JP2008079671A - Capsule camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capsule camera containing medicine in its inside and releasing the medicine at an optional position of the digestive tract according to a signal from outside the human body. <P>SOLUTION: This capsule camera 1 which has a capturing means 10 and a battery 28 in a capsule 2, is swollen by a subject and captures the image of the body inside of a subject, is further provided with a medicine storage section 35, a release means 42 and a communication means 15, and is characterized in that the communication means 15 receives a signal from the outside, the release means 42 is actuated according to the signal and the medicine 46 stored in the medicine storage part 35 is released. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical capsule camera that releases a drug contained in a predetermined position in the body.

In recent years, instead of conventional endoscopes that insert tubes from the mouth, capsule cameras that can be swallowed like a tablet and the state inside the digestive tract of a swallowed subject can be observed on an external monitor are known. . Since the capsule camera is a tablet type that is easy to drink for the subject, it does not require any surface anesthesia, and is expected as an inspection method with less burden on the subject. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a capsule camera that can be stopped at a specific site in the digestive tract by a control signal from the outside of the human body.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-440

  Conventionally, there has been a demand for spraying drugs for treatment or radiography on the lesion, so in conventional endoscopes that insert a tube through the mouth, the target lesion is affected by a device called a treatment tool. It was possible to release the drug directly. However, the current capsule camera is not equipped with a mechanism for releasing a drug. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a capsule camera that can store a drug inside and release the drug at an arbitrary position in the digestive tract in response to a signal from the outside of the human body.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention of claim 1, a capsule camera that includes an imaging unit and a battery in a capsule and that is swallowed by the subject and images the inside of the subject is provided with a medicine container, a release unit, and a communication unit. The communication means receives a signal from the outside, operates the release means in accordance with the signal, and releases the medicine stored in the medicine storage section. Thus, the capsule camera according to the first aspect of the present invention can store the drug inside and release the drug at an arbitrary position of the digestive tract according to a signal from the outside of the human body.

  The capsule camera according to claim 1 has a battery and an electromagnet built in the capsule, the capsule is provided with an opening that communicates the outside with the medicine container, and the opening is always closed, and a signal from outside the body is provided. Accordingly, the electromagnet may be energized to open the opening (claim 2).

  The capsule camera according to claim 3 is provided with a battery housing portion in the capsule, the electromagnet is constituted by a coil and an iron core, the coil is provided on a side surface portion of the battery housing portion, and in the vicinity of the coil. Further, the iron core may be provided, the discharge means may have a movable member, and when the electromagnet is energized, the movable member moves and the opening is opened (Claim 3).

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the battery housing portion has a battery holder for holding the battery, and at least one of a coil and an iron core is integrated with the battery holder. . Thereby, it is not necessary to provide the coil and the iron core as separate members, and the capsule camera can be downsized.

  The capsule camera according to claim 1 may have a built-in heater, and the medicine or other fluid is heated and expanded by the heater to release the medicine (claim 5).

  The capsule camera according to claim 1 has a built-in heater, the discharge means includes a member made of a shape memory alloy, and the shape memory alloy is deformed by heating with the heater to release the medicine. (Claim 6).

  In the present invention, a drug can be housed inside and released at any position in the digestive tract in response to a signal from the outside of the human body.

  The capsule camera 1 according to the present invention is taken into a subject's body when the subject swallows like a tablet, photographs the digestive tract of the subject's esophagus, stomach, intestine, etc., and puts the drug 46 at any position in the digestive tract. For release.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the capsule camera 1 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state when the release of the medicine 46 of the capsule camera 1 according to the present embodiment is started, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of completion | finish of discharge | release of the chemical | medical agent 46 of the capsule camera 1 which concerns on embodiment, FIGS. 4-6 is AA sectional drawing (FIG. 4), B- of the capsule camera 1 which concerns on this embodiment. B sectional drawing (FIG. 5) and CC sectional drawing (FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule camera 1 according to the present embodiment houses a 3D circuit board 5 including a first 3D circuit board 7 and a second 3D circuit board 20 and a medicine 46 in a capsule 2. A medicine container 35 and a release means 42 for releasing the medicine 46 are provided. The capsule 2 according to the present embodiment is formed so that the inside is sealed with a transparent resin, an opaque PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) resin, and the like, and one end of the capsule 2 is a transparent portion 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the capsule camera 1 according to the present embodiment, a first three-dimensional circuit board 7 is disposed inside the transparent portion 3 of the capsule 2. In the first three-dimensional circuit board 7, a predetermined circuit pattern is formed on the first resin molded body 8, and a focus lens 11, an imaging element 12, and a light emitting element 13 are mounted on the first resin molded body 8. Is configured. The first resin molded body 8 is formed of a PEEK (polyetherethertone) resin in which about 10 to 40% of glass fiber is blended. As a ratio of the glass fiber mix | blended with PEEK resin, it is desirable that it is about 30%.

