JP5945882B2 - Marking capsule and capsule endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a marking capsule and a capsule endoscope system used, for example, during a screening test for a digestive tract disease.

  In 2001, since Capsule endoscope for small intestine of Given Imaging Inc. in Israel (see Patent Document 1) was approved by the US FDA, Manufacturers are gaining popularity by obtaining approval from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (see Patent Documents 2 and 3).

  These capsule endoscopes mainly receive an imaging unit (such as a CCD camera) for capturing an image inside the body cavity and an illumination unit (such as an LED) for illuminating the inside of the body cavity. A transmission unit for sending to the apparatus and a power supply unit (a silver oxide button battery or the like) for supplying power to them are provided.

  When a capsule endoscope is given to a subject by mouth, it takes several pictures per second from the esophagus to the small intestine or large intestine by the peristaltic movement of each digestive tract, just like normal food. Moving. It takes about 8 hours to finish photographing the target small intestine, and after about 10 hours it is discharged from the anus to the outside of the body.

  As a means for observing the small intestine that has been difficult to observe with an endoscope, there is a double balloon endoscope (see Non-Patent Document 1). However, since this type of endoscope examination has a slight burden on the subject, a screening examination using a capsule endoscope with less burden is being made.

  In addition, the advantage of endoscopic examination with capsule endoscopy is that the burden on the patient is small, which is superior to conventional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Capsule endoscopes for observing each or all of the gastrointestinal tract are also being researched and developed.

  By the way, as described above, the capsule endoscope captures several intra-body-cavity images for about 8 hours to 10 hours from when it is orally administered to a subject until it is naturally discharged. For example, if two images are taken for 8 hours per second, the total number of images is 57,600, which is an enormous number of readers. When it is further spread and used for medical checkups, for example, the capsule endoscopic images of several examinees are read per day. It is difficult to do.

  In order to solve this problem of the huge number of interpretations, for example, as described in Patent Document 2, the searchability is improved by automatically classifying and displaying images by organs using color information or the like. Technology is known. A technique for automatically extracting an image including an abnormality by calculating a feature amount is also known (see Patent Document 4).

  The technique for calculating the above-mentioned feature amount is effective when only the small intestine or a predetermined organ is interpreted, but when all the digestive tract organs from the esophagus to the large intestine are targeted, Enormous amount of time will be required even if it is carried out. In addition, in reexamination and laparotomy with other modalities such as balloon endoscope, CT, MRI, etc., to estimate where in the body the abnormality detected by CAD etc. from the capsule endoscope image was Especially in the case of a long small intestine, it is difficult to display the images of the capsule endoscope in time series for each organ.

  In addition, it is necessary to accurately identify where in the organ an enormous number of images are located. In order to specify a position in an organ, it is known to attach a mark (tissue marker) to a target such as a tumor. Further, there is also known a device in which a unit for injecting a marker member is incorporated in a capsule endoscope (see Patent Document 5).

US Pat. No. 5,604,531 Japanese Patent No. 3810381 JP 2007-159642 A JP 2009-027558 A Japanese Patent No. 4436631

“Clinical Gastroenterology” 18, 1203-1208, 2003

  Considering the problems of the conventional capsule endoscope system as described above, the present invention can easily know the position of the examination image in the internal organ officer, and can reduce the burden on the person who interprets, A marking capsule and a capsule endoscope system are provided.

One embodiment is a marking capsule that is passed through the digestive tract before the capsule endoscope that passes through the digestive tract to be examined and images the inside of the digestive tract to obtain a test image passes through the digestive tract. Inside, a marking part provided with a needle with a pointed tip for attaching a visible marker, a driving part for driving the marking part, a transmission part for transmitting a position signal indicating the position to the outside, the marking part, A marking capsule having a capsule housing including the driving unit and the transmitting unit, wherein the marking unit is arranged so as to be rotatable in an annular shape with the tip facing outward, and by driving the driving unit A marking capsule for injecting the needle onto the inner wall of the digestive tract is provided.

