WO2007091556A1

WO2007091556A1 - Relay unit

Info

Publication number: WO2007091556A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/052022
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto
Original assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
Priority date: 2006-02-06
Filing date: 2007-02-06
Publication date: 2007-08-16
Also published as: CN101374451A; JP2007202960A

Abstract

It is possible to reduce the size of a relay unit (3) carried by an examinee. A radio signal received from an encapsulated endoscope via reception antennas (A1 to An) electrically connected to the relay unit (3) is subjected to a frequency conversion by a frequency conversion unit (35) and radio-relayed from a transmission unit (37) to an external device (4) outside the examinee (1), thereby enabling recording on a recording device and display on a display device arranged on the external device. This can eliminate the need of arrangement of a large-capacity recording device for recoding all the image data on the relay unit (3).

Description

Specification

Relay unit

Technical field

The present invention relates to a relay unit that relays a signal transmitted from within a subject to an external device outside the subject. Background art

In recent years, a swallowable capsule endoscope has been proposed in the field of endoscopes. This capsule endoscope is provided with an imaging function and a wireless communication function. Capsule endoscopes are used to observe inside the body cavity, such as the stomach and small intestine, until they are spontaneously expelled after being swallowed from the mouth of the subject (human body) for observation (examination). It has the function of moving in accordance with the peristaltic movement and capturing images sequentially.

[0003] While moving inside the body cavity, image data imaged inside the body by the capsule endoscope is sequentially transmitted to the outside by wireless communication, received by a receiving device provided outside, and subjected to predetermined processing. Saved after being applied. By using the receiving device with the receiving mechanism, the signal processing mechanism, and the storage mechanism in this manner, the subject can swallow the capsule endoscope until it is discharged. I can act freely in the meantime. In the conventional capsule endoscope system, after the capsule endoscope is ejected, an image of the organ is displayed on the display based on the image data stored in the memory, and a diagnosis by a doctor or a nurse is performed. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-19111

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] Normally, it takes about 8 hours to image a body cavity with a capsule endoscope, and the receiving device is provided with a large-sized and large-capacity recording device for recording image data during this time. It was. Conventionally, this configuration has caused a problem that the receiving apparatus is enlarged. In particular, it is preferable to introduce a capsule endoscope into the body to reduce the burden on the subject. U, so it is appropriate that the receiving device carried by the subject is enlarged is not.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a relay unit capable of downsizing a device carried by a subject.

Means for solving the problem

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the relay unit according to the present invention is provided on the body surface of the subject and receives a signal transmitted wirelessly from the in-subject information acquisition device. A plurality of receiving antennas; a receiving means for processing a signal received via the receiving antenna; and a transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting a signal processed by the receiving means to an external device outside the subject. And.

[0008] Further, in the relay unit according to the present invention, in the above invention, as the signal processing, the reception unit converts the signal received at a specific frequency into another frequency, and the transmission unit includes: The signal converted to another frequency by the receiving means is wirelessly transmitted to the external device.

[0009] Further, in the relay unit according to the present invention, in the above invention, as the signal processing, the receiving means performs processing of modulating the received signal and adding an error detection code, and transmitting means. Is characterized in that the signal to which the error detection code is added is modulated and wirelessly transmitted to the external device.

[0010] Further, the relay unit according to the present invention further includes storage means for temporarily storing the signal received by the receiving means in the above invention, wherein the receiving means is intermittently provided from the in-vivo information acquiring apparatus. The signal transmitted wirelessly is received, and as the signal processing, while the signal is being received, the signal is temporarily stored in the storage means, and the reception of the signal is completed. During this period, the signal stored in the storage means is processed to be output to the transmission means.

The invention's effect

[0011] Since the relay unit according to the present invention performs signal processing on the signal from the in-subject information acquisition device received via the receiving antenna and then wirelessly transmits the signal to an external device outside the subject. There is no need for a recording device for recording image data in the relay unit, and it is possible to reduce the size of the device (relay unit) carried by the subject. Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an in-vivo information acquiring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal configuration of the relay unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an internal configuration of the external device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal configuration of the relay unit according to the second and third embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal configuration of the relay unit according to the fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Subject

2 Capsule endoscope

3 Relay unit

4 External device

31 Antenna selector

32 Receiver circuit

33 Bandpass filter

34 Amplifier

35 Frequency converter

36 Local transmitter

37 Transmitter

38 Demodulator

39 Signal processor

40 Recording section

41 person output interface

42 Mobile communication terminals

50 radio equipment 51 Controller

52 Display device

53 Recording device

Al to An receiving antenna

B Transmit antenna

C, D antenna

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, an embodiment of a relay unit that is useful in the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings of FIGS. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0015] (Embodiment 1)