  At the imaging position of the focus lens 11, 12 image sensors that react to light, such as a charge coupled device (CCD) and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), are arranged. . As shown in FIG. 4, around the focus lens 11, a light emitting element 13 such as a white LED (Light Emitting Diode) that irradiates light and irradiates the field of view of the focus lens 11 is arranged. Yes.

  The second three-dimensional circuit board 20 is configured by forming a predetermined circuit pattern such as a coil circuit 31 and a battery holder circuit on the second resin molded body 21 and mounting the communication means 15 and the control IC 16. The second resin molded body 21 according to the present embodiment is formed of an LCP (liquid crystal polymer) resin in which about 10 to 40% of glass fiber is blended. As a ratio of the glass fiber mix | blended with LCP resin, it is desirable that it is about 30%.

  The second resin molded body 21 mainly functions as the battery housing portion 22, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a hole for holding the battery is provided as the battery holder 23, and according to the present embodiment. The battery holder 23 can hold three button-type batteries 28 in series. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the upper and lower positional relationship is the direction of the holes constituting the battery holder 23 when the second three-dimensional circuit board 20 is installed in the capsule 2 as shown in FIG. The reference side is the upper side and the bottom side is the lower side. A battery holder lid 27 is fitted in the opening 25 above the battery holder 23 to prevent the battery from falling off.

  FIG. 8 is a side view of the three-dimensional circuit board 5 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a cylindrical coil circuit 31 is formed in a vertical direction on the side surface of the second resin molded body 21, and a soft iron core 32 is formed at the center of the coil circuit 31. It is fixed vertically. The coil circuit 31 and the iron core 32 constitute an electromagnet 33. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, information related to an image captured by the imaging unit 10 is transmitted to an external information processing apparatus (not shown) at the lower end of the second resin molded body 21, A communication means 15 for receiving a signal from the outside instructing release and a control IC 16 for controlling the operation of the capsule camera 1 are arranged.

  The medicine container 35 is a part for containing the medicine 46 released in the body. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a first movable lid 37 is attached below the side wall part 36 formed in a cylindrical shape. The second movable lid 38 is attached to the upper side. The side wall portion 36 is formed in a cylindrical shape by LCP resin, and the first movable lid 37 and the second movable lid 38 are discs made of Fe-Cr-Al-Zr stainless steel whose surface is coated with alumina by heat treatment. It is formed in a shape and includes a magnetic material in part.

  The outer diameters of the first movable lid 37 and the second movable lid 38 are substantially the same as the inner diameter of the side wall portion 36, and an O-ring (not shown) is attached to the outer peripheral portion as a sealing material. Accordingly, the first movable lid 37 and the second movable lid 38 are connected to the side wall portion 36 via the O-ring, and the medicine 46 accommodated in the medicine accommodating portion 35 is prevented from leaking outside the medicine accommodating portion 35. To do. Further, neither the first movable lid 37 nor the second movable lid 38 is fixed to the side wall portion 36. Therefore, the first movable lid 37 and the second movable lid 38 can move the side wall portion in the vertical direction by applying a certain force.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional circuit board 5 is configured by connecting the first three-dimensional circuit board 7 to the lower end portion of the second three-dimensional circuit board 20 so as to surround the communication means 15 and the control IC 16. And the side wall part 36 is being fixed to the capsule 2 so that the chemical | medical agent accommodating part 35 may be located above the 2nd three-dimensional circuit board 20. As shown in FIG. At a predetermined position where the capsule 2 and the side wall portion 36 overlap, as shown in FIG. 1, a drug discharge hole 41 that communicates the outside of the capsule 2 and the inside of the drug container 35 is provided.

