JP4009610B2 - Receiver - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-subject introduction device introduced into a subject, for example, a reception device that receives a wireless video signal transmitted from a swallowable capsule endoscope using a plurality of antennas outside the subject, In particular, the present invention relates to a receiving device that detects that the mounting portion is connected to the ground while being mounted on a human body.

  In recent years, in the field of endoscopes, capsule endoscopes equipped with an imaging function and a wireless communication function have appeared. This capsule endoscope is an observation period after it is swallowed from the subject's mouth, which is a subject for observation (examination), until it is naturally discharged from the subject's body, for example, the stomach, the small intestine, etc. The internal organs (inside the body cavity) move with the peristaltic movement, and images are sequentially captured using the imaging function.

  Also, during this observation period of moving through these organs, image data imaged in the body cavity by the capsule endoscope is sequentially transmitted to the outside of the subject by a wireless communication function such as wireless communication, and an external receiving device It is stored in a memory provided in the inside. When the subject carries the receiving device equipped with the wireless communication function and the memory function, the subject is incapable of performing the observation even during the observation period from swallowing the capsule endoscope until it is discharged. It is possible to act freely without incurring freedom. After the observation, a doctor or a nurse can make a diagnosis by displaying an image in the body cavity on a display means such as a display based on the image data stored in the memory of the receiving device.

  In general, a receiving device distributes and arranges a plurality of antennas for receiving a video signal transmitted from a capsule endoscope outside a subject, and selectively switches and receives one antenna with few video signal reception errors. Like to do. In Patent Document 1, reception switching of a plurality of antennas arranged outside the subject is performed, and capsule-type endoscopy in the subject, which is a transmission source of the video signal, based on the electric field strength received by each antenna. A receiver for detecting the position of the mirror is described.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-19111

  However, in this receiver, a plurality of antennas attached to the subject are defined in the mounting portion in the medical device. This mounting portion must always be insulated from the ground. However, for example, when the receiver is connected to the workstation having the display with the antenna attached to the subject, the mounting portion and the ground are connected. Could not deal with. In addition, although it is conceivable to perform insulation in the receiver or in the workstation, the production process for this insulation measure becomes complicated and the production cost increases. For example, EMC (Electro Magnetic Compatibility): Compatibility) There is also a problem that conforming to the standard is disadvantageous.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a receiving apparatus that can appropriately and easily prevent a connection state in which the attachment unit is connected to the ground while being attached to a human body. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes an antenna that arranges a radio signal transmitted from a transmitting apparatus introduced into a subject on the outer surface of the subject. In the receiving apparatus configured to be capable of receiving, a mounting unit that mounts the antenna on an outer surface of the subject, a detection unit that detects that the mounting unit and the ground are connected, and a detection result by the detection unit An informing means for informing the user.

  The receiving device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the receiving device according to the above invention, wherein the detecting means includes an antenna connection detecting unit that detects that the antenna is connected to the receiving device, the receiving device, and another electric device. And a connection detection unit that detects that they are connected.

  The receiving apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the detecting means further includes an initialization state detecting unit for detecting an initialization state of the receiving apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the receiving device according to the above-mentioned invention, wherein the notifying means issues a warning when the antenna is connected and the receiving device and the other electric device are connected. It is characterized by having.

  Further, in the receiving device according to the invention of claim 5, in the above invention, the notification means indicates the connection state when the antenna is connected and the receiving device and the other electric device are connected. It has the display part which performs a display, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The receiving device according to the present invention detects the connection state when the mounting unit is mounted on the human body and detects that the mounting unit is connected to the ground, so the mounting unit is mounted on the human body. It is possible to appropriately and easily prevent the connection state that is connected to the ground in the state where the contact is made.

  Embodiments of a receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described below 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 illustrating an overall configuration of a wireless in-vivo information acquiring system including a receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, a wireless in-vivo information acquiring system includes a receiving device 2 having a wireless receiving function, and a body cavity image that is introduced into the subject 1 to capture data such as a video signal to the receiving device 2. A capsule endoscope (intra-subject introducing device) 3 that performs transmission is provided. In addition, the wireless in-vivo information acquiring system performs data transfer between the display device 4 that displays an image in the body cavity based on the video signal received by the receiving device 2, and the receiving device 2 and the display device 4. Communication cable 5. The receiving device 2 includes a receiving jacket 2a worn by the subject 1 and an external device 2b that performs processing of received radio signals.