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an in-vivo information acquiring system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the in-subject introduction system according to the present embodiment includes a capsule endoscope 2 that is introduced into the body cavity of the subject 1 and moves along the passage route, A relay unit 3 that relays a radio signal including a video signal transmitted from the endoscope 2, and an external device 4 that displays an image in the body cavity based on the video signal included in the radio signal received by the relay unit 3. The information exchange between the relay unit 3 and the external device 4 is performed directly by wireless communication. The receiving antennas Al to An are formed using, for example, a loop antenna. Such a loop antenna is used in a state of being fixed at a predetermined position on the body surface of the subject 1, and the receiving antennas Al to An preferably have fixing means for fixing the loop antenna to the body surface of the subject 1. Prepare. Each of the receiving antennas Al to An is provided, for example, in a jacket on which the subject 1 can be worn, and the subject 1 may wear the receiving antennas Al to An by wearing this jacket. Good. In this case, the receiving antennas Al to An may be detachable from the jacket.

[0016] The capsule endoscope 2 is introduced into the body cavity of the subject 1, acquires an image of the body cavity by imaging with an imaging device, and sends a signal including a video signal to the relay unit 3 at a specific frequency. Perform frequency modulation! ヽ Transmit wirelessly from the RF transmitter to the outside of the subject 1 as a radio signal ( Not shown).

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the relay unit 3 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the relay unit 3 includes a plurality of reception antennas Al to An, an antenna selection unit 31 that selects an appropriate reception antenna of the reception antennas Al to An, and an antenna selection unit 31. A band-pass filter 33 having a function of passing only the specific frequency component of the radio signal received via any one of the receiving antennas Al to An, and a band-pass filter 33 are arranged at the subsequent stage. An amplifying unit 34 that amplifies the intensity of the frequency component that has passed, a frequency converting unit 35 that converts the frequency of the frequency component amplified by the amplifying unit 34 to a predetermined value, and a predetermined local signal supplied to the frequency converting unit 35 Local transmitter 36, transmitter 37 for transmitting the radio signal frequency-converted by frequency converter 35 via transmission antenna B, and a battery for supplying power to these parts. Power of And a supply unit (not shown). The band-pass filter 33, the amplifying unit 34, the frequency converting unit 35, and the local transmitting unit 36 described above constitute a receiving circuit 32 as receiving means according to the present invention. In addition, the power supply unit is naturally provided in the relay unit 3 according to the following embodiment.

[0018] The antenna selection unit 31 selects an antenna to be used for reception of radio signals with the medium power of the plurality of reception antennas Al to An, and outputs the radio signal received via the selected reception antenna to the band-pass filter 33. It has a function. The specific selection mechanism by the antenna selector 31 compares the signal strengths of the radio signals received by the receiving antennas Al to An, for example, and the signal strength is the highest!選択 Select the receiving antenna.

[0019] The bandpass filter 33 is for passing only the frequency component of the frequency band corresponding to the specific frequency of the radio signal transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2 and outputting it to the amplifying unit 34. .

[0020] The frequency converting unit 35 converts the frequency of the frequency component output from the amplifying unit 34 into a predetermined value in order to avoid radio signal interference between the transmitting side and the receiving side. This is for output to the transmitter 37. Specifically, the frequency conversion unit 35, based on the local signal output from the local transmission unit 36, converts the frequency of the frequency component output from the amplification unit 34 between the frequency component at the time of input and the frequency of the local signal. Change to the frequency corresponding to the difference. Perform signal processing to convert.

The local transmitter 36 is for generating and outputting a local signal used for frequency conversion of the frequency converter 35. Specifically, the local transmitter 36 generates a local signal having a frequency at which a difference value between the frequency component and the frequency at the time of input from the amplifier 34 to the frequency converter 35 becomes a predetermined value, and the frequency converter It has a function to output to 35.

[0022] The transmission unit 37 is for wirelessly transmitting a signal such as a video signal of the frequency component converted by the frequency conversion unit 35 as a radio signal. Specifically, the transmission unit 37 wirelessly and electrically connects to the external device 4 that displays the in-vivo image captured by the capsule endoscope 2, thereby performing frequency conversion. A radio signal having a frequency component is transmitted.

[0023] The external device 4 is for displaying an intra-body-cavity image captured by the capsule endoscope 2, for example, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. Based on the radio signal from the relay unit 3 received by the controller 50, the controller 51 causes the display device 52 to display an image such as an image in the body cavity and records the data such as the image in the body cavity in the recording device 53. And so on. Specifically, the external device 4 may be configured to directly display an image using a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, or may be configured to output an image to another medium such as a printer.