  In addition, the first movable lid 37 and the battery holder lid 27 of the medicine container 35 are connected by a spring 45, and in a state where no force is applied to the first movable lid 37, the first movable lid 37 is a side wall portion. It is configured to stop at a position where 36 drug release holes 41 are provided. For this reason, the medicine discharge hole 41 is closed by the first movable lid 37, and in this state, the medicine 46 does not leak to the outside of the medicine container 35. Moreover, the upper end part of the iron core 32 attached to the 2nd resin molding 21 at this time is facing the 1st movable lid 37 of the chemical | medical agent accommodating part 35, as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a front view of the molded circuit board 5 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 8 is a side view of the molded circuit board 5 according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 9 to 13 are related to the present embodiment. AA sectional view (FIG. 9), BB sectional view (FIG. 10), CC sectional view (FIG. 11), DD sectional view (FIG. 12), and EE sectional view of the three-dimensional circuit board 5. (FIG. 13).

  For example, circuit patterns as shown in FIGS. 7 to 13 are formed on the surfaces of the first resin molded body 8 and the second resin molded body 21 constituting the three-dimensional circuit board 5. Each of the imaging element 12 and the light emitting element 13, the communication unit 15, the coil circuit 31, and the battery holder circuit 29 mounted on the second resin molded body 21 is connected to the control IC 16.

  The capsule camera 1 according to the present embodiment transmits information related to the in-vivo image of the subject imaged by the imaging unit 12 to an information processing apparatus (not shown) such as an external PC (Personal Computer) by the communication unit 15. Can do. Then, a user such as a doctor can receive the transmission of information related to the video from the communication unit 15 of the capsule camera 1 and can view the state inside the digestive tract on the information processing apparatus and observe it. As a result, when it is confirmed that the capsule camera 1 has reached a predetermined position in the digestive tract, a signal instructing the capsule camera 1 to release the medicine 46 can be transmitted from the information processing apparatus. A signal instructing the release of the medicine 46 is received by the communication means 15 of the capsule camera 1 and sent to the control IC 16. When an instruction to release the medicine 46 is transmitted to the control IC 16, the control IC 16 operates the medicine 46 release means 42.

  More specifically, the discharge means 42 according to the present embodiment includes an electromagnet 33 including a coil circuit 31 and an iron core 32, a first movable lid 37, a second movable lid 38, and a drug discharge hole of the drug container 35. 41 and a spring 45 that connects the first movable lid 37 and the battery holder lid 27. When an instruction to release the medicine 46 is transmitted to the control IC 16, the coil circuit 31 of the second three-dimensional circuit board 20 is energized. At this time, the iron core 32 attached to the second three-dimensional circuit board 20 is magnetized while a current is passed through the coil circuit 31, and becomes a magnet. For this reason, the upper end portion of the iron core 32 that attempts to move downward in the side wall portion 36 is formed on the first movable lid 37 and the second movable lid 38 of the medicine container 35 facing the upper end portion 34 of the iron core 32. The magnetic force from 34 is working.

  In the present embodiment, the spring 45 connecting the battery holder lid 27 and the first movable lid 37 contracts and moves the first movable lid 37 downward when the magnetic force acts on the first movable lid 37. The thing which has the elasticity which can be used is used. Therefore, when the first movable lid 37 receives a magnetic force larger than the urging force acting above the spring 45 from the upper end portion 34 of the iron core 32, the first movable lid 37 and the second movable lid 38 have side walls. It begins to move downward in the part 36. Then, when the first movable lid 37 moves downward, as shown in FIG. 2, the medicine discharge hole 41 closed by the first movable lid 37 is opened, and the medicine 46 contained in the medicine containing portion 35 is opened. Is discharged from the medicine discharge hole 41 to the outside of the capsule camera 1.

