JP2007185501A - Encapsulated endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily start operation of an encapsulated endoscope which is introduced into a subject to execute a predetermined function. <P>SOLUTION: A magnetic switch 14 is arranged in a cylindrical capsule type casing 16 of the encapsulated endoscope 3 substantially vertical to the longitudinal direction t of the encapsulated casing 16. A movable electrode of the magnetic switch 14 moves to be brought into contact with a fixed electrode in accordance with the magnetic induction caused by a magnetic field of a magnet 6 applied to the magnetic switch 14 from outside of the encapsulated endoscope 3 substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction t of the capsule type casing 16. As a result, it is possible to supply power from the power supply unit to the function execution unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a capsule endoscope that is introduced into a subject and operates by a supplied power source to execute a predetermined function.

  In recent years, in the field of endoscopes, swallowable capsule endoscopes have been proposed. This capsule endoscope is provided with an imaging function and a wireless communication function. Capsule endoscopes are used to observe the inside of a body cavity, such as the stomach and small intestine, after being swallowed from the mouth of the subject (human body) for observation (examination) and before being spontaneously discharged. It has a function of moving in accordance with a peristaltic motion and sequentially imaging.

  While moving inside the body cavity, image data captured inside the body by the capsule endoscope is sequentially transmitted to the outside by wireless communication and stored in a memory provided outside. By carrying a receiving device having a wireless communication function and a memory function, the subject can freely act after swallowing the capsule endoscope and before being discharged. After the capsule endoscope is ejected, a doctor or a nurse can make a diagnosis by displaying an image of an organ on a display based on image data stored in a memory (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  In such a capsule endoscope, a reed switch that acts by an external magnetic field may be used to turn on the power from the power source to each function execution unit. Generally, an existing reed switch uses a magnetic field. And the extending direction of the reed switch must be matched.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-210395

  However, since the capsule endoscope is formed in a rotationally symmetric shape in the longitudinal axis direction and there is no definition of the rotation direction, it is difficult to match the direction of the magnetic field with the extending direction of the reed switch. The reed switch has to be moved while checking the direction by rotating the magnet which generates the reed around the reed switch, and the on / off operation of the reed switch is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a capsule endoscope that can easily start operation.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a capsule endoscope according to the present invention includes a function execution unit for executing a predetermined function, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the function execution unit. The function execution unit and the power supply unit are separated by a capsule body containing the function execution unit and the power supply unit, and a pair of contacts that are brought into contact with and separated from each other by magnetic induction by a magnetic body arranged on the longitudinal axis side of the capsule body. And a magnetic switch provided inside the capsule body that is connected to be energized and deenergized.

  The capsule endoscope according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, the contact in the magnetic switch is directly magnetized by magnetic induction by the magnetic material and is contacted or separated.

  The capsule endoscope according to a third aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the contact and separation direction of the magnetic switch is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction of the capsule body.

  Since the capsule endoscope according to the present invention switches between the energized state and the energized cut-off state by the magnetic induction action by the magnetic body arranged on the longitudinal axis side of the capsule-type housing, the operation can be easily started. There is an effect.

  An embodiment of an in-subject introduction apparatus and a power supply method will be described in detail with reference to the drawings of FIGS. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a wireless in-vivo information acquiring system including an in-subject introduction apparatus according to the present invention. In this wireless in-vivo information acquiring system, a capsule endoscope that introduces into a body cavity from the mouth of a human being as a subject and images a region to be examined in the body cavity as an in-subject introduction device. Will be described as an example. In FIG. 1, a wireless in-vivo information acquisition system includes a receiving device 2 having a wireless receiving function, and a body cavity image taken to capture an in-vivo image and data such as an image signal to the receiving device 2. And a capsule endoscope 3 that performs transmission. In addition, the wireless in-vivo information acquiring system transfers data between the display device 4 that displays the intra-body cavity image based on the image signal received by the receiving device 2, and the receiving device 2 and the display device 4. A portable recording medium 5.