  The display device 4 is for displaying an in-vivo image picked up by the capsule endoscope 3 and displays an image based on data obtained from the receiving device 2 via the communication cable 5. And so on. 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 communication cable 5 is normally detachable with respect to the external device 2b and the display device 4, and has a structure capable of outputting or recording information when inserted into both. In this embodiment, the communication cable 5 initializes the receiving device 2, for example, when deleting old data such as image data previously stored in the storage unit 13 or registering an inspection ID such as an inspection date. It is connected between the external device 2b and the display device 4, and transmits data from the display device 4 to the external device 2b. Next, when initialization is completed, the external device 2b and the display device 4 are detached from each other, and the connection between the two is cut off. While the capsule endoscope 3 is moving in the body cavity of the subject 1, the connection between them is maintained in a disconnected state. Then, after the capsule endoscope 3 is discharged from the subject 1, that is, after imaging inside the subject 1 is completed, the communication cable 5 is connected between the external device 2b and the display device 4, Data of the capsule endoscope 3 recorded by the external device 2b is read by the display device 4. The connection between the external device 2b and the display device 4 according to the present invention is not limited to the communication cable 5, and the external device 2b and the display device 4 can be connected using, for example, a cradle capable of synchronizing data. It is. In this case, the display device and the cradle are connected by a communication cable, and the external device 2b is placed on the cradle so that data transfer between the external device 2b and the display device 4 is performed.

  Next, the configuration of the receiving apparatus will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 2 and the block diagram of FIG. The receiving device 2 has a function of receiving image data in the body cavity that is wirelessly transmitted from the capsule endoscope 3. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the receiving device 2 has a shape that can be worn by the subject 1 and is received via the receiving jacket 2a and the receiving jacket 2a including the receiving antennas A1 to An. And an external device 2b for processing radio signals. The receiving antennas A1 to An may be directly attached to the outer surface of the subject (human body) 1 and may not be provided in the receiving jacket 2a, or may be detachable from the receiving jacket 2a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a battery pack 6 for storing a power supply battery is externally attached to the outer surface of the external device 2b. When the battery pack 6 is attached to the external device 2b, The external device 2b, which will be described later, is electrically connected, and power can be supplied to these internal devices. In addition, a display unit 14 is provided on the front surface of the outer surface to display, for example, an inspection ID. A connection portion 20 for connecting the communication cable 5 is provided on the side surface of the outer surface. The communication cable 5 has a connector 5 a that is connected to the connection portion 20. The external device 2b transmits image data stored in a storage unit, which will be described later, to the display device 4 via the connected communication cable 5. Further, a connection part CON for connecting the receiving antennas A1 to An is provided on the upper surface of the outer surface. Note that these receiving antennas A1 to An have connectors CON1 to CONn connected to the connection part CON.

  The external device 2b has a function of processing a radio signal transmitted from the capsule endoscope 3. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the external device 2b is connected to the selector switch SW for switching the connection of each of the receiving antennas A1 to An, and the reception switch connected by the selector switch SW. A receiving circuit 11 for amplifying and demodulating radio signals from the antennas A1 to An, and a signal processing circuit 12 and a sample hold circuit 15 are connected to the subsequent stage of the receiving circuit 11. An A / D converter 16 is further connected to the subsequent stage of the sample hold circuit 15.

  The control unit C includes a selection control unit C1 as a control unit, and includes a signal processing circuit 12, an A / D conversion unit 16, a hard disk for storing image data, a display unit 14, an interface unit 18, and the like. The switching control unit SC is connected. The switching control unit SC has an intensity receiving antenna number N1 and a video receiving antenna number N2. Based on these pieces of number information, the switching control unit SC issues a switching instruction for the changeover switch SW, and also includes a sample hold circuit 15 and an A / D conversion unit. 16 and the processing timing of the selection control unit C1 are instructed. The interface unit 18 is connected to the communication cable 5 via the connection unit CON. The control unit C has an internal memory (not shown), and registers identification information for identifying the subject such as an examination ID input from the communication cable 5 via the interface unit 18 in the internal memory. At least a part of, for example, the inspection ID is displayed on the display unit 14. The power supply unit 17 includes a battery in the battery pack 6 and supplies power to each internal device described above.

  The change-over switch SW of the external device 2b outputs radio signals from the receiving antennas A1 to An to the receiving circuit 11 based on a switching instruction from the switching control unit SC. Here, the changeover switch SW has a connection part CON as an antenna switching means for connecting the reception antennas A1 to An, corresponding to the arrangement positions of the reception antennas A1 to An, respectively.