  The first movable lid 37 and the second movable lid 38 move downward in the side wall portion 36 even after the medicine 46 starts to be released. Then, when the first movable lid 37 contacts the upper end portion 34 of the iron core 32, the first movable lid 37 stops moving. Even after the first movable lid 37 is stopped, the second movable lid 38 moves downward in the side wall portion 36, and the interval between the first movable lid 37 and the second movable lid 38 is reduced. Therefore, the medicine 46 in the medicine container 35 is discharged from the medicine discharge hole 41 to the outside of the capsule camera 1 so as to be pushed out by the moving second movable lid 38.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 3, when the second movable lid 38 moves to the position where the drug discharge hole 41 of the side wall portion 36 is provided, the drug discharge hole 41 is blocked by the second movable lid 38, and the drug 46 Is terminated, and the movement of the second movable lid 38 is also stopped. Thereby, the capsule camera 1 according to the present embodiment can release the medicine 46 at a predetermined position in the digestive tract in response to an instruction to release the medicine 46 from a user such as a doctor.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the same portions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof is omitted, and only different portions are described. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the capsule camera 50 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when the release of the medicine 46 of the capsule camera 50 according to the present embodiment is started, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of completion | finish of discharge | release of the chemical | medical agent 46 of the capsule camera 50 which concerns on embodiment, FIGS. 17-19 is AA sectional drawing (FIG. 17), B- of the capsule camera 50 which concerns on this embodiment. B sectional drawing (FIG. 18) and CC sectional drawing (FIG. 19).

  As illustrated in FIG. 14, the capsule camera 50 according to the present embodiment includes a first circuit board 7, a second circuit board 53, and a circuit board 51 including a third circuit board 60 in the capsule 2. And a medicine container 66 for containing the medicine 46, and a release means 67 for releasing the medicine 46. In the second three-dimensional circuit board 53 according to this embodiment, a predetermined circuit pattern is formed on the second resin molded body 55, and the communication means 15 and the control IC 16 are mounted on the lower end portion of the second resin molded body 55. It is configured.

  Unlike the second resin molded body 21 according to the first embodiment, the second resin molded body 55 according to the present embodiment is formed of a PBT resin in which about 10 to 40% of glass fiber is blended. As a ratio of the glass fiber mix | blended with PBT resin, it is desirable that it is about 30%. The second resin molded body 55 according to the present embodiment is provided with a cylindrical hole 56 that functions as a side wall of the battery holder 23 and the medicine container 66. In the following description, the upper and lower positional relationship is based on the direction of the hole 56 when the second three-dimensional circuit board 53 is installed in the capsule 2, as shown in FIG. The opening side is the upper side, and the bottom side is the lower side.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 18, the button-type battery 28 serving as the power source of the capsule camera 50 is accommodated in the hole 56 provided in the second resin molded body 55. A battery holder lid 58 for holding the position of the button type battery 28 and preventing the button type battery 28 from falling off is fitted above the stored button type battery 28. That is, in the second resin molded body 53 according to the present embodiment, a space serving as the battery holder 23 is configured by the lower portion of the hole 56 and the battery holder lid 58. A convex portion 68 having a predetermined height is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface of the battery holder lid 58.

  A first movable lid 70 and a second movable lid 71 are sequentially arranged at a predetermined interval above the battery holder lid 58 in the hole 56, and an inner wall 57 of the hole 56, the first movable lid 70, The two movable lids 71 constitute a medicine container 66. The first movable lid 70 and the second movable lid 71 according to the present embodiment are formed in a disc shape from an LCP resin in which about 10 to 40% of glass fiber is blended. As a ratio of the glass fiber mix | blended with LCP resin, it is desirable that it is about 30%.

  The outer diameters of the first movable lid 70 and the second movable lid 71 are substantially the same as the inner diameter of the hole 56 provided in the second resin molded body 55, and an O-ring (not shown) is provided as a sealing material on the outer peripheral portion. Is attached. Thereby, the first movable lid 70 and the second movable lid 71 are connected to the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 via the O-ring, and the medicine 46 accommodated in the medicine accommodating portion 66 leaks to the outside of the medicine accommodating portion 66. To prevent. Further, neither the first movable lid 70 nor the second movable lid 71 is fixed to the inner wall of the hole 56. Therefore, for the first movable lid 70 and the second movable lid 71, the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 can be moved in the vertical direction by applying a certain force.