1 is a configuration diagram of a capsule endoscope system according to a first embodiment. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the capsule for marking in the same embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a capsule endoscope and this system in the embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the marker provided with the identification number in the embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the identification number assignment | providing of a marker initially in the same embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating reassignment of the identification number assignment | providing of a marker in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the capsule for marking of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the capsule for marking of 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present invention, first, a marking capsule for marking a passage route in the body is orally administered, and then a capsule endoscope is orally administered. Capsule endoscopes are usually used for examination of the digestive tract such as the small intestine, large intestine, and esophagus. Here, the case where it uses for the test | inspection of a small intestine is demonstrated to an example.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a marking capsule that is initially orally administered to a subject, a capsule endoscope that is subsequently administered, and the entire system. The capsule detection image storage device 1 detects the positions of the marking capsule 2 and the capsule endoscope 3 in the digestive tract, controls the marking in the marking capsule 2, and stores an image captured by the capsule endoscope 3. It is a device that performs.

  The capsule detection image storage device 1 is provided, for example, on an outer garment (vest) worn by an operator, and receives a position signal of the marking capsule 2 and the capsule endoscope 3 from the body surface antenna 4. The position detection unit 5 that receives the signal and detects the positions of the marking capsule 2 and the capsule endoscope 3, the marking control unit 6 that instructs the marking capsule 2 to perform marking, and the capsule endoscope 3 capture images. It has an image receiving unit 7 that receives images, an image storage unit 8 that stores these images, a counting unit 9 that counts the number of markings, and an overall control unit 10 that controls these units. The marking control unit 6 has a marking start button 6a.

  In FIG. 1, the capsule endoscope 3 is shown immediately after the marking capsule 2, but actually, there is a predetermined time between administration of both capsules.

  The marking capsule 2 generates and transmits a signal or the like for informing the position of the capsule, a marking liquid tank 12 containing a marking liquid, for example, ink, and supplies the marking liquid from the tank 12. A marking unit 14 for marking the submucosal layer of the digestive tract 13, a drive unit 15 for marking the marking unit 14 at a predetermined position, and a communication for receiving an instruction control signal from the outside and instructing the drive unit 15 for marking. A part 16, a battery 17 that supplies voltage to each part, and a capsule housing 18 that houses these parts and has an elliptical shape that can be easily swallowed by humans. When the subject swallows, the marking capsule 2 enters from the mouth, moves from the esophagus to the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine (gastrointestinal tract) in the direction indicated by arrow A and is excreted. In the meantime, marking is performed in the digestive tract 13. As described above, the driving unit 15 has a function of rotational driving for rotating the marking capsule in addition to the driving for discharging the marking liquid.

  The marking part 14 is composed of a piston part 14a for pushing out the marking liquid and a needle part 14b in the shape of an injection needle for injecting the pushed marking liquid into the submucosal layer of the digestive tract 13.

  The drive unit 15 is configured by, for example, an ultrasonic vibrator, applies pressure to the marking liquid in the piston part 14a, and injects the marking liquid from the needle part 14b into the submucosal layer of the digestive tract 13. Actually, the movement position is controlled so that the tip of the needle portion 14b comes to an appropriate position in the digestive tract 13.

  As the battery 17, a Li ion secondary battery, a Ni hydrogen battery, or the like can be used.

  The size of the marking capsule in the present embodiment is, for example, about 10 mm in diameter and about 25 mm in length, which can be swallowed by humans, as in a conventional capsule endoscope.

  As the marking liquid, in addition to the ink, it may be one obtained by adding an adhesive material such as hepropylene glycol, ceramic, ammonium hydroxide, surfactant, gelatin. Moreover, what added carbon powder to the partially deacetylated chitin or chitosan, and what added the pigment | dye applicable to a human body can be used as marking liquid. In addition, any may be used as long as it is used as a marker in an organ.

  While the marking capsule 2 is moved in the digestive tract by peristalsis, for example, once every 2 seconds, the injection needle of the needle portion 14b is moved back and forth using a piston to inject the marking solution into the submucosal layer of the digestive tract 13 To do.

  In order to prevent the injection needle from penetrating the digestive tract 13 and causing side effects, the length of the injection needle is preferably about 2 mm so as not to penetrate the submucosal layer. It is also conceivable to use a thickness sensor (not shown) using ultrasonic waves or the like.

