodated in the exterior case for executing a predetermined function set in advance, a power storage means for storing drive power for driving the function execution means, and the function execution means electrically An electrical terminal provided in the power storage means and the function execution means for connecting and supplying the drive power from the power storage means to the function execution means, and a material having the characteristics of electrical insulation and liquid tightness And a covering member that covers the electrical terminal excluding the contact portion of the electrical terminal while maintaining at least the electrical conductivity of the electrical terminal.

  In addition, the capsule medical device according to the invention of claim 2 is formed in a capsule shape that can be introduced into a subject, and performs an external case that liquid-tightly seals the inside and a predetermined function set in advance. Function executing means housed in the exterior case, power storage means for storing drive power for driving the function execution means, and the function execution means electrically connected to the function from the power storage means In order to supply the driving power to the execution means, it is formed using an electrical terminal provided in the power storage means and the function execution means, and a material having the electrical insulating and liquid-tight characteristics, and at least the function The execution means includes a covering member that covers the outer peripheral surface of the outer case housed therein.

  In the capsule medical device according to the invention of claim 3, in the above invention, the power storage means includes a plurality of button type dry batteries stacked in series, and the covering member includes the stacked button type. The boundary part of the dry cell is covered with the conductivity between the button type dry cells being maintained.

  The capsule medical device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the covering member covers an outer peripheral surface of the exterior case in which the function executing means is accommodated.

  The capsule medical device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the covering member covers the electrical contact portion in a state in which the electrical contact portion is kept conductive.

  The capsule medical device according to the invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the covering member is made of an organic insulating film.

  The capsule medical device according to the invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the insulating film is optically transparent.

  The capsule medical device according to the invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the function execution means comprises illumination means for outputting illumination light for illuminating the inside of the subject.

  In the capsule medical device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the function execution unit includes a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits information acquired from within the subject to the outside of the subject. Features.

  The capsule medical device according to the present invention excludes the electrical terminal while maintaining the electrical conductivity of the electrical terminal provided in the power storage unit and the function execution unit accommodated inside the outer case that liquid-tightly seals the inside. By covering the electrical terminal with a covering member formed using a material having electrical insulation and liquid-tight characteristics, it is possible to further secure the liquid-tightness of the container and further enhance safety. There is an effect.

  In the capsule medical device according to the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the outer case in which the function execution means is accommodated is coated with a covering member formed using a material having electrical insulating and liquid-tight characteristics. Thus, the liquid-tightness of the container can be secured, and the safety can be further enhanced.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a capsule medical device according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings of FIGS. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the capsule medical device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a top view of the developed rigid-flex wiring board shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a capsule endoscope is described as an example of a capsule endoscope that is introduced into a body cavity from a human mouth, which is a subject, and images a region to be examined in the body cavity.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule endoscope 1 includes a sealed container 2 that is an outer case formed in a capsule shape, and a function executing means for executing a predetermined function set in a body cavity. Illuminating means 3 for emitting illumination light for illuminating the test site, imaging means 4 for receiving reflected light from the illumination light and imaging the test site as function execution means, illumination means 3 and imaging means 4, a control means 5 that performs drive control and signal processing, a power storage means 6 that accumulates drive power for driving the function execution means, and a radio that wirelessly transmits image data acquired by the imaging means 4 to the outside of the subject. A transmission means 7 is provided.

  The sealed container 2 is of a size that can be swallowed by a person, and is formed by elastically fitting a substantially hemispherical tip cover 21 and a cylindrical body cover 22. The illumination board 30, the imaging board 40, the switch board 62, the power board 66 and the transmission board 71 have a cylindrical body cover having a substantially semispherical bottom at the rear end and a circular opening at the front end. 22 is inserted. The front end cover 21 has a substantially hemispherical dome shape, and the rear side of the dome opens in a circular shape. The tip cover 21 is formed of a transparent member having transparency or translucency, such as a cycloolefin polymer or polymer carbon preferable for securing optical performance and strength, and the illumination light from the illumination means 3 is sealed in a sealed container. 2 can be transmitted to the outside, and reflected light from the subject by the illumination light can be transmitted to the inside.