  The third three-dimensional circuit board 60 is configured by forming a predetermined circuit pattern on the third resin molded body 61. The third resin molded body 61 is formed in a round bowl shape with PBT resin in which about 10 to 40% of glass fiber is blended. As a ratio of the glass fiber mix | blended with PBT resin, it is desirable that it is about 30%. On the outer surface of the third resin molded body 61, for example, a heating circuit 62 as shown in FIG. 22 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 14, in the three-dimensional circuit board 51 according to the present embodiment, the first three-dimensional circuit board 7 is connected to the lower end portion of the second three-dimensional circuit board 53, and the third upper portion of the second three-dimensional circuit board 53 is third. The three-dimensional circuit board 60 is connected and configured. The first three-dimensional circuit board 7 is connected to the second three-dimensional circuit board 53 so as to surround the communication means 15 and the control IC 16.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 19, the third three-dimensional circuit board 60 is a bowl-shaped third three-dimensional circuit so that the holes 56 provided in the second three-dimensional circuit board 53 are closed by the third three-dimensional circuit board 60. The outer edge constituting the opening of the circuit board 60 and the second three-dimensional circuit board 53 are welded. A gas 65 that is not harmful to the human body is injected into the heating space 64 formed by the inner surface of the third three-dimensional circuit board 60, the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 of the second three-dimensional circuit board 53, and the second movable lid 71. Yes.

  The three-dimensional circuit board 51 is formed in a shape in which the side surface of the second three-dimensional circuit board 53 constituting the three-dimensional circuit board 51 is completely accommodated in the capsule 2. When the three-dimensional circuit board 51 is accommodated in the capsule 2, as shown in FIG. 14, a drug release hole 41 that connects the outside of the capsule 2 and the inside of the drug container 66 is formed at a predetermined position of the drug container 66. Is done.

  Further, the first movable lid 70 and the battery holder lid 58 of the medicine container 66 are connected by a spring 45, and provided on the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 when no force is applied to the first movable lid 70. The first movable lid 70 is configured to stop at a position where the medicine discharge hole 41 is located. For this reason, the medicine discharge hole 41 is closed by the first movable lid 70, and in this state, the medicine 46 is prevented from leaking outside the medicine container 66.

  20 is a front view of the three-dimensional circuit board 51 according to this embodiment, FIG. 21 is a side view of the three-dimensional circuit board 51 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 22 is a three-dimensional circuit board according to this embodiment. FIG. 23 to 27 are an AA sectional view (FIG. 23), a BB sectional view (FIG. 24), a CC sectional view (FIG. 25), and a DD of the three-dimensional circuit board 51 according to the present embodiment. It is sectional drawing (FIG. 26) and EE sectional drawing (FIG. 27).

  On the surfaces of the first resin molded body 8, the second resin molded body 55 and the third resin molded body 61 constituting the three-dimensional circuit board 51, for example, circuit patterns as shown in FIGS. 20 to 27 are formed. The imaging element 12 and the light emitting element 13, the communication means 15, the battery holder circuit and the heating circuit 62 mounted on the first resin molded body 8, the second resin molded body 55 and the third resin molded body 61 are respectively controlled by the control IC 16. Connected. The discharge means 67 according to the present embodiment includes a heat generating circuit 62, a heating space 64, a gas 65 injected into the heating space 64, the first movable lid 70, the second movable lid 71, and the drug release of the medicine container 66. The hole 41 includes a spring 45 that connects the first movable lid 70 and the battery holder lid 58.

  In the capsule camera 50 according to the present embodiment, when an instruction to release the medicine 46 is transmitted to the control IC 16, the heating circuit 62 of the third three-dimensional circuit board 60 is energized. As a result, the heat generating circuit 62 generates heat, and the heat generated by the heat generating circuit 62 is transmitted to the third resin molded body 61 to heat the heating space 64. When the heating space 64 is heated, the gas 65 in the heating space 64 is heated and expands. As a result, the expansion force of the gas 65 that attempts to move the second movable lid 71 downward acts on the second movable lid 71 of the medicine container 66. This expansion force is transmitted to the first movable lid 70 via the medicine 46 accommodated in the medicine accommodating portion 66.

  In the first movable lid 70 according to the present embodiment, a constant biasing force is exerted upward by the spring 45, but when the gas 65 expansion force becomes larger than the biasing force of the spring 45, the first movable lid 70 and The second movable lid 71 starts to move downward along the inner wall 57 of the hole 56. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, when the first movable lid 70 moves, the medicine discharge hole 41 closed by the first movable lid 70 is opened and the medicine 46 accommodated in the medicine accommodating portion becomes the medicine. It is discharged from the discharge hole 41 to the outside of the capsule camera 50.