  As a marking method, instead of injecting a marking liquid, it is possible to attach a marker to the digestive tract wall by using a nano- or micro-sized microneedle itself as a marker. Thus, you may make it send an active ingredient in the back of skin using a microneedle. If a saccharide is used as the microneedle, it is possible to minimize the influence on the human body.

  Thus, the marker M is attached by passing the marking capsule 2 through the digestive tract.

  Here, marking is performed every predetermined time.

  When the direction control of the marking capsule 2 is not performed, the marking capsule 2 may rotate naturally, and the markers are not always placed in a line in the digestive tract. It is also possible to perform marking at a plurality of locations in the digestive tract by rotating the marking capsule at a predetermined position. If marking is performed at a plurality of locations in this way, there is an advantage that the position can be easily detected for the capsule endoscope that comes later. Alternatively, a marker may be attached every time a predetermined distance is advanced.

  In particular, when there is an organ to be examined, it can be finely marked not near a predetermined interval but near the organ. In this way, it is possible to obtain an image captured later by the capsule endoscope 3 accurately near the organ.

  After the marker M is attached to the digestive tract such as the small intestine using the marking capsule as described above, the capsule endoscope 3 is orally administered to the digestive tract.

  Next, the capsule endoscope 3 will be described. The capsule endoscope 3 includes an optical system 21 for capturing an in-vivo image with a predetermined resolution, an image acquisition unit 22 that obtains an optical image obtained by the optical system as an electronic image by electrical image processing, An image transmission unit 23 that wirelessly transmits an image obtained by the image acquisition unit 22 to the outside, a transmission unit 24 that transmits data on the position of the capsule endoscope 3 to the outside, and supplies power to these units And an elliptical endoscope housing 26 that accommodates the batteries 25.

  The endoscope casing 26 has the same external shape as the capsule casing 18, but has a translucent portion 26 a at the front head portion thereof, and the point where external light is incident is the capsule casing 26. Different from body 18.

  The marking capsule 2 has a function of attaching a marker M in the digestive tract, while the capsule endoscope 3 has a function of acquiring an image in the digestive tract. Therefore, the marking capsule 2 includes a marking liquid tank 12 and a marking portion 14. On the other hand, the capsule endoscope 3 includes an optical system 21 for imaging the inside of the body and an image acquisition unit 22 instead. The inspection images sent from the image acquisition unit 22 to the image transmission unit 23 are wirelessly transmitted from the image transmission unit 23 to the image reception unit 7 of the capsule detection image storage unit 1 sequentially.

  The battery 25 can be a Li-ion secondary battery, a Ni-hydrogen battery, or the like, like the battery 17 of the marking capsule 2. The battery 25 may be rechargeable or wirelessly powered from the outside. Also good.

  The transmission unit 24 has a function of notifying the capsule detection image storage unit 1 of the position of the capsule endoscope 3. Specifically, the position of the capsule endoscope 3 is wirelessly sent to the body surface antenna 4, and the body surface antenna 4 sends the received position signal to the position detection unit 5. Actually, the position detector 5 detects the current position of the capsule endoscope.

  The capsule endoscope 3 also moves in the direction of arrow B by the peristaltic movement of the digestive tract, like the capsule 2 for marking. The speed at which the marking capsule 2 and the capsule endoscope 3 are moved by the peristaltic motion is usually about 1 m to 1.5 m / H.

  Next, the operation of the system of the embodiment when the marking capsule is orally administered will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the subject goes to a medical institution that conducts a medical examination after a predetermined fasting time, for example, 12 hours, and completes the reception using a medical examination reservation system. After receiving informed consent from the doctor, in step S201, the subject swallows the marking capsule 2 together with a small amount of liquid such as water. In step S202, the position signal is transmitted from the transmission unit 11 of the marking capsule 2. This position signal is received by the body surface antenna 4, and the position of the marking capsule 2 is always detected by the position detection unit 5. In the next step S203, marking is started.

  A medical person such as a doctor starts marking the digestive tract 13 of the marking capsule 2 at the timing when the subject swallows the marking capsule. Specifically, the doctor presses the marking start button 6a of the capsule endoscope system. As a result, the marking control unit 6 sends a control signal, sends a driving start signal to the driving unit 15 of the marking capsule 2 through the communication unit 16 of the marking capsule 2, and the driving unit 15 moves the piston unit 14a for injecting marking liquid. The marking is started by driving and discharging the marking liquid from the needle portion 14b. The timing for starting the marking may be programmed in advance and automatically start to drive without depending on the judgment of a medical person such as a doctor.

