JP2008119057A - Capsule-type imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capsule-type imaging device which accomplishes illumination and imaging singly along with easier miniaturization. <P>SOLUTION: A light emitting element 20 for irradiating illumination light and an imaging element 21 for imaging the inside of a digestive tube are mounted on a three-dimensional molded circuit board 23 to build a camera module 2. An electric accumulation part 3 which comprises a capacitor and supplies power to the camera module 2 and a communication module 5 by discharging electric charge accumulated and a charging part 6 for charging the power accumulation part 3 with an induction electromotive force generated by an external magnetic field are formed integrally on the three-dimensional molded circuit board 8. This can provide a capsule-type imaging device which accomplishes illumination and imaging singly along with easier miniaturization. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a capsule-type imaging apparatus in which a camera module is housed in a capsule-type main body, and an image in the digestive tract imaged by the camera module is transmitted outside the body by a wireless medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a capsule-type imaging device has been proposed in which a camera module is housed in a capsule-type main body, and an image in the digestive tract captured by the camera module is transmitted outside the body using a wireless medium.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a device including a plurality of capsule-type illumination devices and a plurality of capsule-type imaging devices. In such a conventional example, the illumination device and the imaging device inserted into the digestive tract from the patient's oral cavity are remotely controlled by a wireless medium such as radio waves, and the image in the digestive tract transmitted by the wireless medium from the imaging device is received outside the body. The received image can be confirmed on the monitor device.
Japanese Patent No. 2768029

  However, in the above conventional example, since the illumination device and the imaging device are separate and independent, it is easy to downsize each, but it is difficult to accurately illuminate the imaging range of the imaging device with the illumination device. In the above conventional example, a large-capacity capacitor is used as a power source for the lighting device, and the imaging device is operated with power supplied from an external power supply oscillator. However, the lighting device, the imaging device, and the power source are connected to each other. When housed in a single housing, it has been difficult to supply sufficient power from the power source while forming the housing to a size that allows patients to drink easily.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a capsule-type imaging device that can be illuminated and imaged independently and can be easily downsized.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a camera module in which a light emitting element for irradiating illumination light and an imaging element for imaging the inside of the digestive tract are mounted on a three-dimensional molded circuit board, and the camera module is used for imaging. A communication module that transmits an image to the outside by a wireless medium, a power storage unit that supplies power to the camera module and the communication module by discharging a stored charge composed of a capacitor, and a power storage unit that is charged with an induced electromotive force generated by an external magnetic field A charging unit, a camera module, a communication module, a power storage unit, a capsule-type main body that houses the charging unit and is inserted into the digestive tract, and the power storage unit and the charging unit are integrally formed on the three-dimensional molded circuit board. It is characterized by.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the camera module is disposed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the main body and the integrally formed power storage unit and charging unit are disposed on one end side in the short direction of the main body. It is characterized by that.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the main body is provided with a storage portion that stores the therapeutic drug and a drug ejection mechanism that ejects the drug stored in the storage portion to the outside of the main body. It is characterized by that.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a camera module in which a light emitting element for irradiating illumination light and an image pickup element for imaging the inside of the digestive tract are mounted on a three-dimensional molded circuit board and a capacitor are discharged to discharge the stored charge. The power storage unit that feeds power to the module and the communication module and the charging unit that charges the power storage unit with an induced electromotive force generated by an external magnetic field are integrally formed on the three-dimensional molded circuit board, so that illumination and imaging can be performed independently and Miniaturization becomes easy.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the camera module is disposed on one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body in the main body and the power storage unit and the charging unit integrally formed are disposed on one end in the short direction of the main body. An effective space can be provided inside.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the storage unit for storing the therapeutic drug and the drug ejection mechanism for ejecting the drug stored in the storage unit to the outside of the main body are provided in the main body, In addition to imaging, it is possible to treat the affected part by ejecting the medicine contained in the accommodation part by the medicine ejection mechanism, and the accommodation part and the medicine ejection mechanism are effective spaces provided in the main body. Therefore, the main body can be prevented from being enlarged.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment includes a camera module 2 that captures an image of the inside of the digestive tract, a communication module 5 that transmits an image captured by the camera module 2 to the outside by a wireless medium, and a power storage unit 3 that supplies power to the camera module 2 and the communication module 5. A charging unit 6 for charging the power storage unit 3, a camera module 2 and a communication module 5, a power storage unit 3, and a capsule-type main body 1 that houses the charging unit 6 and is inserted into the digestive tract. In the following description, the left-right direction in FIG. 1A is the front-rear direction, the up-down direction is the up-down direction, and the direction perpendicular to the page is the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the camera module 2 includes four light emitting elements 20 that irradiate illumination light, a solid-state imaging element 21 made of a CCD or CMOS, and an imaging lens 22 mounted on a three-dimensional molded circuit board 23. Configured. The three-dimensionally molded circuit board 23 is formed in a circular flat plate shape as shown in FIG. 1 (f), and is provided with a square cylindrical through hole 23a at substantially the center, and is solid on the rear side so as to close the through hole 23a. The imaging element 21 is mounted and an imaging lens 22 composed of a biconvex lens is mounted on the front side. In addition, four mortar-shaped recesses 23b are formed on the front surface of the three-dimensional molded circuit board 23 so as to be arranged concentrically around the optical axis of the imaging lens 22 so as to surround the through hole 23a. The light emitting elements 20 made of white LEDs are mounted on the bottom surfaces of these recesses 23b. Further, the bottom surface and the peripheral surface of the recess 23b are mirror-finished by plating or the like, so that the light emitted from the light emitting element 20 can be efficiently irradiated forward. In addition, the light emitting element 20 and the image pick-up element 21 are electrically connected with the control part 4 by the conductor pattern 23c formed in the solid molded circuit board 23 (refer FIG. 3).