  Moreover, the trunk | drum cover 22 is a member which is located in the back side of the front-end | tip cover 21, and covers the said function execution means. The body cover 22 has a cylindrical body 23 and a substantially hemispherical dome-shaped rear end 24 formed integrally, and the front side of the body 23 is open in a circular shape. The body cover 22 is formed of polysulfone or the like which is preferable for ensuring strength, and the illumination unit 3, the imaging unit 4, and the control unit 5 are accommodated in the body unit 23, and the wireless transmission unit 7 is disposed at the rear end. 24.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the illuminating means 3 includes an illuminating board 30 formed in a disk shape having a through hole 30a in the center portion, and a front surface of the illuminating board 30 (the front cover 21 side in FIG. 1). Four light emitters 31 such as provided light emitting diodes, for example, white LEDs, and a chip constituting a circuit for driving the light emitter 31 on the rear surface (on the imaging substrate 40 side in FIG. 1) as shown in FIG. The illumination light from the light emitter 31 is irradiated to the outside through the tip cover 21.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image pickup means 4 includes a disk-shaped image pickup substrate 40 and a solid-state image pickup such as a CCD or CMOS provided on the front surface of the image pickup substrate 40 (on the illumination substrate 30 side in FIG. 1). An element 41 and an imaging lens 42 that forms an image of a subject on the solid-state imaging element 41 are provided. The imaging lens 42 is provided on the front surface of the solid-state image sensor 41 (on the side of the illumination board 30 in FIG. 1). The first lens 42 a provided on the fixed frame 43 a and located on the subject side, and the solid-state image sensor 41. And a second lens 42b provided on the movable frame 43b. The fixed frame 43a and the movable frame 43b constitute a focus adjustment mechanism 43 that moves the second lens 42b along the optical axis. The fixed frame 43 a is inserted through the through hole 30 a of the illumination board 30, and the optical axis of the imaging lens 42 is directed to the front surface of the illumination board 30. Thereby, the imaging means 4 can image the range illuminated by the illumination light of the illumination means 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front and rear surfaces of the imaging substrate 40 (in FIG. 1, the switch substrate 62 side) surround the solid-state imaging device 41 and drive the solid-state imaging device 41. A chip component 44 constituting a circuit is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control means 5 has a DSP (digital signal processor) 51, and the DSP 51 is provided in a form surrounded by a chip component 52 on the rear surface of the imaging substrate 40. The DSP 51 serves as the center of drive control of the capsule endoscope 1 and performs drive control and output signal processing of the solid-state imaging device 41 and drive control of the illumination unit 3. The chip component 44 on the rear surface of the imaging substrate 40 is a semiconductor member having a function of mixing two signals of a video signal and a clock signal output from the DSP 51 into one signal when transmitting from the wireless transmission unit 7. It is.

  The DSP 51 is flip-chip mounted on the imaging substrate 40 face down in the form of a so-called bare chip (bare semiconductor chip) that does not perform semiconductor packaging in order to achieve miniaturization of the capsule endoscope 1. Has been. In general, bare chip semiconductors have significantly lower reliability in terms of moisture resistance and water resistance, for example, compared to parts that have been packaged in a semiconductor manner such as normal resin molding. In the embodiment, the same reliability can be ensured by coating the insulating resin even when compared with the parts that have been packaged. Even when a bare chip shape is used in addition to the DSP 51, the same effect can be expected by adopting the mode described in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power storage means 6 includes a button type dry battery 61 such as a silver oxide battery, a switch board 62 formed in a disk shape, a reed switch 63a, and a bias magnet 63b. A switch unit 63 and a power supply unit 64 provided on the imaging substrate 40 side in FIG. A plurality of button-type dry batteries 61, for example, three in this embodiment, are arranged in series, with the negative electrode cap side facing rearward. The battery 61 is not limited to a silver oxide battery, and for example, a rechargeable battery, a power generation battery, or the like may be used, and the number is not limited to three.