  The receiving device 2 includes an antenna unit 2a having a plurality of receiving antennas A1 to An attached to the external surface of the subject 1, processing of radio signals received via the plurality of receiving antennas A1 to An, and the like. And a receiving body unit 2b for performing these operations, and these units are detachably connected via a connector or the like. Each of the receiving antennas A1 to An is provided, for example, in a jacket on which the subject 1 can be worn, and the subject 1 wears the receiving antennas A1 to An by wearing this jacket. Good. In this case, the receiving antennas A1 to An may be detachable from the jacket. Further, each of the receiving antennas A1 to An may be housed in an antenna pad that can be attached to the body of the subject 1 with the antenna main body at the tip thereof.

  The display device 4 is for displaying an in-vivo image captured by the capsule endoscope 3, and is a workstation that displays an image based on data obtained by the portable recording medium 5. It has a configuration. Specifically, the display device 4 may be configured to directly display an image using a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, or may be configured to output an image to another medium such as a printer.

  The portable recording medium 5 is detachable with respect to the receiving main unit 2b and the display device 4, and has a structure capable of outputting or recording information when inserted into both. In this embodiment, the portable recording medium 5 is inserted into the receiving main body unit 2b while the capsule endoscope 3 is moving in the body cavity of the subject 1, and is removed from the capsule endoscope 3. Record the data to be sent. Then, after the capsule endoscope 3 is ejected from the subject 1, that is, after the imaging of the inside of the subject 1 is completed, the capsule endoscope 3 is taken out from the receiving body unit 2b and inserted into the display device 4, and this The display device 4 is configured to read data recorded on the portable recording medium 5. For example, data is exchanged between the reception main unit 2b and the display device 4 using a portable recording medium 5 composed of a compact flash (registered trademark) memory or the like. The subject 1 can move freely during imaging inside the body cavity, compared to when the is directly connected by wire. In this example, the portable recording medium 5 is used to exchange data between the receiving main unit 2b and the display device 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, another recording device built in the receiving main unit 2b is used. For example, a hard disk may be used, and both may be configured to be wired or wirelessly connected to exchange data with the display device 4.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the capsule endoscope 3, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of the magnetic switch, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of the switch, FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a partial enlargement of the fixed electrode and the movable electrode as contact points of the magnetic switch, and FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the magnetic switch when installed on the substrate. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of the capsule endoscope 3 illustrated in FIG. 2. The capsule endoscope 3 forms, for example, an LED 11 as an illuminating unit that illuminates the inside of the body cavity of the subject 1, an CCD 12 as an imaging unit that captures an image in the body cavity, and an image in the body cavity at the imaging position of the CCD 12. An image sensor 30 as an information acquisition means having an optical system device 13 as an optical means for causing a radio unit 17 having an RF transmission device 18 as a transmission means for transmitting image data picked up by the CCD 12 and an antenna 19. Prepare. The image sensor 30 and the wireless unit 17 are connected to the power supply unit 15 serving as a power supply unit via the magnetic switch 14 so as to be energized and interrupted. The power supply unit 15 supplies power to the image sensor 30 and the wireless unit 17 via the magnetic switch 14. The capsule endoscope 3 has a configuration in which these are arranged in a capsule casing 16 as a capsule body. The image sensor 30, the radio unit 17, and a signal processing / control unit 31 to be described later constitute each part of the function execution unit 10 according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic switch 14 includes a base 14c having through holes 14a and 14b, a fixed electrode 14d provided in contact with the through hole 14a on the surface of the base 14c, and a through hole on the surface of the base 14c. A movable electrode 14e that is provided in contact with the hole 14b and is movable so as to be in contact with the fixed electrode 14d, and is provided in contact with the through-hole 14a on the back surface of the pedestal 14c. Of the pedestal 14c, the back electrode 14f which is connected to the movable electrode 14e via the through hole 14b, and the back electrode 14f which is electrically connected to the through electrode 14f through the through hole 14b. It is formed of a cap 14i that is bonded to the surface via a bonding layer 14h and covers the fixed electrode 14d and the movable electrode 14e. Constitute a so-called surface reaction magnetic switch. The magnetic switch 14 is about 2 mm square in length and width, and is about 0.8 mm in height. A space around the fixed electrode 14d and the movable electrode 14e formed by the base 14c and the cap 14i is sealed with an inert gas such as nitrogen.

