JP4503979B2 - Internal devices and medical devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an internal device that is orally injected into a living body and a medical device including the internal device .

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease is a gastrointestinal disease whose cause has not yet been clarified, and there is an urgent need to establish various treatment and prevention methods. ing. Symptoms of this inflammatory bowel disease include diarrhea, diarrhea, bloody stool, etc. for a long period of time, and in rare cases it may be completely cured, but most of the long-term recovery and recurrence of enteritis lesions are repeated. It is a feature. At present, treatment depends on long-term drug administration.
In addition, as a method for diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease, the presence or absence of bloody stool, endoscopy or X-ray examination is generally performed, and among these, the diagnostic method by endoscopy is directly It is preferably used because the inside of the digestive tract can be confirmed by an image. In particular, ulcerative colitis, which is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases, may increase the possibility of carcinogenesis after a certain period (for example, 7 years) after the onset of disease. The progress of symptoms is confirmed by microscopic examination.

On the other hand, a capsule medical device that is orally introduced into a living body is known as an apparatus for easily examining the health condition of a patient. Various types of capsule-type medical devices are provided. For example, a device that randomly images each part of the living body, a device that collects a sample from the living body, or a device that releases a drug. Etc. are known. As one of them, a capsule-type in-vivo information inspection device capable of detecting in-vivo information such as in-vivo video information is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
This capsule-type in-vivo information inspection apparatus includes a housing having a light output port that outputs illumination light into the living body, an imaging port that images the inside of the living body, and an in-vivo information sensor that detects the temperature in the living body. . Also, in the housing, a battery that supplies power to each part, a white LED that illuminates the living body through the light output port, a CCD that images the inside of the living body through the imaging port, a control circuit that controls these, and a living body obtained from each part A memory for storing information is incorporated. The white LED also serves as a transmission means for transmitting each biological information stored in the memory to the outside.

When testing with this capsule-type in-vivo information inspection apparatus, after turning on the power switch, the patient swallows the capsule-type in-vivo information inspection apparatus. In this way, the capsule-type in-vivo information inspecting device that is orally injected illuminates the inside of the body with a white LED while moving the internal organs, and images each part by the CCD. This imaged information is stored in a memory. Information obtained by the in-vivo information sensor is also stored in the memory. In this way, the capsule in-vivo information inspection device that detects the biological information of each part in the body, after excretion and recovery, the information stored in the memory is taken out via the white LED, and analysis, inspection, etc. are performed. Done.
JP-A-11-225996 (paragraph numbers 0007 to 0030, FIGS. 1 to 3)

By the way, among inflammatory bowel diseases, especially for ulcerative colitis, it is necessary to regularly perform endoscopy as described above. In general, when endoscopy is performed, In order to obtain a clear image, it is necessary to swallow laxatives, etc. as a preparation before the examination, and to perform an intestine wash that cleans the intestine by discharging feces and food residues in the intestine. However, during this intestinal wash, in addition to stool and food residue, mucous membranes and the like protecting the living tissue in the intestine are also washed away, so in the case of ulcerative colitis, May become more sensitive and may worsen symptoms. Therefore, in the case of ulcerative colitis, there is a problem that endoscopic examination is often performed without performing irrigation, and a clear image in the intestine cannot be obtained.
In addition, as an alternative to endoscopy, in order to obtain a clear image in the intestine even if a capsule medical device such as the capsule in vivo information inspection device described in Patent Document 1 described above is used, Therefore, there was a possibility that a clear image of the intestine could not be obtained as in the case of endoscopy.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an in-vivo device and a medical device that can remove foreign substances in the digestive tract (especially in the intestine) without having to wash the intestines. It is.

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
The invention according to claim 1, comprising a capsule-shaped casing that is orally introduced into the body, and a foreign substance removing means for removing foreign substances between the tissue surface of the in vivo and the housing, wherein Provided is an in-vivo device , wherein the foreign substance removing means is an adhesion assisting means for removing the foreign substance by bringing the casing and the tissue surface in the living body into close contact with each other.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the in-vivo device according to claim 1, further comprising observation means for observing the inside of the living body through the observation wall surface of the case, wherein the foreign matter removing means is connected to the observation wall surface. There is provided an in-vivo device for removing foreign matter between a tissue surface in the living body.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the intracorporeal device according to claim 1, further comprising a medication unit that administers a medicine to a desired site through the medication opening in the housing, wherein the foreign matter removing means includes the medication opening and There is provided an in-vivo device for removing foreign matter between a tissue surface in the living body.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the intracorporeal device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the foreign matter removing means brings the housing and the tissue surface in the living body into close contact with each other so that the foreign matter can be obtained. An intracorporeal device which is a close contact assisting means is provided.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the intracorporeal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the foreign matter removing means is an air releasing means for removing the foreign matter by releasing air. provide.

The invention according to claim 4 provides the intracorporeal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the intracorporeal device is provided with the adhesion assisting means in the casing.

An invention according to claim 5 includes the in-vivo device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and an extracorporeal adhesion assisting device having an action generating unit that generates an action on the housing from outside the living body. Provide medical equipment.

The invention according to claim 6 provides the medical device according to claim 5 , wherein the adhesion assisting means further includes an actuated part that receives an action generated by the action generating part.