  Further, a contact point 65 formed of a leaf spring is provided on the rear surface of the switch substrate 62. The contact point 65 contacts the positive electrode can of the button type dry cell 61, and the button type dry cell 61 is urged by the urging force of the leaf spring. The rear side (the power supply board 66 side in FIG. 1) is urged.

  The power supply unit 64 includes a power supply substrate 66 formed in a disk shape and a DC / DC converter 64a provided on the rear surface of the power supply substrate 66 (on the rear end portion 24 side in FIG. 1). The DC / DC converter 64a controls, for example, boosting the voltage obtained by the button type dry battery 61 in order to always obtain a certain voltage necessary for the system. Although not clearly shown in the figure, a contact point that contacts the negative electrode cap of the button-type dry battery 61 is provided on the front surface of the power supply substrate 66 (on the switch substrate 62 side in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the power storage means 6 allows a plurality of button-type dry batteries 61 to be connected in series between the switch board 62 and the power supply board 66 to supply power to each function execution means.

  The wireless transmission means 7 includes a transmission board 71 formed in a disk shape, an oscillation circuit 72 provided on the rear surface of the transmission board 71 (on the rear end portion 24 side in FIG. 1), an antenna board 73, and an antenna board 73. And an antenna 74 provided on the rear surface (the rear end portion 24 side in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna 74 is configured in a substantially spiral pattern on the rear surface of the antenna substrate 73. The wireless transmission means 7 takes out a signal having a constant frequency, amplitude and waveform from a signal mixed by the chip component 44 (semiconductor member) by an oscillation circuit 72, and takes out the taken-out signal from an antenna 74 through a capsule endoscope. 1 to the outside. The transmission board 71 and the antenna board 73 are electrically connected by solder to form an integral transmission unit.

  The illumination board 30, the imaging board 40, the switch board 62, the power supply board 66, and the transmission board 71 described above are rigid boards. As shown in FIG. 2, these rigid boards are provided in such a manner as to sandwich a series of flexible boards 80, thereby constituting a rigid flexible wiring board 8. That is, the rigid boards are arranged at predetermined intervals in the order of the illumination board 30, the imaging board 40, the switch board 62, the power supply board 66, and the transmission board 71 via the flexible board 80, and are electrically connected to each other. ing. Then, by bending the flexible board 80 of the rigid flexible wiring board, the illumination board 30, the imaging board 40, the switch board 62, the power board 66, and the transmission board 71 are arranged on the front cover 21 side and the rear side in the manner shown in FIG. Laminated in the front-rear direction on the end 24 side.

  Generally, the rigid flexible wiring board 8 is accommodated in the sealed container 2 in a state where the flexible board 80 is bent. In the present invention, as a process in the previous stage, an insulating resin is used for the rigid flexible wiring board 8. Apply the film. In the present invention, the insulating film is exposed to the inside of the container excluding the contact portion without being sealed with the sealing resin in at least the sealed container using, for example, an organic resin such as parylene resin or polyimide resin. Insulating film coating is performed on the electrical terminals and the antenna that connect the electrical terminals, for example, the light emitter 31 and the chip component for driving the light emitter 31. Among these resins, parylene C (poly-monochloro-para-xylylene) is colorless and transparent, has very little water vapor and gas permeability, is particularly excellent among organic coatings, and is suitable for the insulating film according to the present invention. In addition, since the insulating film in this invention is formed with the material which has biocompatibility, it shall have the function to have biocompatibility other than the function to have insulation.