  The pedestal 14c and the cap 14i are made of a non-conductive member, and the back electrodes 14f and 14g are made of a conductive member. The fixed electrode 14d and the movable electrode 14e are conductive and formed of a magnetic member. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fixed electrode 14 d and the movable electrode 14 e have different polarities (see FIG. 5) that are multilayered in the thickness direction of the electrode due to the magnetic induction action of the magnetic field L generated by the approaching magnet 6. Directly magnetized. Due to this magnetization, the movable electrode 14e moves so as to be in contact with and away from the fixed electrode 14d.

  The magnetic switch 14 according to this embodiment is disposed on the surface of the switch substrate 20 disposed substantially at the center of the capsule-type casing 16, and the extending direction D1 of the fixed electrode 14d of the magnetic switch 14 (FIG. 4) is provided so as to be substantially perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis t of the capsule casing 16 as the capsule body. In this magnetic switch 14, for example, the back electrodes 14 f and 14 g are soldered to a wiring (not shown) on the switch substrate 20, and are electrically connected to the function execution unit 10 and the power supply unit 15 through this wiring. Therefore, when the fixed electrode 14d and the movable electrode 14e come into contact with each other, the power from the power supply unit 15 is supplied to the function execution unit 10, and the operation for executing the function of each part becomes possible.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fixed electrode 14 d and the movable electrode 14 e of the magnetic switch 14 are magnetic fields of the magnet 6 approaching the capsule endoscope 3 from the longitudinal axis t direction side of the capsule casing 16. It is magnetized by the magnetic induction effect by L, and is thereby contacted and separated from each other. In this case, the movable electrode 14e moves along a direction perpendicular to the contact / separation direction D2 shown in FIG. 5, and as a result, contacts or separates from the fixed electrode 14d. The contact / separation direction D2 of the movable electrode 14e (that is, the contact / separation direction of the magnetic switch 14) is a direction perpendicular to the movable direction of the movable electrode 14e when magnetized, as shown in FIG. This is a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis t of the housing 16.

  The capsule-type housing 16 is engaged with the transparent hemispherical dome-shaped tip cover housing that covers the image sensor 30 and the wireless unit 17, for example, and the power supply unit 15 in the watertight state inside the tip cover housing. Is formed in a size that can be swallowed from the mouth of the subject 1. The trunk casing is made of a colored material that does not transmit visible light.

  The CCD 12 is provided on the imaging substrate 21 and images the range illuminated by the illumination light from the LED 11, and the optical system device 13 includes an imaging lens that forms a subject image on the CCD 12. The LEDs 11 are mounted on the illumination board 22 and are arranged at four locations near the top, bottom, left, and right with the optical axis of the imaging lens as the center. Further, in the image sensor 30, a signal processing / control unit 31 for processing or controlling each unit is mounted on the back side of the imaging substrate 21 as an internal control unit that controls the image sensor 30 and the RF transmission device 18. Yes. In addition, the switch substrate 20, the imaging substrate 21, and the illumination substrate 22 are electrically connected by a flexible substrate as appropriate.

  The power supply unit 15 is constituted by, for example, a button-type battery 24 having a diameter that substantially matches the inner diameter of the body casing. One or more batteries 24 may be arranged inside the capsule-type casing 16, and for example, a silver oxide battery, a rechargeable battery, a power generation battery, or the like may be used. The RF transmitter 18 is provided, for example, on the back side of the radio board 25, and the antenna 19 is mounted on the radio board 25, for example.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the capsule endoscope 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The capsule endoscope 3 includes an LED 11 and a CCD 12 as an image sensor 30, and an LED drive circuit 23 that controls the drive state of the LED 11 as a signal processing / control unit 31, and a CCD drive that controls the drive state of the CCD 12. The circuit 26, the LED drive circuit 23, the CCD drive circuit 26, and a system control circuit 27 that controls the operation of the RF transmitter 18 are provided. The radio unit 17 includes the RF transmitter 18 and the antenna 19.

  The capsule endoscope 3 is provided with a system control circuit 27, so that the image data of the region to be examined illuminated by the LED 11 while the capsule endoscope 3 is being introduced into the subject 1 is displayed by the CCD 12. Is working to get. The acquired image data is further converted into an RF signal by the RF transmitter 18 and transmitted to the outside of the subject 1 through the antenna 19. Furthermore, the capsule endoscope 3 includes a battery 24 that supplies power to the system control circuit 27 via the magnetic switch 14, and the system control circuit 27 uses the driving power supplied from the battery 24 in another configuration. It has a function of distributing to the elements (LED drive circuit 23, CCD drive circuit 26, RF transmitter 18).