The invention according to claim 7 is the intracorporeal device according to claim 4 , wherein the housing includes two openings, and the close-contact assistance means sucks the fluid in the living body through the one opening. At the same time, it is a fluid transfer means for discharging the aspirated fluid from the other opening, and the fluid transfer means provides an in-vivo device in which the casing is in close contact with the tissue surface in the living body.

The invention according to claim 8 provides the in-vivo device according to claim 4 , wherein the specific gravity of the whole device is set larger than the specific gravity of the fluid existing in the living body.

The invention according to claim 9 provides the medical device according to claim 5 , wherein the action generating unit is a pressing unit that presses against the living body.

The invention according to claim 10 provides the medical device according to claim 6 , wherein the action generating unit is a magnetic field generator, and the operated part is a permanent magnet or a ferromagnetic material.

The invention according to claim 11 is the medical device according to claim 5 or 6 , further comprising a transmission unit that transmits data in the housing, and a display that displays the data transmitted from the transmission unit on the action generation unit. A medical device having a unit is provided.

The invention according to claim 12 provides the medical device according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the extracorporeal adhesion assisting device is provided with position detecting means for detecting the position of the housing.

The invention according to claim 13 provides the medical device according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein a power receiving antenna is provided in the housing, and a power feeding antenna is provided in the action generating section.

According to the intracorporeal device and the medical device of the present invention, the foreign matter removing means does not receive the influence of foreign matter such as body fluids even if the intestine is not washed. In addition, since the living tissue can be observed in a state in which the observation wall surface and the living tissue are brought into close contact with each other by the adhesion assisting means, fluid such as bodily fluids and gases can be surely prevented from obstructing the field of view even without performing intestinal irrigation. In addition, the state of the living tissue can be observed. In particular, in the case of inflammatory bowel disease, the state in the gastrointestinal tract including the affected part can be reliably observed while preventing the deterioration of symptoms due to ileum.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an in- vivo device concerning the present invention is described based on a drawing.
<First Embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 1, an in-vivo observation device (in-vivo device) 1 of the present embodiment is provided in a capsule-like housing 2 that is orally introduced into the body (in vivo), and inside the housing 2. An observation system (observation means) 3 for observing the inside of the body through an optically transparent observation wall surface 2a provided in the housing 2 is provided. Further, the observation wall 2a and biological tissue are observed inside the housing 2 during observation. Is provided with a suction pump device ( foreign matter removing means, close contact assisting means) 10 of a fluid transfer means.

  The housing 2 is formed so as to hermetically seal the inside with plastic or the like, and at least one end side is provided with an observation wall surface 2a made of a transparent material in a cover shape. An objective lens 4 that images each part in the body is disposed inside the observation wall surface 2a, and an imaging element 5 such as a CMOS imager is disposed at the imaging position of the objective lens 4. Further, around the objective lens 4, an LED 6 that irradiates illumination light to illuminate the visual field range of the objective lens 4 is disposed. That is, the objective lens 4, the image sensor 5 and the LED 6 constitute the observation system 3.

The suction pump device 10 described above includes a pump body 11 having a drive source and valves (not shown), and pipes 12 and 13 connected upstream and downstream of the pump body 11.
The pump main body 11 is a body fluid, gas, or other fluid (hereinafter referred to as “body fluid”) sucked through a conduit 12 that opens to the front end side of the housing 2 provided with the observation wall surface 2a. It has the function of making it flow out back through the pipe line 13 opened to the bottom. As a result, since the suction pump 10 is drained from the rear of the opening (the other opening) 13a by the liquid absorbing body fluids that are present in front of the housing 2 through the opening (one opening) 12a In the front of the housing 2, it is possible to perform observation in a state where the living tissue is sucked and brought into close contact with the observation wall surface 2 a. The phenomenon in which the living tissue is sucked and closely adhered to the observation wall surface 2a as described above is effective in a relatively thin tubular organ such as the intestine, particularly in a tubular organ whose tip is blocked.
The above-described suction pump device 10 can also flow body fluid from the opening 13a on the rear end side of the housing 2 to the opening 12a on the front end side by reversing the pump body 11.

Further, inside the housing 2, a control unit 20 that controls the observation system 3, a memory 21 that records a captured image acquired by the observation system 3, and in-vivo observation based on the captured image acquired by the observation system 3 The apparatus 1 includes a determination unit 22 that determines whether or not the device 1 has reached a predetermined site, for example, the intestine, and a battery 23 that is provided as a power source for supplying power to the above-described components.
When the determination unit 22 determines that the in-vivo observation device 1 has reached the intestine, the determination unit 22 has a function of sending a signal to that effect to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 receives the signal and operates the suction pump device 10 and records the captured image acquired by the observation system 3 in the memory 21.

The case where the inside of the body is observed with the in-vivo observation device 1 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, when the in-vivo observation device 1 reaches the intestinal position to be observed, the suction pump device 1 is operated to bring the living tissue into close contact with the observation wall surface 2a for detailed observation. It is set.
The in-vivo observation device 1 orally introduced to a patient (not shown) moves in the body along the digestive tract. At this time, a switch (not shown) is turned on, and power is supplied from the battery 23 to each component. In addition, the control unit 20 operates the observation system 3 so as to image the inside of the body.
Here, when the in-vivo observation device 1 reaches the intestine, the determination unit 22 confirms, for example, a fold-like tissue unique to the intestine in the captured image based on the captured image captured by the observation system 3. It is judged that it has reached the intestines.