  The first movable lid 70 and the second movable lid 71 continue to move downward along the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 even after the medicine 46 starts to be released. When the first movable lid 70 comes into contact with the convex portion 68 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface of the battery holder lid 58, the first movable lid 70 stops moving downward. Even after the first movable lid 70 is stopped, the second movable lid 71 continues to move downward along the inner wall 57 of the hole 56, and the distance between the first movable lid 70 and the second movable lid 71 is reduced. Therefore, the medicine 46 in the medicine container 66 is pushed out by the second movable lid 71 and discharged from the medicine discharge hole 41 to the outside of the capsule camera 50.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 16, when the second movable lid 71 moves to the position where the medicine discharge hole 41 of the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 is provided, the medicine release hole 41 is blocked by the second movable lid 71. The release of 46 is finished, and the movement of the second movable lid 71 is also stopped.

  In this way, the capsule camera 50 according to the present embodiment can release the drug 46 at a predetermined position in the digestive tract in response to an instruction to release the drug 46 from a user such as a doctor. In the above embodiment, the heating space 64 is injected with the gas 65 that is not harmful to the human body, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, an appropriate amount of a substance that is liquid at room temperature (30 to 40 ° C.) and that changes into a gas when heated by the heating circuit 62 may be injected.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and only different parts will be described. FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the capsule camera 80 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of the capsule camera 80 according to the present embodiment at the start of the release of the medicine 46, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of completion | finish of discharge | release of the chemical | medical agent 46 of the capsule camera 80 which concerns on embodiment, FIGS. 31-35 is AA sectional drawing (FIG. 31), B- of the capsule camera 80 which concerns on this embodiment. They are B sectional drawing (FIG. 32), CC sectional drawing (FIG. 33), DD sectional drawing (FIG. 34), and EE sectional drawing (FIG. 35).

  As shown in FIG. 28, the capsule camera 80 according to this embodiment includes a first circuit board 7, a second circuit board 82, and a circuit board 81 including a third circuit board 92 in the capsule 2. And a medicine container 84 that contains the medicine 46, and a release means 90 that releases the medicine 46. In the second three-dimensional circuit board 82 according to the present embodiment, a predetermined circuit pattern is formed on the second resin molded body 83, and the communication means 15 and the control IC 16 are mounted on the lower end portion of the second resin molded body 83. Configured.

  The second resin molded body 83 according to the present embodiment is formed of an LCP resin in which about 10 to 40% of glass fiber is blended. As a ratio of the glass fiber mix | blended with LCP resin, it is desirable that it is about 30%. Similarly to the second resin molded body 55 according to the second embodiment, the second resin molded body 83 is provided with a cylindrical hole 56 that functions as a side wall of the battery holder 23 and the medicine container 84. In the following description, the upper and lower positional relationship is based on the direction of the hole 56 when the second three-dimensional circuit board 82 is installed in the capsule 2 as shown in FIG. The side is the upper side and the bottom side is the lower side.

  As in the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 32, the battery holder lid 97 is fitted into the hole 56 at a predetermined position above the bottom surface of the hole 56, and the lower portion of the hole 56 and the battery holder lid 97 are fitted. The space used as the battery holder 23 is constituted. In addition, a fixed lid 85 and a movable lid 88 are sequentially disposed at a predetermined position above the battery holder lid 97 with a constant interval. A front space 98 is formed by the inner wall 57 of the hole 56, the battery holder cover 97, and the fixed cover 85, and a medicine container 84 is formed by the inner wall 57 of the hole 56, the fixed cover 85, and the movable cover 88. .

  The fixed lid 85 is formed in a disc shape from stainless steel, and has a hole 86 at a predetermined position. A movable valve 87 is attached to the surface of the fixed lid 85 on the front space 98 side, and the hole 86 is closed by the movable valve 87. The movable valve 87 is a rectangular thin plate made of martensitic stainless steel, and as shown in FIGS. 28 and 33, one end in the longitudinal direction of the movable valve 87 is fixed to the fixed lid 85 by welding. The hole 86 is closed by the region on the other end side.

  In addition, the movable lid 88 according to the present embodiment is formed in a disc shape by an LCP resin in which about 10 to 40% of glass fiber is blended. As a ratio of the glass fiber mix | blended with LCP resin, it is desirable that it is about 30%. The outer diameters of the fixed lid 85 and the movable lid 88 are substantially the same as the inner diameter of the hole 56 provided in the second resin molded body 83.