  Note that a latch circuit (not shown) is provided between the power supply unit 15 and the function execution unit 10, and the magnetic switch 14 is arranged as a part of the latch circuit, and the fixed electrode of the magnetic switch 14 when the magnet 6 is brought closer. A signal generated by contact between 14d and the movable electrode 14e is input to the latch circuit as a control signal to be turned on, and thereafter, the on state is held in the latch circuit and power from the power supply unit 15 is continued. Then, it may be configured to be supplied to the function execution unit 10. With this configuration, efficient power supply can be performed without being affected by the contact resistance between the fixed electrode 14d and the movable electrode 14e.

  In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, the external magnet 6 is brought closer to the magnetic switch 14 from the side of the capsule casing 16 in the longitudinal axis t direction in the capsule endoscope 3, and the magnet 6 is connected to the magnetic switch 14. In the movable range, the fixed electrode 14d and the movable electrode 14e have different polarities (see FIG. 5) in which the fixed electrode 14d and the movable electrode 14e are multilayered in the thickness direction according to the magnetic induction effect of the magnetic field of the magnet 6 applied substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis t direction. Magnetized. Due to this magnetization, the movable electrode 14e is moved and brought into contact with the fixed electrode 14d so that the power supply unit 15 and the function execution unit 10 are electrically connected via the magnetic switch 14, and the power supply unit 15 Can be supplied to the function execution unit 10. The magnet 6 may be brought closer to the front end side of the capsule endoscope 3 provided with the image sensor 30 or may be brought closer to the rear end side of the capsule endoscope 3 provided with the wireless unit 17. Good.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the magnet 6 outside the capsule endoscope 3 is moved closer to the magnetic switch 14 from the longitudinal axis t direction, and the extending direction of the magnetic switch 14 (specifically, the extension of the fixed electrode 14d). Power supply from the power supply unit 15 to the function execution unit 10 by moving the movable electrode 14e in contact with the fixed electrode 14d in accordance with the action of the magnetic field L of the magnet 6 applied substantially perpendicular to the outgoing direction D1). Is possible. Therefore, the proximity position and the proximity direction of the magnet 6 when the magnet 6 is brought close to the capsule endoscope 3 in order to perform the contact / separation operation of the magnetic switch 14 (that is, the power on / off switching operation) are easily defined. can do. As a result, for example, when a reed switch is used in a capsule endoscope, there is no need to bring a magnetic body for contacting / separating the reed switch close to the capsule endoscope in accordance with the lead extending direction. The operation of the capsule endoscope can be easily started without searching for the magnetic field direction of the magnetic body relative to the extending direction of the magnetic switch by relatively rotating the housing and the magnetic body.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of Modification 1 of the capsule endoscope according to the present invention. In the first embodiment, the magnetic switch 14 is provided on the surface of the switch substrate 20 close to the power supply unit 15, but in this modification, the magnetic switch 14 is provided on the surface of the illumination substrate 22 on which the LEDs 11 are disposed.

  In the first modification, the same effect as in the first embodiment is obtained, and the magnetic switch 14 is installed at a position that does not fall within the field of view determined by the illumination range of the LED 11 and the optical characteristics of the imaging lens of the optical system device 13. As a result, the occurrence of optical flare by the image sensor 30 is prevented, and a good image can be captured.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of Modification 2 of the capsule endoscope according to the present invention. In this modification, the magnetic switch 14 is provided on the surface of the wireless substrate 25 on which the antenna 19 is disposed and below the antenna 19.

  In the second modification, the same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained, and the magnetic switch 14 is arranged by using a space area where the wiring generated under the coiled antenna 19 is not provided. The unused area of the wireless board 25 can be used effectively. Since the magnetic switch 14 according to the present invention has a small shape, the magnetic switch 14 can be installed at any location other than the above-described substrate or arrangement position as long as no wiring is provided. Also in these modified examples, the magnet 6 may be brought closer from the distal end side of the capsule endoscope 3 provided with the image sensor 30 according to the strength of the magnetic field, or the wireless unit 17 is provided. The capsule endoscope 3 may be approached from the rear end side.