When the determination unit 22 determines that it has reached the intestine, it sends a signal to that effect to notify the control unit 20. In response to this signal, the control unit 20 operates the suction pump device 10 and performs control to record the captured image captured by the observation system 3 in the memory 21.
First, the suction pump device 10 is operated by a control signal from the control unit 20. As shown in FIG. 2A, the suction pump device 10 in this case is operated in the forward direction so as to discharge the body fluid sucked from the front of the housing 2 to the rear. Therefore, the body fluid existing in front of the observation wall surface 2a (front in the observation direction) receives the suction force generated when the pump body 11 is operated, and flows into the pipe line 12 from the opening 12a. This body fluid is guided into the pump main body 11 through the pipe 12, and then is discharged from the pump main body 11, passes through the pipe 13, and is discharged from the opening 13 a to the rear of the housing 2. At this time, foreign substances such as food residues existing in the intestines are also discharged to the rear of the housing along with the flow of body fluid.

  By continuing the operation of the suction pump device 10 described above, as shown in FIG. 2B, the body fluid present in the front of the in-vivo observation device 1 in the observation direction is reduced, and the inner wall of the intestine is negatively applied. Suction is performed in the direction of the opening 12a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the living tissue of the intestinal inner wall is closely attached to the observation wall surface 2a provided with the opening 12a, so that the observation system 3 does not pass through foreign substances such as body fluids and food residues. It becomes possible to directly observe a living tissue under a good field of view. A clear captured image can be recorded in the memory 21 by observing the living tissue in such a close contact state.

After the observation is thus completed, the body fluid discharged to the rear of the housing 2 is returned to the front by reversing the pump body 11. Such an instruction to reversely operate the pump body 11 can be given by, for example, transmitting a wireless signal from outside the body to the control unit 20 or the like in the housing 2.
As an instruction means for reversely operating the pump main body 11 described above, in addition to a radio signal, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a pressure sensor 16 is built in an appropriate position of the pump main body 11, and the detected pressure is set. May be used. In this case, when the pressure sensor 16 detects a high pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the pump main body 11 may be automatically shifted from the normal rotation operation to the reverse rotation operation, or the pump main body 11 is operated in the normal rotation operation. In addition to stopping, valves (not shown) may be opened so that body fluid and the like can freely flow between the opening 12a and the opening 13a in a communicating state. The installation position of the pressure sensor 16 is not limited to the pump main body 11 and may be in the middle of the pipelines 12 and 13.
Further, by detecting the brightness of the image taken by the observation system 3, when the brightness of the image becomes brighter than a predetermined value (threshold value), the living tissue is sucked and approached until it comes into close contact with the observation wall 2a. The forward rotation operation of the pump body 11 may be stopped, or the normal operation may be shifted to the reverse operation.

  According to the in-vivo observation device 1 described above, the suction pump device 10 provided as a close-up assisting unit is operated to bring the biological tissue to be observed into close contact with the observation wall surface 2a, and the biological tissue is directly observed from the observation wall surface 2a. Therefore, it is possible to reliably recognize the state of the living tissue from a clear image without being affected by foreign matter such as body fluid without performing intestinal irrigation or the like. In particular, when the patient has a disease such as inflammatory bowel disease, the state in the intestine can be reliably observed while preventing deterioration of symptoms due to irrigation. In addition, since observation can be performed over the entire length of the intestine, observation can be reliably performed even at positions that are difficult to observe by conventional endoscopy, for example, positions sufficiently away from the anus. .

  Moreover, in such an in-vivo observation device 1, it is preferable to drive the pump body 11 by pulse driving. That is, if the pump main body 11 is continuously operated to suck the body fluid, the suction force may become too strong, or the power consumption may increase to cause a problem in the capacity of the battery 23. For this reason, by adopting the pulse drive, the operation of the pump body 11 becomes an intermittent operation according to the pulse, and the suction force adjustment and the energy saving operation are facilitated.

  In the present embodiment, the determination unit 22 determines whether the intestine is reached based on the captured image captured by the observation system 3, and operates the suction pump device 10 according to the determination. For example, the position of the in-vivo observation device 1 inside the living body is confirmed outside the living body, a signal is sent when the desired position is reached, and the suction pump device 10 is operated when the signal is received. You may comprise. Further, at this time, the control unit 20 may be set to operate the observation system 3 when receiving the signal. In this way, since the observation system 3 can be operated only at a position where observation is desired, power saving can be achieved.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the in- vivo device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, in the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the housing 2 of the in-vivo observation device (in-vivo device) 1A includes a hood 7 as a cylindrical member that protrudes from the periphery of the observation wall surface 2a in the observation direction. The hood 7 is configured to be able to suck body fluid from the opening 12a of the observation wall surface 2a by opening the tip in the observation direction.