  The control unit 4 has a function of converting a video signal output from the image sensor 21 into a format suitable for wireless communication, a function of controlling power supply (discharge) from the power storage unit 3 to the image sensor 21, It consists of a one-chip integrated circuit that realizes the function of controlling light emission. The communication module 5 receives a video signal received from the control unit 4 by a wireless medium (radio wave) and receives a control signal transmitted from the outside by a wireless medium (radio wave) and passes it to the control unit 4 It consists of a one-chip integrated circuit that realizes the functions. The control unit 4 and the communication module 5 are mounted on the inner bottom surface of a solid molded circuit board 7 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the camera module 2 is coupled so as to close the front opening of the solid molded circuit board 7. Yes.

  The power storage unit 3 and the charging unit 6 are integrally formed on the three-dimensional molded circuit board 8. Hereinafter, the power storage unit 3 and the charging unit 6 integrally formed on the three-dimensional molded circuit board 8 are collectively referred to as a power supply module 9. The power storage unit 3 is composed of a parallel plate type capacitor in which a copper thin film, a ferroelectric thin film, and a copper thin film are laminated on the rear surface of the three-dimensional molded circuit board 8. The charging unit 6 includes a secondary coil 60 that is transformer-coupled to a primary coil (not shown) placed outside the main body 1, and an AC voltage that is induced in the secondary coil 60 when an AC current flows through the primary coil. And a rectifying / smoothing circuit (not shown) for rectifying and smoothing, and applying the DC voltage rectified and smoothed by the rectifying and smoothing circuit to the power storage unit 3 for charging. The secondary coil 60 includes a semi-annular coil bobbin 61 provided on the back side of the three-dimensional molded circuit board 8 and a coil 62 formed of a conductor pattern formed on the outer peripheral surface of the coil bobbin 61. A three-dimensional molded circuit board 7 on which the control unit 4 and the communication module 5 are mounted is coupled to the front surface of the three-dimensional molded circuit board 8. The power supply module 9, the control unit 4, the control unit 4, the communication module 5, and the camera module 2 are electrically connected by conductor patterns 7a, 8a, 23c formed on the three-dimensionally formed circuit boards 7, 8, 23, respectively. (See FIG. 3). However, the solid molded circuit board 23 of the camera module 2, the solid molded circuit board 7 on which the control unit 4 and the communication module 5 are mounted, and the solid molded circuit board 8 of the power supply module 9 are configured as one solid molded circuit board. It doesn't matter.

  The main body 1 includes a storage portion 1a excluding the hemispherical portion at the front end, and a hemispherical cover 1b that covers the front end of the storage portion 1a. The cover 1b is formed of a transparent material, and is coupled to the storage portion 1a so as to cover the camera module 2 from the front.