(Additional item 1)
In the in-subject introduction apparatus formed into a rotationally symmetrical shape in the longitudinal direction of the substantially cylindrical shape introduced into the subject,
A function execution unit that is provided in the substantially cylindrical shape and executes a predetermined function set in advance;
A power supply unit for supplying power to the function execution unit;
The function execution unit and the power supply unit are connected perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis direction, and power is supplied from the power supply unit to the function execution unit in accordance with the action of a magnetic field applied substantially parallel from the outside in the longitudinal axis direction. A switch unit configured to be
An intra-subject introduction apparatus comprising:

(Appendix 2)
The switch unit has a fixed electrode and a movable electrode made of a magnetic material magnetized to different polarities that are multilayered in the thickness direction according to the action of a magnetic field applied substantially parallel from the outside in the longitudinal axis direction. The in-subject introduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable electrode is moved so as to be in contact with the fixed electrode, and power is supplied from the power supply unit to the function execution unit.

(Additional Item 3)
Intra-subject introduction apparatus in which a function execution unit that executes a predetermined function and a switch unit that is connected between power supply units that supply power to the function execution unit are formed in a rotationally symmetrical shape in a substantially cylindrical longitudinal axis direction An arrangement step of arranging the inside in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction;
A power supply step in which the switch unit is moved in accordance with the action of a magnetic field applied substantially in parallel from the outside of the in-subject introduction apparatus in the longitudinal axis direction, and power is supplied from the power supply unit to the function execution unit. When,
A power supply method comprising:

(Appendix 4)
The switch unit includes a magnetic fixed electrode and a movable electrode, and in the power supply step, the fixed electrode and the fixed electrode according to an action of a magnetic field applied substantially in parallel from the outside of the in-subject introduction apparatus in the longitudinal axis direction. 4. The power supply method according to appendix 3, wherein the movable electrode is magnetized and contacted with different polarities that are multilayered in the thickness direction, and power is supplied from the power supply unit to the function execution unit.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a wireless in-vivo information acquiring system including an in-subject introduction device according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of Embodiment 1 of the capsule endoscope concerning this invention. It is an enlarged view which shows the structure of a magnetic switch. It is an enlarged view which shows the structure of the magnetic switch of the state which brought the magnet close. It is an enlarged view which shows the partial expansion of the stationary electrode and movable electrode of a magnetic switch. It is an enlarged view which shows the structure of the magnetic switch at the time of installing in a board | substrate. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of the capsule endoscope illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation | movement for the power supply by a magnetic switch. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the modification 1 of the capsule type endoscope concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the modification 2 of the capsule endoscope concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subject 2 Receiving apparatus 2a Antenna unit 2b Reception main body unit 3 Capsule type endoscope 4 Display apparatus 5 Portable recording medium 6 Magnet 10 Function execution part 11 LED
12 CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Optical system apparatus 14 Magnetic switch 14a, 14b Through hole 14c Base 14d Fixed electrode 14e Movable electrode 14f, 14g Back surface electrode 14h Joining layer 14i Cap 15 Power supply part 16 Capsule-type housing | casing 17 Radio | wireless part 18 RF transmitter 19 Antenna 20 Switch board DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Imaging board 22 Illumination board 23 LED drive circuit 24 Battery 25 Wireless board 26 CCD drive circuit 27 System control circuit 30 Image sensor 31 Signal processing / control part A1-An Reception antenna L Magnetic field t Longitudinal axis

Claims (3)

A function execution unit for executing a predetermined function;
A power supply unit for supplying power to the function execution unit;
A capsule body containing the function execution unit and the power supply unit;
Provided inside the capsule body that connects the function execution unit and the power supply unit so as to be energized and de-energized by a pair of contacts that are contacted and separated by magnetic induction by a magnetic body arranged on the longitudinal axis side of the capsule body. Magnetic switch,
A capsule endoscope characterized by comprising:   2. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the contact point in the magnetic switch is directly magnetized by magnetic induction by the magnetic body and is contacted and separated. 3.   2. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a contact / separation direction of the magnetic switch is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis direction of the capsule body.

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