  The connection part CON has a detection function for detecting the connection state of the connectors CON1 to CONn. For example, for the connector CON1, the connection part CON has an antenna connection detection part 21 as shown in FIG. 4, and also has the same antenna connection detection part for the other connectors CON2 to CONn. In FIG. 4, the connector CON1 connects the signal line LS and the ground line LG from the receiving antenna A1 to the connection part CON, and branches and outputs the ground line LG. The connection unit CON connects the signal line LS to the switching unit SW1 as it is, and is switched and connected to the receiving circuit 11 based on the signal S5 instructing switching. On the other hand, one of the ground lines LG is grounded as it is, and the other of the ground lines LG is connected to the constant voltage source VDD via a resistor. When the connector CON1 is connected to the connection part CON, the voltage signal from the constant voltage source VDD flows to one side of the ground line LG, so that the signal S6 is not output to the selection control part C1 of the control part C that is external. When the connector CON1 is not connected to the connection part CON, the voltage signal from the constant voltage source VDD is output as it is to the selection control part C1 as the signal S6. Therefore, the selection control unit C1 can determine whether or not the connector CON1, that is, the receiving antenna A1 is connected, by detecting the presence or absence of the signal S6 that is the voltage signal. By providing a similar detection unit corresponding to each of the connectors CON2 to CONn, the selection control unit C1 can determine whether or not each reception antenna A1 to An is connected.

  In FIG. 3, as described above, the receiving circuit 11 amplifies the radio signal, outputs the demodulated video signal S1 to the signal processing circuit 12, and receives the received intensity signal that is the received electric field strength of the amplified radio signal. S2 is output to the sample hold circuit 15. The video data processed by the signal processing circuit 12 is stored in the storage unit 13 by the control unit C and displayed and output by the display unit 14. The signal sampled and held by the sample and hold circuit 15 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 16 and taken into the control unit C, and the receiving antenna that has received the highest received electric field strength is used for receiving the video signal period. In addition to selecting as an antenna, receiving antennas other than the selected receiving antenna are sequentially selected as receiving antennas in the intensity receiving period, and each receiving antenna number is set as a video receiving antenna number N2 and an intensity receiving antenna number. The signal S4 for N1 is output to the switching control unit SC. Here, the selection control unit C1 sets the reception antennas to be switched only for the reception antennas A1 to An that are currently connected based on the signal S6. Further, the control unit C stores the received electric field strength in the intensity receiving period and the received electric field strength in the video receiving period in the storage unit 13 together with the video data in association with the reception antenna selected at that time. The stored reception field strength of each reception antenna is information for calculating the position of the capsule endoscope 3 in the body cavity when the video data is received.

  The switching control unit SC holds the strength receiving antenna number N1 and the video receiving antenna number N2 instructed by the selection control unit C1, and sets the receiving antennas A1 to An corresponding to the strength receiving antenna number N1 during the strength receiving period. The switch SW is instructed to make a selective connection, and a signal S5 instructing the changeover switch SW to make a selective connection to the receiving antennas A1 to An corresponding to the video receiving antenna number N2 during the video reception period. The signal S3a for instructing the sample hold timing by the sample hold circuit 15, the signal S3b for instructing the A / D conversion timing by the A / D conversion unit 16, and the signal S3c for instructing the selection control timing by the selection control unit C1 Is output.

  In addition, the receiving device 2 includes a detection unit that detects a state in which the antenna and the display device 4 are connected via a subject (human body). FIG. 5 is a connection diagram illustrating a connection form of each detection unit. In FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the detection targets are the receiving antennas A1 to An, the communication cable 5, and the initialization state. For example, whether the receiving antennas A1 to An are in a connected state or whether the communication cable 5 is in a connected state. Whether or not the internal memory or the storage unit 13 is in an initialized state is detected.

  Then, these detection targets are detected by the antenna connection detection unit 21, the communication cable connection detection unit 22, and the initialization state detection unit 23, and the detection signal is output to the control unit C. Based on this, it is determined whether or not the antenna is connected to the display device 4 in a state of being attached to the subject. If it is determined that the antenna is connected, a warning sound is output from the speaker 28.

  In addition, although FIG. 4 demonstrated an example of the antenna connection detection part 21, the communication cable connection detection part 22 can also detect the connection state of the communication cable 5 with the same structure. Further, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in another example of FIG. 6, a contact pin 31 that is electrically connected to the constant voltage source VDD and the contact pin 31 are energized to the connection part CON. A spring 32 that protrudes outward is provided. Further, a protrusion 33 is provided at a predetermined position of the connector CON1 facing the contact pin 31 of the connection part CON. When the connector CON1 is attached to the connection part CON, the protrusion 33 abuts on the contact pin 31, The contact pin 31 is pushed into the connection part CON. By this pressing, the contact pin 31 contacts the electric circuit 34 on the constant voltage source VDD side and the electric circuit 35 on the control unit C side, and a signal S6 is output to the control unit C. Further, when the connector CON1 is removed from the connection part CON, the contact between the projection 33 and the contact pin 31 is released, and the contact pin 31 returns to the original position by the biasing force of the spring 32. The electric circuit 35 on the part C side is not in contact, and the signal S6 is not output to the control part C.