  A block diagram of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The control unit 4 operates with power supplied from the power storage unit 3, and turns on / off power supply from the power storage unit 3 to the camera module 2 in accordance with a control signal received by the communication module 5, and is output from the camera module 2. Convert the signal into a format suitable for wireless communication. Then, the converted video signal is transmitted from the communication module 5 by a wireless medium and received by an external communication device (not shown). A captured image of the camera module 2 is displayed on a monitor device (not shown) based on the video signal received by the communication device, and the state in the digestive tract of the patient can be confirmed by an operator (for example, a doctor). A computer device is connected to the communication device and the monitor device, and the control unit 4 turns on and off the power supply to the camera module 2 in accordance with a control command given from the computer device via the communication device.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the light emitting element 20 that irradiates illumination light and the image pickup element 21 that images the inside of the digestive tract are mounted on the three-dimensional molded circuit board 23, and the accumulated charge is discharged from the capacitor. As a result, the power storage unit 3 that feeds power to the camera module 2 and the communication module 5 and the charging unit 6 that charges the power storage unit 3 with induced electromotive force generated by an external magnetic field are integrally formed on the three-dimensional molded circuit board 8. Illumination and imaging are possible with the capsule imaging apparatus of the present embodiment alone, and miniaturization is easy.

(Embodiment 2)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, since the basic configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, common components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the main body 1 is extended in the front-rear direction with respect to the first embodiment, and the power supply module 9 is disposed on one end side (lower side) of the main body 1 in the short direction (vertical direction). In addition, a storage unit 10 that stores a drug (chemical solution) in a space generated above the power supply module 9 and a chemical solution ejection mechanism that ejects the chemical solution in the storage unit 10 to the outside of the main body 1 are disposed.

  The power supply module 9 is configured by integrally forming the power storage unit 3 and the charging unit 6 on the three-dimensionally molded circuit board 8 as in the first embodiment. The solid molded circuit board 8 includes a rectangular flat plate portion 80 that protrudes rearward from a lower portion of the rear surface of the solid molded circuit substrate 7 on which the control unit 4 and the communication module 5 are mounted, and a flat plate portion below the flat plate portion 80. A cylindrical coil bobbin 81 spaced apart from 80 and a pair of connecting portions 82, 82 that connect the coil bobbin 81 to the flat plate portion 80 at both ends in the axial direction are integrally formed. And the electrical storage part 3 which consists of a parallel plate type capacitor is provided by laminating | stacking a copper thin film, a ferroelectric thin film, and a copper thin film on the upper surface of the flat plate part 80. FIG. Further, the secondary coil 60 of the charging unit 6 is configured by a conductor pattern formed in a spiral shape on the outer peripheral surface of the coil bobbin 81 (see FIG. 7). However, the illustration of the rectifying / smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothes the AC voltage induced in the secondary coil 60 is omitted.

  The accommodating portion 10 has a bullet shape and protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the three-dimensionally shaped circuit board 7 in parallel with the flat plate portion 80. A pair of disc-shaped movable walls 12 and 13 are accommodated in the accommodating portion 10 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and the interior of the accommodating portion 10 is partitioned into three regions S1, S2 and S3 by the movable walls 12 and 13. (See FIG. 5B). A return spring 14 is disposed in the first region S1 closest to the three-dimensionally molded circuit board 7, and the movable wall 12 is held at the initial position by the return spring 14. Here, although the chemical | medical solution jet nozzle 15 is penetrated by the surrounding wall of the accommodating part 10 and the main body 1, this chemical jet nozzle 15 is obstruct | occluded by the movable wall 12 in an initial position (refer FIG.5 (b)). ). Further, the chemical solution is stored in the second region S <b> 2 sandwiched between the two movable walls 12 and 13. Further, a gas (for example, an inert gas such as helium) is accommodated in the third region S3 partitioned by the movable wall 13. However, in the temperature range from room temperature (25 ° C.) to body temperature (about 36 ° C. to 38 ° C.), the pressure of the gas accommodated in the third region S3 and the spring force of the return spring 14 are balanced via the chemical solution. The movable wall 12 is held at the initial position. And if the gas accommodated in 3rd area | region S3 is thermally expanded and the movable wall 13 is moved ahead, the movable wall 12 will be moved ahead from an initial position against the spring force of the return spring 14 via a chemical | medical solution. Can be moved to. As a result, the chemical solution jet port 15 closed by the movable wall 12 is opened with respect to the second region S2, and the chemical solution stored in the second region S2 is jetted out of the main body 1 through the chemical solution jet port 15. Can be made. That is, in this embodiment, the chemical solution ejection mechanism is configured by the pair of movable walls 12 and 13, the return spring 14, and the chemical solution ejection port 15.

  Next, the chemical solution ejection mechanism drive unit 30 that drives the above-described chemical solution ejection mechanism to eject the chemical solution will be described. The chemical solution ejection mechanism drive unit 30 is composed of a heater that thermally expands the gas accommodated in the third region S3, and the gas is thermally expanded by energizing the heater through the control unit 4 to move the movable wall 13 forward. To move to. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7B and FIG. 8A, a narrow conductor pattern is periodically folded back at a portion facing the third region S3 on the outer peripheral surface of the accommodating portion 10. By doing so, a heater (chemical solution ejection mechanism drive unit 30) is configured.