  The outer peripheral portion of the fixed lid 85 is joined to the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 without a gap, and an O-ring (not shown) is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the movable lid 88 as a sealing material. The movable lid 88 is an O-ring. To the inner wall 57 of the hole 56. For this reason, there is no possibility that the medicine 46 accommodated in the medicine accommodating portion 84 leaks to the outside. Further, since the movable lid 88 is not fixed to the inner wall 57 of the hole 56, the movable lid 88 can move the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 in the vertical direction when a certain force is applied to the movable lid 88. .

  The third three-dimensional circuit board 92 is configured by forming a predetermined circuit pattern on the metal molded body 93. The metal molded body 93 is configured by joining a plate member 94 formed in a disk shape with aluminum nitride and a support member 95 to a part of the outer peripheral portion of the plate member 94 at a right angle. An alumina coating is applied to the surface of the metal molded body 93.

  As shown in FIG. 28, in the three-dimensional circuit board 81 according to this embodiment, the first three-dimensional circuit board 7 is bonded to the lower end portion of the second three-dimensional circuit board 82, and the third upper portion of the second three-dimensional circuit board 82 is connected to the third three-dimensional circuit board 82. The three-dimensional circuit board 92 is joined. The first three-dimensional circuit board 7 is joined to the second three-dimensional circuit board 82 so as to surround the communication means 15 and the control IC 16. The third three-dimensional circuit board 92 joins the support member 95 constituting the metal molded body 93 to the opening lateral portion of the hole 56 of the second three-dimensional circuit board 81, so that the plate material 94 is connected to the movable lid 88 of the medicine container 84. They are facing each other.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 28, 34, and 35, the movable lid 88 of the medicine container 84 and the opposing surface 100 of the plate 94 facing the movable lid 88 are connected by a connecting member 102. The connecting member 102 according to the present embodiment is a coil formed of a Ni—Ti shape memory alloy, and the movable lid 88 and the facing surface 100 are connected in a state where the connecting member 102 is contracted from a normal state. ing. Further, a heat generating circuit 103 as shown in FIG. 38 is formed on the back surface 101 of the opposing surface 100 of the plate 94, for example.

  The three-dimensional circuit board 81 is formed in a shape in which the side surface of the second three-dimensional circuit board 82 constituting the three-dimensional circuit board 81 fits completely in the capsule 2. Then, when the three-dimensional circuit board 81 is accommodated in the capsule 2, as shown in FIG. 28, a drug release that communicates the outside of the capsule 2 and the front space 98 is formed on the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 that constitutes the front space 98. A hole 41 is formed.

  36 is a front view of the three-dimensional circuit board 81 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 37 is a side view of the three-dimensional circuit board 81 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 38 is a three-dimensional circuit board according to the present embodiment. 81 is a rear view of FIG. 39 to 44 are an AA sectional view (FIG. 39), a BB sectional view (FIG. 40), a CC sectional view (FIG. 41), and a DD line of the three-dimensional circuit board 81 according to the present embodiment. They are sectional drawing (FIG. 42), EE sectional drawing (FIG. 43), and FF sectional drawing (FIG. 44).

  For example, circuit patterns as shown in FIGS. 36 to 44 are formed on the surfaces of the first resin molded body 8, the second resin molded body 83, and the metal molded body 93 constituting the three-dimensional circuit board 81. The imaging element 12 and the light emitting element 13, the communication means 15, the battery holder circuit 29, and the heating circuit 103 mounted on the one resin molded body 8, the second resin molded body 83, and the metal molded body 93 are connected to the control IC 16. ing.

  The discharge means 90 according to the present embodiment includes a metal molded body 93 on which the heat generating circuit 103 is formed, a battery holder lid 97 and a connecting member 102 that is connected to the opposing surface 100 of the metal molded body 93, a movable lid 88, a hole A fixed lid 85, 86 is closed by a movable valve 87, a front space 98, and a medicine discharge hole 41. When an instruction to release the medicine 46 is transmitted to the control IC 16, the heating circuit 103 of the third three-dimensional circuit board 92 is energized. As a result, the heat generating circuit 103 generates heat, and the heat generated by the heat generating circuit 103 is transmitted to the plate member 94 of the metal molded body 93, and the connecting member 102 connected to the opposing surface 100 of the plate member 94 is heated.