  In this embodiment, in order to further ensure the liquid tightness of the container and further enhance the safety, the insulating film is formed on the entire rigid flexible wiring board 8 by, for example, CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition). Method), and conformally in a vacuum atmosphere by vapor deposition.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vapor deposition apparatus used in a chemical vapor deposition process by a CVD method. In the figure, the vapor deposition apparatus 90 is comprised from the vaporization chamber 91, the thermal decomposition chamber 92, the vapor deposition chamber 93, the deodorizing and cooling cylinder 94, the vacuum pump 95, and the conveyance path 96 which connects these in cascade. The system is configured. First, in this vapor deposition apparatus 90, the rigid flexible wiring board 8 according to the present invention is placed in the vapor deposition chamber 93. Next, raw material powder such as parylene C is put into the vaporizing chamber 91, and the vacuum pump 95 provided on the right side in the drawing is operated. When the entire system is evacuated and heat is applied to the vaporizing chamber 91, the raw material that has been powdered begins to vaporize and fly, and is further pulled by the vacuum operation of the vacuum pump 95. Move to the right.

  Next, the raw material gas becomes a stable and highly reactive state called a radical in the thermal decomposition chamber 92. Then, this gas is simultaneously adsorbed and polymerized onto the rigid flexible wiring board 8 placed in the vapor deposition chamber 93, and as shown in FIG. 1, an insulating film 81, which is a high molecular weight thin film, becomes a rigid flexible wiring board 8. Formed in the whole. In the vapor deposition chamber 93, coating at room temperature close to room temperature is possible, and thereby excellent physical stability can be maintained without causing thermal obstacles to electrical components.

  Also, since the coating in this chemical vapor deposition process is a coating at the molecular level, the coating thickness can be precisely controlled, and the rigid flexible wiring board 8 can be formed with a conformal coating with a thickness of μm without unevenness and pinholes. . In this process, vacuuming is performed, so that the electrical connection portion is masked and then the above coating is applied to prevent vaporized raw material from entering the connection portion, and the electrical connection state. The insulating flexible film can be satisfactorily applied to the rigid flexible wiring board 8 without impairing the resistance.

  Next, in this embodiment, when the rigid-flexible wiring board 8 that has undergone the coating process is accommodated in the sealed container 2, the gaps between the illumination board 30, the imaging board 40, and the switch board 62, the power board The rigid flexible wiring board 8 is attached to the front end cover 21 with the sealing resin 82 filled in the gaps between the transmission board 71, the transmission board 71 and the antenna board 73. Thereafter, the body cover 22 is joined to the tip cover 21 to which the rigid flexible wiring board 8 has been attached in advance.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the rigid flexible wiring board provided with the predetermined function executing means is covered with the electrical terminal except for the connection portion of the electrical terminal while maintaining the electrical terminal conductivity. Since it is housed in the case after that, for example, even if a crack or other obstacle occurs due to an external force or the like and moisture enters the inside of the container, an insulating film is coated on the exposed part in the container. Therefore, it is possible to prevent moisture from entering the internal electric parts, eliminate the possibility of short-circuiting of the electric parts, and ensure the liquid tightness of the container to further enhance the safety.

  In this embodiment, the insulating film is coated with the rigid flexible wiring board folded. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. 2, before the rigid flexible wiring board is folded. Even in this state, the insulating film can be coated. In this case, before coating, the contact portion of the electrical terminal is masked in advance, and if the masking is removed after coating, the coating of only that portion is peeled off, and the electrical connection between the other conductive member and the electrical terminal is performed. Contact can be made and the liquid tightness of the container can be increased.

  In this embodiment, an organic insulating resin is coated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, silicon oxide (Sio2) or silicon nitride (SiN) is used for inorganic insulation. It is also possible to apply a film.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of the capsule medical device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals for convenience of explanation.

  In FIG. 1, the rigid flexible wiring board accommodated in the sealed container 2 is coated with an insulating film, but FIG. 4 shows an example in which the sealed container 2 itself is coated with an insulating film. .