By providing such a hood 7, when the distal end portion in the observation direction of the in-vivo observation device 1 </ b> A approaches the biological tissue to be observed to some extent, the suction area is limited to a certain extent by the hood 7, so that the suction is efficiently and reliably sucked. be able to.
Further, instead of the hood 7 described above, a cylindrical member protruding in the observation direction from the periphery of the observation wall surface 2a, for example, an in-vivo observation device (in-vivo device) 1A 'shown in FIG. A hood 7A that is detachable may be employed. With such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately select and replace the hood 7A having the optimum shape according to the use of the in-vivo observation device 1A ′, that is, the shape and position of the biological tissue to be observed. The removable hood 7A shown in FIG. 5 has a shape in which the opening at the tip is inclined and the opening 12a side is shortened.
In addition, since the entire hood 7, 7A or only the vicinity of the tip portion is made of a flexible material, the adverse effect on the living tissue that is in contact with the suction can be improved. Can be observed.

<Third Embodiment>
Subsequently, a third embodiment of the in- vivo device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the component same as the 1st and 2nd embodiment mentioned above in 3rd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the in-vivo observation device (in-vivo device) 1B includes an observation wall surface 2a ′ formed on one side surface of the capsule-shaped housing 2. This observation wall surface 2 a ′ is provided in a recess formed on the side surface of the housing 2. The observation wall 2a ′ is provided with an opening 12a of a pipe line 12 connected to the suction pump device 10, and the body fluid sucked from the opening 12a by the operation of the pump body 11 is substantially circular in cross section. It is discharged from the opening 13a through the pipes 12 and 13 extending in the diameter direction of the casing 2 to be.

With such a configuration, the horizontally long capsule-shaped in-vivo observation device 1B is locked to the living tissue on the outer peripheral surface side in a stable state, and therefore the suction pump device 10 operates to the opening 12a together with the body fluid. The living tissue sucked toward the surface comes into close contact with the observation wall surface 2a ′. Therefore, when the in- vivo device 1B observes a tubular organ such as the intestine, particularly when observing a living tissue in a horizontal or nearly horizontal portion, the stable observation posture of the in-vivo observation device 1B is easily maintained. Therefore, clear observation can be performed and a clear captured image can be obtained.
Further, in the in-vivo observation device provided with the above-described observation wall surface 2a 'on the side surface, for example, an in-vivo observation device (in-body device) 1B' shown in FIG. It is preferable to provide the brush 8 of the foreign matter removing means. This brush 8 is provided in a state protruding from the outer peripheral surface (side surface) of the housing 2 with an appropriate density, and not only removes foreign matter in front of the traveling direction when the in-vivo observation device 1B ′ is moved, It is also possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the observation region where the body fluid or the like is removed from the opening 12a. Therefore, the foreign matter removing means such as the brush 8 is effective in reducing the burden on the suction pump device 10 and maintaining a good observation environment.

<Fourth Embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the internal device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the component same as the 1st thru | or 3rd embodiment mentioned above in 4th Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
The in-vivo observation device (in-vivo device) 1C of this embodiment is provided with a balloon 30 as an outer diameter expanding means on the side surface of the housing 2. In order to enlarge the outer diameter of the balloon 30 and the in-vivo observation device 1C when it is expanded, and to close an organ with a particularly large lumen, a ring-like shape is provided so as to surround the side surface (outer peripheral surface) of the housing 2 over the entire circumference. It is a member.

Expansion of the balloon 30 is performed by supplying a fluid such as compressed gas from the expansion means 31 installed inside the housing 2 via the conduit 32. Here, the expansion means 31 may be one in which a container such as a cylinder for storing compressed gas is provided with an on-off valve, or the body fluid sucked by the suction pump device 10 may be sent into the balloon 30 to be inflated. .
In the expansion of the balloon 30, as in the suction pump device 10, the expansion means 31 or the suction pump device 10 operates in response to a signal output from the control unit 20 under a predetermined condition or a signal from outside the living body. Implemented. When the balloon 30 is expanded and is in close contact with the lumen, the inside of the lumen is separated with the balloon 30 as a boundary, so that the body fluid can be efficiently sucked by the suction pump 10.

<Fifth Embodiment>
In the embodiment described so far, the closet assisting means for providing the observation wall surface in close contact with the living tissue at the time of observation is provided in the in- vivo device (housing). Then, it is made to contact | adhere to a biological tissue using the dead weight of the internal body apparatus itself. That is, the adhesion assisting means for bringing the observation wall surface and the living tissue into close contact with each other becomes a specific gravity difference between the body fluid and the in- vivo device .

9 and 10 show an in-vivo observation device (in-vivo device) 1D for observing the inside of a large organ such as the stomach. This in-vivo observation device 1D is set to a specific gravity larger than the specific gravity of the body fluid present in the living body. That is, in the illustrated example, the in-vivo observation device 1D in which the specific gravity of the entire capsule is set larger than that of the gastric juice is surely sunk in the gastric juice due to its own weight, so that the gastric juice is prevented from seeing in a state of being in close contact with the living tissue of the stomach wall. It can be observed without any problems. In this case, when the patient who swallows the in-vivo observation device 1D changes its position as appropriate, the in-vivo observation device 1D moves to a lower position due to its own weight, so that the living tissue can be observed evenly in a wide organ such as the stomach. Can do.
Note that the in-vivo observation device 1D in this case may be used by changing the specific gravity setting of each in-vivo observation device described above, or may be one in which the suction pump device 10 is removed.