  The timing for starting the marking is not limited to the time when the subject swallows the capsule. A timing determined in advance, such as a timing at which the capsule is predicted to have passed through the pyloric portion of the stomach using the transmitting unit enclosed in the capsule and the body surface antenna 4 attached to the body surface, may be used. In this case, coming to a predetermined organ is detected by the position detection unit 5 of the capsule detection image storage device 1 receiving a position signal from the transmission unit 11 of the marking capsule 2. Then, the marking control unit 6 sends a marking control signal to the communication unit 16.

  Every time a predetermined time elapses in step S204, marking is repeated in step S205.

  The communication unit 16 that has received the marking control signal transmits a marking instruction to the drive unit 15, and the drive unit 15 applies pressure to the piston unit 14 a to discharge ink, which is a marking solution, from the needle unit 14 b. As a result, the marker M can be attached to the inner wall of the digestive tract 13.

  The number of times of marking is transmitted from the drive unit 15 to the communication unit 16 together with the drive time, and the communication unit 16 sends it to the counting unit 9 of the capsule detection image storage device 1 as shown in step S206. The count value in the counting unit 9 indicates each marker M.

  On the other hand, a position signal is always transmitted from the transmission unit 11 of the marking capsule 2, and in step S207, the position of the marking capsule 2 is specifically specified by the position signal.

  In step S208, the number of markings and the position of the marking capsule are associated with each other and stored in the position detection unit 5, for example.

  In step S209, if the end point of the digestive tract 13 has not been reached yet, the process returns to step S204, and if a predetermined time has elapsed, marking is performed in step S205.

  In this way, marking is performed until the end of the digestive tract 13, and the association between the number of markings and the marking capsule is repeated. Finish marking when the end of the digestive tract is reached.

  The marking capsule 2 is sent by peristalsis to the exit of the small intestine over about 8 hours while repeating marking on the inner wall of the digestive tract 13 at a timing of once every 2 seconds, for example.

  Next, the operation of the system of this embodiment when the capsule endoscope 3 is orally administered will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When it is determined that the marking capsule 2 has reached the digestive tract, for example, the exit of the small intestine, based on the position signal from the transmission unit 11 of the marking capsule 2, a medical person such as a doctor can check the capsule endoscope for examination. 3 is orally administered to the subject. That is, in step S301, the subject swallows the capsule endoscope 3 from the mouth. If performed at this timing, the capsule endoscope will not overtake the marking capsule and the inside of the digestive tract where there is no marker will not be photographed.

  However, since both the marking capsule and the capsule endoscope move in the digestive tract by the same peristaltic movement, if the capsule endoscope is not swallowed immediately after swallowing the marking capsule, the capsule endoscope will be the first This is unlikely and is not limited to oral administration of the capsule endoscope after the marking capsule has reached the end of the digestive tract.

  If a marker that cannot be easily lost even after eating or drinking is used as a marker, it is possible to perform an inspection with a capsule endoscope on another day after the date of marking with a marking capsule. is there.

  After the subject swallows the capsule endoscope 3 in step S301, in step S302, the capsule endoscope 3 starts transmitting its position information. Also in the capsule endoscope 3, as in the case of the capsule 2 for marking, the capsule detection image storage device 1 always grasps the position of the capsule endoscope 3 while the capsule endoscope 3 moves in the digestive tract. doing. Specifically, a position signal is sent from the transmission unit 24 to the position detection unit 5 via the body surface antenna 4 to detect the position of the capsule endoscope 3 in the digestive tract.

  FIG. 4A schematically shows a state in which the capsule endoscope is swallowed after marking in the small intestine with the marking capsule 2. Mn0, Mn1,... Indicate markers marked by the marking capsule 2. FIG. 4 (b) shows a state when the marker is viewed from within the small intestine, and FIG. 4 (c) shows a state where the marking capsule 2 moves in the small intestine and attaches markers Mny and Mny + 1. .

  In the next step S303, imaging by the capsule endoscope 3 is started. The image acquisition unit 22 in the capsule endoscope 3 acquires an image (captures), and the acquired captured image is transmitted from the image transmission unit 23 to the image reception unit 7.