  The connecting member 102 according to the present embodiment is made of a shape memory alloy and tends to return to its original state before being contracted when heated. For this reason, the shape of the shape memory alloy which tries to return to the original state is applied to the movable lid 88 of the medicine container 84, and the movable lid 88 tries to move the inner wall 57 of the hole 56 downward. At this time, the force acting on the movable lid 88 is transmitted to the medicine 46 accommodated in the medicine accommodating portion 84, and a part of the force acts on the movable valve 87 from the hole 86 provided in the fixed lid 85. When a force of a certain level or more acts on the movable valve 87, the portion of the movable valve 87 that blocks the hole 86 moves downward, and the thin plate constituting the movable valve 87 warps as shown in FIG. It becomes a state.

  Thereby, the hole 86 provided in the fixed lid 85 is opened, and the medicine 46 accommodated in the medicine accommodating portion 84 flows into the front space 98 through the hole 86. Then, the medicine 46 that has flowed into the front space 98 is discharged to the outside of the capsule camera 80 from a medicine discharge hole 41 provided in the front space 98.

  Even after the medicine 46 starts to be released, the movable lid 88 continues to move downward along the inner wall 57 of the hole 56, and the distance between the fixed lid 85 and the movable lid 88 is reduced. For this reason, the medicine 46 in the medicine container 84 is pushed out by the movable lid 88 and continues to be discharged from the medicine discharge hole 41 to the outside of the capsule camera 80 through the front space 98. Thereafter, when the movable lid 88 comes into contact with the fixed lid 85, as shown in FIG. 30, the movable lid 88 stops moving, and the movable valve 87 returns to the original straight state and closes the hole 86 of the fixed lid 85. Therefore, the release of the drug 46 ends.

It is sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of the chemical | medical agent discharge | release start of the capsule camera which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of completion | finish of medicine discharge | release of the capsule camera which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is AA sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is BB sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is CC sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a front view of the molded circuit board which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a side view of the three-dimensional circuit board concerning a first embodiment. It is AA sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is BB sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is CC sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is DD sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is EE sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of the chemical | medical agent discharge | release start of the capsule camera which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of completion | finish of medicine discharge | release of the capsule camera which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is AA sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is BB sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is CC sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a front view of the molded circuit board which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a side view of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a rear view of the molded circuit board which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is AA sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is BB sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is CC sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is DD sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is EE sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of the chemical | medical agent discharge | release start of the capsule camera which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of completion | finish of medicine discharge | release of the capsule camera which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is AA sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is BB sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is CC sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is DD sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is EE sectional drawing of the capsule camera which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is a front view of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is a side view of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is a rear view of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is AA sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is BB sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is CC sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is DD sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is EE sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is FF sectional drawing of the three-dimensional circuit board which concerns on 3rd embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,50,80 Capsule camera 2 Capsule 10 Image pick-up part 15 Communication means 22 Battery accommodating part 23 Battery holder 28 Button type battery 31 Coil circuit 32 Iron core 33 Electromagnet 35, 66, 84 Drug accommodating part 37 First movable lid 41 Drug release Hole 42, 67, 90 Discharge means 46 Drug 62, 103 Heat generation circuit 65 Gas 102 Connecting member

Claims (6)

  In a capsule camera that includes an imaging means and a battery in a capsule and that is swallowed by a subject and images the inside of the subject, the medicine storage unit, a release means, and a communication means are provided, the communication means receives an external signal, and the signal The capsule camera is characterized in that the medicine is stored in the medicine container by actuating the release means according to the condition.   A battery and an electromagnet are incorporated in the capsule, and the capsule is provided with an opening that communicates the outside with the medicine container. The opening is always closed, and the electromagnet is energized in response to a signal from outside the body. The capsule camera according to claim 1, wherein the capsule camera is opened.   A battery housing part is provided in the capsule, the electromagnet is composed of a coil and an iron core, the coil is provided on a side surface of the battery housing part, and an iron core is further provided in the vicinity of the coil, and the discharging means is a movable member. The capsule camera according to claim 2, wherein the movable member moves and the opening is opened when the electromagnet is energized.   The capsule camera according to claim 3, wherein the battery housing unit includes a battery holder that holds the battery, and at least one of a coil and an iron core is integrated with the battery holder.   2. The capsule camera according to claim 1, wherein a heater is incorporated, and the medicine or other fluid is heated and expanded by the heater to release the medicine.   The capsule camera according to claim 1, wherein the capsule camera has a built-in heater, the discharge means includes a member made of a shape memory alloy, and the shape memory alloy is deformed by heating by the heater to release the drug.

Images