The in-vivo observation device 1D described above preferably has its center of gravity decentered toward the observation wall surface 2a.
In this way, the in-vivo observation device (in-body device) 1D ′ having the center of gravity as the observation wall surface 2a side is adjusted, for example, by providing a weight 9 to move the center of gravity toward the observation wall surface 2a, as shown in FIG. The center of gravity position may be adjusted by devising the arrangement of various components housed in the housing 2. With such a configuration, the observation wall surface 2a, which is directed downward due to gravity when sinking in a bodily fluid, is in close contact with the living tissue, so that more reliable observation is possible.

<Sixth Embodiment>
Next, a case where the closet assisting means for closely attaching the observation wall surface to the living tissue during observation uses pressure as an action from outside the living body will be described.
In the example shown in FIG. 11, when the in-vivo observation device 1 that is orally injected into the living body reaches a desired observation position, the living tissue is brought into close contact with the observation wall 2 a by applying pressure from outside the body around the organ to be observed. Since such a treatment is performed by a doctor applying pressure while viewing the image, a special tool is not required and the living tissue can be easily observed. The image in this case may be an image sent from the in-vivo observation device 1 or may be obtained from outside the body.

In the example shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), instead of the doctor's hand, the pressure tool 40 of the extracorporeal adhesion assisting device provided with an action generating part that generates an action on the housing 2 from outside the living body as an adhesion assisting means. Is used. The compression tool 40 includes a pressing portion 42 in which an antenna (reception means) 41 for receiving data transmitted from a transmission means (not shown) provided in the housing 2 is provided, and the received data on a screen. The display unit 43 is shown and displayed, and a grip unit 44 for holding and pressing the device is provided.
The antenna 41 detects image data transmitted from the housing 2 in the body, a signal for position detection, and the like. In the illustrated configuration example, the antenna 41 has a convex pressing surface having a pressing tip 42a as a curved surface. Built in the unit 42. Image data and position detection signals detected by the antenna 41 are displayed on a display unit 43 such as a liquid crystal monitor, an EL monitor, or a plasma monitor.

In the above-described compression device 40, for example, a doctor holds the grip portion 44 for pressing operation in his hand and performs a pressing operation to press the patient's body while looking at the screen of the display portion 43. The work procedure will be briefly described below.
After a suitable time has elapsed since the patient orally put the housing 2, when the compression tool 40 with a switch (not shown) turned on is brought close to the patient's body, the display unit 43 is transmitted from the housing 2. Image data and position information of the housing 2 are displayed on the screen. After confirming that the housing 2 is in the vicinity of the target observation position based on this position information, the doctor operates the compression tool 40 while looking at the image data, and presses the distal end portion 42a of the pressing portion 42 in the direction or strength. Judge the size. Then, the casing 2 and the living tissue to be observed are brought into close contact with each other by applying an appropriate pressure with the pressing portion 42 and observed.
In this way, by performing treatment using the compression tool 40, information acquisition and compression operation can be performed with a single device and within the same field of view. Work burden can be reduced.

Next, a first modification of the above-described compression tool 40 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the component same as the compression tool 40 mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
Now, the pressing tool 40A of the first modified example is different in that the pressing portion 42 includes an electromagnet (electromagnetic coil) 45 that can be appropriately turned on and off. Further, for the housing 2 used as a pair with the compression tool 40A, a magnet 14 that is attracted by magnetic attraction on the compression tool 40A side is required. The magnet 14 may be provided in a dedicated manner, or may be a built-in component such as a metal that can be magnetically attracted by the electromagnet 45. That is, the electromagnet 45 in this case serves as a magnetic field generator of the action generating unit, and the magnet 14 serves as the acted part. In place of the magnet 14, a ferromagnetic material can be used.

  By adopting such a configuration, when an electromagnet switch (not shown) provided at an appropriate position of the compression tool 40A at the observation target position is turned on, the electromagnet 45 is energized to generate a magnetic attractive force. For this reason, the housing 2 at the observation position in the body is attracted to the compression tool 40A side by the magnet 14 being magnetically attracted. As a result, since the in-vivo observation device is in close contact with the wall surface in the lumen, the casing 2 and the biological tissue to be observed can be in close contact with each other, and the operability during observation is further improved. It will be a thing.

Subsequently, a second modification of the above-described compression tool 40 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the component same as the compression tools 40 and 40A mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
Now, the compression tool 40B of the second modification is different from the compression tool 40A of the first modification described above in that a feeding antenna 46 is provided. In addition, the housing 2 used as a pair with the compression tool 40B requires the power receiving antenna 15 that generates power in cooperation with the power feeding antenna 46.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the electromagnet 45 is energized at the observation target position to generate an electromagnetic attractive force, the magnet 14 of the housing 2 is attracted to the compression tool 40B. At this time, if the magnet 14 is a permanent magnet having a magnetic pole, the power feeding antenna 46 and the power receiving antenna 15 face each other depending on the direction of the magnetic pole on the electromagnet 45 side. That is, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the magnetic pole on the pressing portion 42 side formed by the electromagnet 45 has an S pole on the distal end portion 42a side and an N pole on the display portion 43 side, The N pole side of the magnet 14 is attracted to the S pole of the electromagnet 15.