  The start timing in the digestive tract is performed at a predetermined timing in the same manner as the marking start of the marking capsule 2 manually or by a medical staff such as a doctor or as programmed in advance.

  Even if the subsequent procedure is performed using a real-time image sent from the body of the subject by the capsule endoscope 3, the capsule endoscope 3 reaches the exit of the subject's small intestine or When inspecting, the capsule may be discharged from the subject, and after the in-vivo imaging has been completed, the endoscopic captured image stored in the image storage unit 8 may be used.

  A landmark is a part that can be visually distinguished from others in the digestive tract. For example, the pyloric part of the stomach, the duodenal papilla, the difference between ring-shaped folds in the air conditioner and the ileum, and the physiologically constricted parts of the small and large intestines are characteristic as images, and thus become landmarks. Although it can be found by visual observation by medical personnel such as doctors, it may be detected by CAD using feature values.

  Here, an image showing a landmark is used as a landmark image, for example, information of landmark ID = LG (described later) is added and recorded in the image storage unit 8.

In the next step S305, to determine the landmark marker. For example, it is assumed that the marker shown in the above-mentioned landmark ID = LG image can be detected by CAD using a medical person such as a doctor or using features such as color. This is the marker closest to the landmark, that is, the landmark marker. The information n0 is attached and recorded in the image storage unit 8.

  On the other hand, when the marker is not shown in the image with the landmark ID = LG, the image with the landmark ID = LG is the most visually observed by a medical person such as a doctor or by CAD using characteristics such as color. A search is performed for an image that is close to the landmark, and the marker shown here is the landmark marker. The information n0 is added and recorded in the image storage unit 8.

  When the landmark marker is determined, the process proceeds to step S306, and the marker appearing on the image thereafter is visually detected by a medical person such as a doctor, or is detected by CAD using characteristics such as color, and an identification number is assigned in order. At the same time, check whether there is an abnormality in the digestive tract. The same marker may be duplicated in multiple images, but in that case, it is possible to judge whether or not they are the same by comparing the characteristics of the tissue around the marker using visual inspection or CAD. I think that the. It seems that such danger can be avoided by using markers with different colors and other characteristics alternately. It seems that such danger can be avoided by alternately using markers with different colors and other characteristics.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the relationship between the time and its marker M and thumbnail image. Marker No. Identification number assigned to each marker, the image (thumbnail) of time when an image including a marker of in-vivo images taken in the capsule endoscope, the time M for marking capsule 2 through the small intestine, the time G Means the time when the capsule endoscope 3 passes through the small intestine.

  In FIG. 5, FG1 indicates a physiological constriction, and such a site is a landmark. Then, the marker Mn0 attached at the position closest to the site that becomes the landmark is used as the landmark marker, and the subsequent markers are sequentially assigned identification numbers. Then, the image number is assigned to the subsequent images starting from the image in which the landmark marker Mn0 is reflected.

  FIG. 6 shows another landmark marker determination state. Similar to FIG. Is an identification number assigned to each marker, an image (thumbnail) is an image including the marker among in-vivo images taken by the capsule endoscope, time M is a time when the marking capsule 2 passes through the small intestine, and time G is It means the time when the capsule endoscope 3 passes through the small intestine.

  Since the physiological stenosis part F2 was found in the image with the image number mx-3, a0 and the identification number were reassigned from the marker at this position. The first landmark marker may be one, but it is preferable to detect a plurality of landmarks as much as possible. This is because it is desirable to search based on the nearest landmark when there is an abnormality in the digestive tract.

  As described above, it is desirable to assign a number from a certain landmark and change the identification number symbol each time the landmark appears. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a marker that appears in an image with landmark ID = LGn is set to n0, and until an image with landmark ID = LGa appears, it is recorded as an n-attribute marker, and landmark ID = LGa. Markers after the first image start from a0.

  Step S307 proceeds with step S306 and determines whether there is an abnormality in the digestive tract. That is, when an abnormality is confirmed in an image that includes a marker with an identification number, the identification number is separately recorded as an abnormal value number as a marker indicating the abnormal image.