  In this embodiment, after the rigid flexible wiring board 8 is accommodated in the hermetic container 2, the surface of the hermetic container 2 is insulated by a vapor deposition apparatus using a chemical vapor deposition process by a CVD method, for example, as in the first embodiment. By applying the coating, it is possible to achieve the same effect as in the first embodiment. At this time, the coating of the insulating film on the surface of the container 2 is preferably biocompatible.

  Furthermore, if the insulating flexible coating substrate is coated on the surface of the hermetic container 2 and the rigid flexible wiring board is coated, the liquid tightness of the container is further secured, and the safety is tripled. be able to.

It is a sectional side view which shows the structure of Embodiment 1 of the capsule type medical device concerning this invention. FIG. 2 is a developed top view of the rigid flexible wiring board shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vapor deposition apparatus used for a chemical vapor deposition process. It is a sectional side view which shows the structure of Embodiment 2 of the capsule type medical device concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Capsule type endoscope 2 Sealed container 3 Illuminating means 4 Imaging means 5 Control means 6 Power storage means 7 Wireless transmission means 8 Rigid flexible wiring board 21 Front end cover 22 Body part cover 23 Body part 24 Rear end part 30 Illumination board 30a Through hole DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 Light-emitting body 32, 44, 52 Chip components 40 Imaging board 41 Solid-state imaging device 42 Imaging lens 42a, 42b Lens 43 Focus adjustment mechanism 43a Fixed frame 43b Movable frame 61 Button type battery 62 Switch board 63 Switch part 63a Reed switch 63b Bias Magnet 64 Power supply unit 64a DC / DC converter 65 Contact 66 Power supply board 71 Transmission board 72 Oscillation circuit 73 Antenna board 74 Antenna 80 Flexible board 81 Insulating film 82 Sealing resin 90 Deposition apparatus 91 Vaporization chamber 92 Thermal decomposition chamber 93 Deposition chamber 94 Deodorization ·cold Cylinder 95 Vacuum pump 96 搬走 path

Claims (10)

An outer case that is formed in a capsule shape that can be introduced into a subject and seals the inside liquid-tightly;
Function execution means accommodated in the exterior case for executing a predetermined function set in advance;
Power storage means for storing drive power for driving the function execution means;
An electrical terminal provided in the power storage means and the function execution means for electrically connecting to the function execution means and supplying the drive power from the power storage means to the function execution means;
A covering member that is formed using a material having electrical insulating and liquid-tight characteristics, and that covers the electrical terminal excluding the contact portion of the electrical terminal in a state where at least the electrical terminal is kept conductive;
A capsule-type medical device comprising: An outer case that is formed in a capsule shape that can be introduced into a subject and seals the inside liquid-tightly;
Function execution means accommodated in the exterior case for executing a predetermined function set in advance;
Power storage means for storing drive power for driving the function execution means;
An electrical terminal provided in the power storage means and the function execution means for electrically connecting to the function execution means and supplying the drive power from the power storage means to the function execution means;
A covering member that is formed using a material having the electrical insulating and liquid-tight properties, and that covers at least the outer peripheral surface of the exterior case in which the function execution means is housed;
A capsule-type medical device comprising: The power storage means has a plurality of button-type dry batteries stacked in series,
3. The capsule medical device according to claim 1, wherein the covering member covers a boundary portion of the stacked button type dry cells while maintaining conductivity between the button type dry cells. 4. .   The capsule medical device according to claim 1, wherein the covering member covers an outer peripheral surface of the exterior case in which the function execution unit is accommodated.   The capsule medical device according to claim 2, wherein the covering member covers the electrical contact portion in a state in which the electrical contact portion is kept conductive.   The capsule medical device according to claim 1, wherein the covering member is made of an organic insulating film.   The capsule medical device according to claim 6, wherein the insulating film is optically transparent.   The capsule medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function execution unit includes an illumination unit that outputs illumination light that illuminates the inside of the subject.   The capsule medical device according to claim 1, wherein the function execution unit includes a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits information acquired from within the subject to the outside of the subject.   The capsule medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the covering member is made of a biocompatible material.

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