Therefore, if the observation wall surface 2a is arranged on the N pole side of the in-vivo observation device 1, the observation wall surface 2a is opposed to the inner wall surface of the lumen by receiving a magnetic attraction force from outside the body, so that the living tissue of the lumen is It can be observed reliably.
In addition, when the power feeding antenna 46 and the power receiving antenna 15 face each other, the power generation efficiency is the best, and power can be supplied to the battery in the housing to withstand long-term use.

Next, a third modification of the above-described compression tool 40 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the component same as the compression tool 40, 40A, 40B mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the third modification, a magnetic sensor 47 is provided as a position detection unit of the housing 2 inside the compression tool 40C. The magnetic sensor 47 is configured to detect the magnet 14 installed in the housing 2 so that the accurate position of the housing 2 can be detected.
Even with such a configuration, the current position of the housing 2 in the living body can be accurately recognized with a relatively simple configuration, so that the housing 2 can be placed in the lumen by applying pressure to the appropriate position from outside the body. It is possible to observe it in close contact with the wall surface.

<Seventh Embodiment>
By the way, in each of the above-described embodiments, there is provided an adhesion assisting means for bringing the casing 2 into close contact with a biological tissue to be observed, and a favorable observation image is obtained by preventing the visual field from being obstructed by body fluids or the like. However, in the following embodiments, the case 2 described above is shown and described having a dispensing means for accurately dispensing in close contact with a target biological tissue. In the drawings used in the following description, the observation system, the adhesion assisting means, the control unit, and the like of each embodiment described above are omitted, and only the medication means is mainly shown.

A medication unit 50 shown in FIG. 16 has a sponge-like medicine container 52 in which a medicine is soaked in a cylinder chamber 51 provided with a medication opening (medication opening) 51a that opens on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 2. The medicine container 52 is compressed by a piston 53 from the inside of the housing 2 so that the medicine is pushed out and dispensed. In this case, the medicine container 52 functions as a medicine storage / conveying means for storing and transporting the medicine in the housing 2.

  For such dosing by the dosing means 50, after confirming that the living tissue adhered by the observation means 3 is a dosing object, the piston 53 is checked by a dosing signal from the control unit 20 or a dosing signal from outside the body, for example. To actuate. That is, when the drug storage unit 52 is in close contact with the living tissue of the affected part to be administered and the pressure is applied by pushing the piston 53 into the cylinder chamber 51, the stored drug soaks into the drug storage unit 52. Since it is pushed out from the opening 51a, the medicine can be applied directly and accurately to the living tissue of the affected area.

Next, a first modification of the above-described dosing means 50 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same components as those in the medication unit 50 in FIG. 15 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
The medication unit 50A of the first modified example is provided with a plurality of minute needles 54 in the medication opening 51a of the medicine storage section 52 that functions as a medicine storage / conveyance member. Since the needle 54 sticks into the living tissue due to close contact, when the piston 53 is pushed in and pressure is applied from this state, the medicine in the medicine storage portion 52 is pushed out and directly injected from the needle 54 into the affected living tissue. Therefore, since the drug is accurately injected into the affected part of the living tissue, the drug can be efficiently administered.

  By the way, it is needless to say that the above-described sponge-like shape can be adopted for the medicine container 52 in this case. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plate member fixed to the cylinder chamber 51 may be provided with a plurality of needles 54 so as to withstand the pressure of the piston 53 and close the dosing opening 51a. .

Subsequently, a second modification of the above-described dosing unit 50 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same component as the medication means mentioned above and its modification, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the medication means 50B of the second modification, a gel substance impregnated with a medicine is stored in the medicine storage portion 53 of the medicine storage / conveyance means. Then, by actuating the piston 53 in the vicinity of the administration target, this substance is pushed out and released in the vicinity of the affected area, so that the gel-like substance containing the drug adheres to the living tissue of the affected area. As a result, since the gel-like substance stays in the affected area for a long time, the drug is gradually released from the substance, and a long-time administration is possible.

In the illustrated example, a cylinder chamber is formed using the outer peripheral wall surface of the housing 2, and a space defined by a wall surface 56 provided with a medication pipe 55 is defined as a cylinder storage chamber for storing a drug. It is said. The medication channel 55 is in communication between the medicine container 52 and the outside of the housing 2, and the distal end thereof opens to the wall surface of the housing 2 to become a medicine inlet (medicine opening) 55 a. The medicine compressed and pushed out by the operation of the piston 53 is discharged from the medicine inlet 55a to the vicinity of the affected part.

Then, the 3rd modification of the medication means 50 mentioned above is shown in FIG. 19, and is demonstrated. In addition, about the same component as the medication means mentioned above and its modification, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the medication means 50C of the third modified example, the gel-like medicine stored in the medicine storage section 52A is guided to the surface of the housing 2 by electrophoresis and applied directly to the living tissue that adheres. In this case, the positive electrode 58 and the negative electrode 59 connected to the power source 57 are disposed in the medicine container 52A.