  Alternatively, the identification number of the marker in the image can be assigned and the abnormality in the digestive tract can be confirmed separately. Thus, when performing both separately, the identification number of a marker can be searched using the means (not shown) which searches for a similar image.

  In the next step S309, the abnormal image is thumbnailed together with the marker number to prepare for the next medical action such as reexamination or surgery.

  In step S310, it is checked whether or not the end point of the test digestive tract has been reached. If it has not reached yet, the process returns to step S306 to continue the assignment of the identification number of the image marker and the confirmation of the presence or absence of an abnormality.

  According to this embodiment, since the marking capsule is administered and the marking is performed before the capsule endoscope is administered, the marker is reliably reflected in the captured image by the capsule endoscope, and abnormalities in the digestive tract are detected. It becomes possible to accurately grasp a certain position. For example, if the marker reflected in the vicinity of the abnormal site is Mnx, it is understood that Mnx is the xth marker counted from the landmark marker Mn0.

  According to this embodiment, since the marking solution is injected under the mucosal layer of the digestive tract, it is attached in the manner of tattooing, so that it is possible to attach the marker reliably, but the marking solution is applied to the digestive tract. There is also a simple method of spraying on the wall surface. Of course, it is natural to select a marking solution that is harmless to the human body. However, if the conditions are met, the marking solution will be colored by red food, etc. What is detected by irradiating other light rays can be considered. It is also possible to make markers easy to identify by attaching markers of different colors in an alternating or determined order. Furthermore, it is conceivable that a contrast agent or a microcapsule can be mixed and detected by other modalities such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound.

<Second Embodiment>
In 2nd Embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, marking which makes a marker by piercing a needle | hook into the digestive tract inner surface is performed.

  The marking capsule 42 generates and transmits a signal for notifying the position of the capsule 42, a cylindrical marker supply unit 73 that accommodates the needle 72, and a tip pointed from the marker supply unit 73. A marking portion 74 for injecting a needle 72 having a predetermined shape to mark the submucosal layer of the digestive tract 43, a driving portion 75 for injecting the needle 72 at the predetermined position to perform marking, and an instruction control signal from the outside A communication unit 76 that receives and instructs marking to the drive unit 75, a battery 77 that supplies a voltage to each of these units, and a capsule housing 78 that houses these units and has an elliptical shape that is easy for humans to swallow.

  When the subject swallows, the marking capsule 42 enters from the mouth, and is finally excreted from the esophagus through the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. In the meantime, marking is performed in the digestive tract 43. As described above, the drive unit 15 has a function of rotational driving for rotating the marking capsule 42 in addition to the driving of the injection of the needle 72.

  After the marking capsule 42 is orally administered, the capsule endoscope is orally administered in the same manner as in the first embodiment. As this capsule endoscope, the one having the structure as in the first embodiment can be used.

  The pointed needle 72 serving as the marker M used in the second embodiment will be described. The needle used here is a fine needle, and the material is polymer, ceramic, metal, silicon dioxide, silicon, or a combination thereof. For example, it is hollow and has a sharp tip so that it can be easily fixed to the inner wall of the digestive tract. Shape.

  The polymer is a biodegradable polymer such as polyurethane, polyhydroxy acid, polybutyric acid and the like and combinations thereof. If a biodegradable polymer is used, it will dissolve later, so there is little effect on the human body. The metal is selected from platinum, palladium, stainless steel, copper, titanium, tin, nickel, gold, iron and the like and alloys thereof.

  Such a microneedle is driven into the inner wall of the digestive tract 43 at a predetermined timing one by one with the needle 72 accommodated in series in the marker supply unit 73 by an injection type driving machine. It should be noted that the use of a needle with a different color is advantageous in that it is easy to identify the marker in the captured image and to easily identify the marker. Carbohydrates may be used as the microneedles.

  According to the second embodiment, the tip of the marker is sharp, and there is an advantage that the position of the marker can be determined accurately.

<Third Embodiment>
The structure of the marking for the capsule in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

  The marking capsule 52 includes a transmission unit (not shown) that generates and transmits a signal for informing the position of the capsule 52, and an annular marker driving unit that houses and rotates a needle 82 having a pointed tip. 83, a marker driving portion 83 that pushes up the marker driving portion 83 from behind, injects the needle 82 to mark the submucosal layer of the digestive tract 53, and a drive that injects the needle 82 at the predetermined position to perform the marking. Unit (not shown), a communication unit (not shown) that receives an instruction control signal from the outside and instructs the drive unit to perform marking, a battery (not shown) that supplies a voltage to each of these units, and these Each part is housed and has an oval capsule housing 88 that is easy to swallow.