  A block diagram of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The control unit 4 operates with power supplied from the power storage unit 3, and turns on / off power supply from the power storage unit 3 to the camera module 2 in accordance with a control signal received by the communication module 5, and is output from the camera module 2. Convert the signal into a format suitable for wireless communication. Then, the converted video signal is transmitted from the communication module 5 by a wireless medium and received by an external communication device (not shown). A captured image of the camera module 2 is displayed on a monitor device (not shown) based on the video signal received by the communication device, and the state in the digestive tract of the patient can be confirmed by an operator (for example, a doctor). A computer device is connected to the communication device and the monitor device, and the operator uses the computer device to see the image in the gastrointestinal tract projected on the monitor device, and the operator uses the drug solution to the capsule-type image pickup device in the patient's body. If a command is issued, a control signal corresponding to the instruction is transmitted from the communication device via a wireless medium. Such a control signal is received by the communication module 5 and passed to the control unit 4. In the control unit 4, the chemical solution ejection mechanism drive unit 30 is driven (the heater is energized) in accordance with the command of the control signal, and the chemical solution accommodated in the accommodation unit 10 is ejected outside the main body 1 as already described. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the power storage unit 3 and the charging unit 6 integrally formed in the main body 1 are disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body 1 in the main body 1. Since it is arranged on the side, an effective space can be provided in the main body 1. And if the storage part 10 which accommodates the chemical | medical agent (medical solution) for a treatment in the said space and the chemical | medical agent ejection mechanism which ejects the chemical | medical solution accommodated in the storage part 10 out of the main body 1 are imaged inside the digestive tract. In addition, the affected part can be treated by ejecting the medicinal solution accommodated in the accommodating part 10 by the medicine ejection mechanism. And since the accommodating part 10 and a chemical | medical solution ejection mechanism can be arrange | positioned in the effective space provided in the main body 1, there exists an advantage that the enlargement of the main body 1 can be suppressed.

1 shows Embodiment 1 of the present invention, (a) is a front sectional view, (b) is a bottom sectional view, (c) is a front view in which the main body is broken, (d) is a bottom view in which the main body is broken, (e) Is a top view with the body broken, (f) is a left side view with the body broken, and (g) is a right side view with the body broken. The state which removed the main body same as the above is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, (c) is a top view. The main body same as the above is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a front view with the camera module removed, (c) is a rear sectional view, and (d) is a rear view. It is a block diagram same as the above. Embodiment 2 of the present invention is shown, (a) is a front cross-sectional view, (b) is a top cross-sectional view, (c) is a rear view with the main body broken, and (d) is a front cross-sectional view in which a housing portion is omitted. . FIG. 4A is a front view of a state where a cover is removed, FIG. 5B is a rear cross-sectional view, FIG. 5C is a front cross-sectional view, and FIG. The main body is removed, (a) is a front sectional view, (b) is a top view, (c) is a bottom view, and (d) is a top sectional view. The state where the main body is removed is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA 'in (a), and (d) is (a) ) Is a cross-sectional right arrow view of line AA ′, (e) is a cross-sectional right arrow view of line BB ′ of (a), and (f) is a right side view. It is a block diagram same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Camera module 3 Power storage part 4 Control part 5 Communication module 6 Charging part 7 3D circuit shaping | molding board 8 3D shaping circuit board 9 Power supply module 20 Light emitting element 21 Imaging element 22 Lens 23 3D shaping circuit board

Claims (3)

  A camera module in which a light emitting element for illuminating illumination light and an imaging element for imaging the inside of the digestive tract are mounted on a three-dimensional molded circuit board, a communication module for transmitting an image captured by the camera module to the outside by a wireless medium, and a capacitor A power storage unit that supplies power to the camera module and the communication module by discharging the stored charge, a charging unit that charges the power storage unit with an induced electromotive force generated by an external magnetic field, a camera module, a communication module, a power storage unit, and a charging unit And a capsule-type main body that is inserted into the digestive tract, and a power storage unit and a charging unit are integrally formed on a three-dimensional molded circuit board.   2. The capsule type according to claim 1, wherein the camera module is disposed on one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body and the integrally formed power storage unit and charging unit are disposed on one end in the short direction of the main body. Imaging device.   3. A capsule-type imaging device according to claim 2, further comprising: a housing part for housing a therapeutic medicine; and a medicine ejection mechanism for ejecting the medicine contained in the housing part to the outside of the body. .

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