  The positive electrode 58 is disposed on the dosing surface side that is the outer peripheral surface side of the medicine container 52A, that is, on the dosing opening 60 side that opens to the housing 2. Further, the negative electrode 59 is disposed on the bottom surface of the medicine container 52 </ b> A that is the center side of the housing 2. Accordingly, when the power supply 57 is turned on after the casing 2 reaches the predetermined affected part position and the current is supplied, electrophoresis occurs between the positive electrode 58 and the negative electrode 59, so that the gel-like drug is slowly guided to the dosing opening 60. It is directly applied to the living tissue that is in close contact with the housing 2. For this reason, the medicine in medicine storage part 52A can be reliably applied to the living tissue of the affected part for a long time and over a wide range.

Then, the 4th modification of the medication means 50 mentioned above is shown in FIG. 20, and is demonstrated. In addition, about the same component as the medication means mentioned above and its modification, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the medication unit 50D of the fourth modified example, the medicine stored in the medicine container 52B of the container provided as the medicine storage / conveyance means is atomized by the spray device 61 and then released. If it is set as the structure provided with such an atomization apparatus 61, a chemical | medical agent can be spread | diffused and can be administered over the wide range of a biological tissue. In addition, the code | symbol 62 in a figure is the discharge port opened to the housing | casing 2. FIG.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the medication means 50D of the fourth modification described above compresses and extrudes the atomized medicine like the medication means 50D ′ of the fifth modification shown in FIG. In other words, the medicine atomized by the atomizing device 61 can be dispensed over a wider range by simply pressurizing and releasing the medicine by the piston 64 sliding in the cylinder 63 as compared with the case of simply atomizing and releasing the medicine. it can. Such pressurized release is particularly suitable for administration in long organs such as the intestine.

Subsequently, a sixth modification of the above-described dosing unit 50 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same component as the medication means mentioned above and its modification, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
The medication unit 50E of the sixth modification includes a compressed air release device (air release unit) 70 as a foreign substance removal unit that releases air or the like before removal to remove body fluid or the like present on the affected surface. In this compressed air discharge device 70, the piston 71 compresses the air in the cylinder 72 and injects it from the discharge port 73 to the vicinity of the affected part, and adheres to the surface of the living tissue by the injection pressure of such air. Foreign substances such as body fluids can be removed. Therefore, the living tissue of the affected part exposed by the observation system 3 of the housing 2 can be confirmed and can be reliably administered. It should be noted that such foreign matter removing means can be used to remove foreign matter around the affected area and ensure a good field of view in the observation system 3 described above.

  Further, when the foreign matter removing means described above is provided, the treatment is performed in the order of foreign matter removal and medication. The configuration example shown in FIG. 22 includes a drug release device 65 configured similarly to the compressed air release device 70 described above. In this case, after removing foreign matter by the compressed air release device 70, the drug release device 65 is operated, and the medicine stored in the cylinder 66 is compressed by the piston 67. Therefore, the medicine in the cylinder 66 that also functions as a medicine container is discharged from the discharge port 62 to the outside of the housing 2 under compression of the piston 67, and is reliably administered to the living tissue from which foreign substances have been removed.

Subsequently, a seventh modification of the above-described dosing means 50 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same component as the medication means mentioned above and its modification, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
The dosing means 50F of the seventh modified example is configured to perform dosing by automatically treating in the order of foreign substance removal and dosing. This dosing means 50 </ b> F includes a cylinder 68 and a piston 69, and is configured to push out air and medicine stored in the cylinder 68 by the piston 69. That is, by storing the medicine on the piston 69 side of the cylinder 68 and storing the air on the discharge port 62 side that opens in the housing 2, the air is first released from the discharge port 62, and then the drug is continuously supplied. Can be released automatically. Therefore, after the foreign substance existing on the surface of the biological tissue is first removed, the medicine can be automatically administered directly to the biological tissue to be administered.

Subsequently, an eighth modification of the above-described dosing means 50 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same component as the medication means mentioned above and its modification, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
The dispensing means 50G of the eighth modification is characterized in that a magnetic response valve 80 that opens and closes by bringing a magnet closer from the outside of the body is used. The magnetic response valve 80 is disposed in a drug outlet channel that communicates with the discharge port 62 from the outlet of the cylinder 81 that stores the drug. The piston 82 in the cylinder 81 is biased in the direction of pushing out the medicine by the spring 83.

  The medication means 50G having such a configuration stores the medicine in the cylinder 81 with the magnetic response valve 80 closed. Accordingly, when it is confirmed that the housing 2 has reached the affected area to be administered, the magnet is brought close to the affected area from outside the body, and the magnetic response valve 80 is opened. As a result, the piston 82 urged by the spring 83 pushes out the medicine, so that the living tissue is dispensed from the discharge port 62.

As described above, the in- vivo device of the present invention includes a close-up assisting means for removing a foreign substance such as a bodily fluid by bringing an observation wall into close contact with a living tissue to be observed in order to ensure a good observation field of the observation system 3. It is a thing.
In addition, since the intracorporeal device includes a dosing unit that dispenses the drug in a state of being in close contact with the living tissue, accurate and reliable dosing can be performed on the target affected part.
In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change suitably.