  After the marking capsule 52 having such a structure is orally administered to a subject, a capsule endoscope for inspection is orally administered.

  Also in this embodiment, a pointed needle 82 is used as in the second embodiment. The material of this needle can be the same as that of the second embodiment.

However, the needles 82 are accommodated in an annular marker driving portion 83, and are rotated and driven one by one into the digestive tract. The needles 82 having different colors are accommodated in the marker driving portion 83 in an annular shape. In this embodiment, the color of the marker can be appropriately selected by selecting the movement of the ring to determine which color needle is used as the marker. Further, having such an annular marker driving portion has an advantage that many needles can be accommodated and fine marking can be performed over a relatively long distance of the examination organ.

  In the third embodiment, if the color of each needle is changed, there is an advantage that the marker color can be easily identified from an image picked up on the capsule endoscope and the marker can be easily specified.

<Other variations>
In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the examination of the digestive tract, particularly the small intestine has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other internal organs.

  According to the embodiment, since the marking capsule is administered and marking is performed before the capsule endoscope is administered to the internal organ officer, the marker is reliably reflected in the captured image by the capsule endoscope, It is possible to accurately grasp the position where there is an abnormality.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1 ... Capsule detection image storage device,
2, 42, 52... Marking capsules,
3 ... capsule endoscope,
4 ... Body surface antenna,
5... Position detector,
6. Marking control unit,
7... Image receiver,
8. Image storage unit,
9 ... Control unit,
11, 24, 71,...
12 .... Marking liquid tank,
13, 43, 53 ... Gastrointestinal tract,
14 .. Marking part,
14a ... piston part,
14b... Needle part,
15 ... Drive unit,
16, 76 ... communication section,
17, 25 ... Battery,
18 ... capsule housing,
21: Optical system,
22: Image acquisition unit,
23: Image transmission unit,
26... Endoscope housing,
72, 82 ... needles,
73 ..Marker supply unit,
74 .... Marking part.

Claims (5)

A capsule for marking that is passed through the digestive tract before the capsule endoscope that passes through the digestive tract to be examined and obtains a test image by imaging the inside of the digestive tract,
Inside the digestive tract, a marking part comprising a needle with a sharp tip for attaching a visible marker ;
A drive unit for driving the marking unit;
A transmission unit for transmitting a position signal indicating a position to the outside;
A capsule housing containing the marking unit, the driving unit, and the transmission unit;
A marking capsule having
The marking part is a marking capsule in which the tip is arranged in an annular and rotatable manner toward the outside, and the needle is injected onto the inner wall of the digestive tract by driving of the driving part.   The marking capsule according to claim 1, wherein the annular and rotatable needles have different colors. A marking capsule for attaching a visible marker to the inner wall of the internal organ officer when passing through the internal organ officer to be examined;
After passing through the marking capsule, a capsule endoscope for obtaining an image by imaging the internal organ through the internal organ,
Means for detecting a position of the marking capsule, detecting a marker attached to the inner wall of the internal organ officer by the marking capsule, and attaching an identification number of the marker;
Image receiving means for receiving a test image captured when the capsule endoscope passes through the internal organ officer;
A plurality of inspection images of the internal organs received by the image receiving means are examined, and the marker attached at a position related to the image of the physiological feature portion is used as a reference landmark marker. Image position specifying means for re-assigning an identification number and specifying the inspection image by the assigned identification number;
A capsule endoscope system.   The capsule endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein the internal organ officer is a digestive tract. Storage means for storing an image captured by a capsule endoscope that has passed through an internal organ with a marker by a marking liquid;
Means for detecting a marker attached to the inner wall of the internal organ officer and attaching an identification number of the marker;
By attaching an identification number of the marker as a reference land marker to the marker attached to a position related to an image of a physiological characteristic portion among a plurality of inspection images of the internal organ officer Image specifying means for specifying an image;
A capsule endoscope system.