  Further, the initialization state detection unit 23 is configured to register ID information such as an examination date, a subject's name, a capsule ID, and a lot number from the display device 4 via the communication cable 5 and the interface unit 18. It is possible to detect the initialization state by detecting the input of the initialization request signal including “” by the control unit C, and it is possible to use a conventional detection method.

  The control unit C detects the connection state and the initialization state based on the presence / absence of detection signals input from the detection units 21 to 23, and the display device 4 in a state where the antenna is attached to the subject. For example, if the antenna and the communication cable 5 are connected and an initialization request signal is input, the antenna is connected to the display device 4 with the antenna attached to the subject. The operation of the speaker 28 is controlled so as to output a warning sound.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the antenna is attached to the subject, the display device 4 is connected, that is, the receiving device 2 and the display device 4 are connected via the communication cable 5. This connection state is immediately detected and a warning sound is emitted to notify the patient and doctor, etc., and the connection part is quickly disconnected from the antenna or communication cable connector, so that the wearing part can It is possible to appropriately and easily prevent the connection state connected to the ground while being attached to the ground.

  In the above embodiment, the connection state between the mounting portion and the ground when the mounting portion is mounted on the human body is detected by detecting the connection state of the antenna and the communication cable and the initialization state. For example, the connection state between the mounting portion and the ground can be detected only by the connection state between the antenna and the communication cable, and the connection state between the antenna and the communication cable and the reception of image data by the receiving device. It is also possible to detect the connection state between the mounting portion and the ground from the state.

  In the above embodiment, the above connection state is specified by the warning sound. However, the voice is used together with the above warning sound or alone, for example, “An antenna and a communication cable are connected. Please disconnect the connection. It is also possible to notify a warning or a message about how to deal with it from the speaker 28.

  In addition, since the receiving device 2 includes the display unit 14 on the front surface, it is possible to display a message on the display unit 14 together with the warning or the identification of the person to be dealt with and the handling method as described above. It is. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide visual notification by providing a plurality of LEDs that emit different colors in the receiving device and changing the color display or blinking when the above connection is made. Still further, since the receiving device is carried by being attached to the body of the subject, for example, around the waist of the subject with a belt or the like, the receiving device is configured to have a vibrator function, and when the above connection is made It is also possible to activate the vibrator and notify the subject or doctor.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a wireless in-vivo information acquiring system including a receiving apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the outline of the external appearance of the receiver shown in FIG. Similarly, it is a block diagram which shows the structure of a receiver. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the connection part containing an example of the antenna connection detection part in a changeover switch. FIG. 3 is a connection diagram illustrating a detection system that detects a connection state and an initialization state in each unit of the reception device illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the connection part containing the other example of the antenna connection detection part in a changeover switch.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subject 2 Reception apparatus 2a Reception jacket 2b External apparatus 3 Capsule endoscope 4 Display apparatus 5 Communication cable 5a Connector 6 Battery pack 11 Reception circuit 12 Signal processing circuit 13 Memory | storage part 14 Display part 15 Sample hold circuit 16 A / D Conversion unit 17 Power supply unit 18 Interface unit 20 Connection unit 21 Antenna connection detection unit 22 Communication cable connection detection unit 23 Initialization state detection unit 28 Speaker 31 Contact pin 32 Spring 33 Protrusion 34, 35 Electric circuit A1 to An Receiving antenna C control Part C1 selection control part CON connection part CON1 to CONn connector LG ground line LS signal line SC switching control part SW changeover switch SW1 switching part

Claims (4)

In a receiving device configured to be able to receive a radio signal transmitted from a transmitting device introduced into the subject using an antenna disposed on the outer surface of the subject,
A mounting portion for mounting the antenna on the outer surface of the subject;
Detecting means for detecting that the mounting portion and the ground are connected;
An informing means for informing a detection result by the detecting means;
With
The detection means includes
An antenna connection detector for detecting that the antenna is connected to the receiver;
A connection detector that detects that the receiving device and another electrical device are connected;
RECEIVER you comprising: a. The detection means includes an initialization state detection unit that detects an initialization state of the receiving device.
The receiving device according to claim 1 , further comprising: The notification means includes a warning unit that issues a warning when the antenna is connected and the receiving device and the other electrical device are connected.
The receiving apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: The notification means includes a display unit that displays the connection state when the antenna is connected and the receiving device and the other electrical device are connected.
The receiving device according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving device is provided.

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