It is sectional drawing which shows 1st Embodiment of the in- vivo apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the in- vivo apparatus shown in FIG. 1, (a) is the state which started operation | movement of the pump main body in the normal rotation direction, (b) is the normal rotation operation state of a pump main body, (c) is aspiration of a biological tissue. (D) shows a state in which the pump body is operated in the reverse direction. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of 1st Embodiment shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment of the internal device which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of 2nd Embodiment shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows 3rd Embodiment of the internal device which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of 3rd Embodiment shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows 4th Embodiment of the internal device which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows 5th Embodiment of the internal device which concerns on this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the modification of 5th Embodiment shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows 6th Embodiment of the internal device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of 6th Embodiment shown in FIG. 11, (a) is a perspective view which shows a mode that the compression tool was used, (b) is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of a compression tool. It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st modification of a compression tool. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification of a compression tool, (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is a principal part expanded sectional view. It is sectional drawing which shows the 3rd modification of a compression tool. It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of a medication means as 7th Embodiment of the internal device which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st modification of the administration means shown in 7th Embodiment of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 2nd modification of the administration means shown in 7th Embodiment of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 3rd modification of the administration means shown in 7th Embodiment of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 4th modification of the administration means shown in 7th Embodiment of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 5th modification of the administration means shown in 7th Embodiment of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 6th modification of the administration means shown in 7th Embodiment of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 7th modification of the dosing means shown in 7th Embodiment of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 8th modification of the administration means shown in 7th Embodiment of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A to 1D, 1A ', 1B', 1D 'In-vivo observation device (in-vivo device) 2 Housing 2a Observation wall 3 Observation system (observation means) 4 Objective lens 5 Imaging element 6 LED 7, 7A Hood (tubular member) 8 brushes (foreign matter removing means) 9 weights 10 suction pump devices ( foreign matter removing means, close contact assisting means) 11 pump body ( foreign matter removing means, fluid transfer means) 12, 13 pipeline 12a (one opening) 13a opening ( The other opening) 14 magnets 15 power receiving antenna 16 pressure sensor 20 control unit 21 memory 22 determination unit 23 battery (power source) 30 balloon (outer diameter expansion unit) 31 expansion unit 32 conduit 40, 40A, 40B, 40C compression tool (adhesion aiding means) 41 antenna (receiving means) 42 pressing portion 42a tip 43 display unit 44 grip portion 45 electromagnet (magnetic field generator) 46 feed antenna 4 A magnetic sensor (position detecting means) 50,50A~50G, 50D 'administration means 51 the cylinder chamber 51a dosing opening (dosing openings) 52, 52A, 52B medicine container portion 53 the piston 54 needle 55 dosing pipe 55a agent inlet (dosing (Opening) 56 wall surface 57 power source 58 positive electrode 59 negative electrode 60 dosing opening 61 spraying device 62 discharge port 63 drug cylinder 64, 67, 69, 71, 82 piston 65 drug discharge device 66, 68, 72, 81 cylinder 70 compressed air discharge device (Air release means) 73 Release port 80 Magnetic response valve 83 Spring

Claims (13)

A capsule-like housing that is orally injected into a living body;
Foreign matter removing means for removing foreign matter between the tissue surface in the living body and the housing ,
An intracorporeal device , wherein the foreign matter removing means is an adhesion assisting means for removing the foreign matter by bringing the casing and a tissue surface in the living body into close contact with each other . The intracorporeal device of claim 1.
In the casing, provided with an observation means for observing the inside of the living body through the observation wall surface of the casing,
The intracorporeal device, wherein the foreign matter removing means removes foreign matter between the observation wall surface and the tissue surface in the living body. The intracorporeal device of claim 1.
A dispensing means for administering a drug to a desired site through a medication opening in the housing is provided,
The intracorporeal device, wherein the foreign matter removing means removes foreign matter between the medication opening and the tissue surface in the living body. In vivo device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An in-vivo device comprising the close-in support means in the housing. An intracorporeal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
An extracorporeal adhesion assisting device having an action generating portion for generating an action on the housing from outside the living body;
A medical device characterized by comprising: The medical device according to claim 5 ,
The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion assisting means further includes an actuated part that receives an action generated by the action generating part. The intracorporeal device according to claim 4 ,
The housing includes two openings;
The adhesion assisting means is a fluid transfer means for sucking the fluid in the living body through the one opening and discharging the sucked fluid from the other opening,
An intracorporeal device wherein the casing is brought into close contact with the tissue surface in the living body by the fluid transfer means. The intracorporeal device according to claim 4 ,
The internal device is characterized in that the specific gravity of the entire device is set larger than the specific gravity of the fluid existing in the living body. The medical device according to claim 5 ,
The medical device, wherein the action generating unit is a pressing unit that presses against the living body. The medical device according to claim 6 ,
The action generator is a magnetic field generator;
The medical device, wherein the affected part is a permanent magnet or a ferromagnetic material. The medical device according to claim 5 or 6 ,
A transmission means for transmitting data in the housing;
A medical device comprising a display unit that displays data transmitted from the transmission unit on the action generating unit. The medical device according to claim 5 or 6 ,
A medical device comprising a position detecting means for detecting the position of the casing in the extracorporeal close-contact assistance device. The medical device according to claim 5 or 6 ,
A power receiving antenna is provided in the housing,
A medical device comprising a power feeding antenna in the action generating unit.

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