In the relay unit 3 described above, for example, when a radio signal having a specific frequency f is transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2, the radio signal includes only a frequency component having a frequency value and a value in the vicinity thereof. The signal is input to the amplifying unit 34 through the bandpass filter 33 that passes therethrough. The frequency component input to the amplifying unit 34 is amplified in intensity, and further, a frequency different from the specific frequency by the frequency converting unit 35. In this embodiment, when the frequency component is input from the amplifying unit 34 to the frequency converting unit 35 After being converted into a difference value between the frequency component frequency and the frequency of the local signal from the local transmitter 36, it is wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter 37 to the external device 4 as a radio signal.

[0025] In the external device 4, when the radio device 50 receives a radio signal from the relay unit 3, the demodulation, format conversion, and image processing of data such as an image of a body cavity acquired by the capsule endoscope 2 are performed. After the operation, the controller 51 controls the internal cavity image and other data. The data is recorded on the recording device 53 and displayed on the display device 52 to enable observation and diagnosis by a doctor or the like.

[0026] Thus, in this embodiment, the device worn by the subject consists of only a relay unit, and a radio signal such as an image of a body cavity from a capsule endoscope is transmitted from the relay unit to an external device. The relay unit performs recording on a recording device provided on an external device and display on a display device, so a large-capacity recording device is not required for the relay unit, and the device carried by the subject can be miniaturized. be able to.

In this embodiment, since data demodulation and image processing are performed by an external device, a demodulation unit such as a tuner and an image processing unit are not required for the relay unit, and thus a device carried by the subject. Can be miniaturized.

[0028] Further, in this embodiment, since the relay unit attached to the subject and the external device having a commercial power source are connected in a non-contact manner using wireless communication, electrical insulation with respect to the human body is achieved. If it can be secured and safety can be maintained, it also has a! / ヽぅ effect.

[0029] Further, in this embodiment, since the external device provided outside the subject includes the recording device, restrictions on the size and power consumption of the recording device are relaxed. There is also an effect that processing such as image processing can be performed by an external device at high speed and in real time.

[0030] (Embodiment 2)

By the way, in the capsule endoscope 2, the capacity of the knotter is limited in order to achieve a small size and light weight. On the other hand, the RF transmitter of the capsule endoscope 2 consumes a large amount of power. Therefore, this RF transmitter power transmits only the minimum necessary radio signal, shortens the driving time, and suppresses power consumption in the capsule endoscope 2. Therefore, the current capsule endoscope 2 does not include any error detection code for performing error correction of the signal, and the external device external to the subject from the relay unit remains in the same form as this signal. If a wireless signal is transmitted to 4, when it is affected by a disturbance, it will be in the form of a signal that is weak against the disturbance.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing an internal configuration of the relay unit 3 according to the second embodiment. The relay unit 3 that works well in this embodiment receives from the capsule endoscope 2. The radio signal in units of frames is once demodulated, and an error detection code is newly added and transmitted from the transmitter 37.

For this reason, in the receiving circuit 32, in addition to the bandpass filter 33 and the amplifying unit 34 similar to those in the first embodiment, an image in the body cavity based on the frequency component signal amplified by the amplifying unit 34, etc. And a signal processing unit 39 for performing signal processing of the demodulated data. The data processed by the signal processing unit 39 is installed in the relay unit 3. After being recorded in the recording unit 40, it is read out and, for example, frequency-modulated by the transmission unit 37 and wirelessly transmitted from the antenna B as a radio signal.

[0033] The signal processing unit 39 records the data for one frame after changing the frame format by attaching an error detection code such as a parity check to the data demodulated by the demodulation unit 38. When the communication between the relay unit 3 and the external device 4 is established, the data recorded in the recording unit 40 is read out and output to the transmission unit 37 for wireless transmission from the transmission unit 37. Enable.

[0034] The external device 4 has the same configuration power as that of the first embodiment, and the wireless device 50 receives the wireless signal from the relay unit 3 and is acquired by the capsule endoscope 2 based on this signal. The demodulated data such as the image inside the body cavity, the error correction of the data based on the error detection code, the image format conversion and the image processing are performed, and then the image inside the body cavity is controlled by the controller 51. These data are recorded in the recording device 53 and displayed on the display device 52, so that a doctor or the like can observe or diagnose.

As described above, in this embodiment, a radio signal received from a capsule endoscope is demodulated, an error detection code is added to the demodulated signal (data), and then relayed to be provided in an external device. Since recording on the recording device and display on the display device are performed, the device carried by the subject can be reduced in size.

[0036] In this embodiment, similarly to Embodiment 1, by using wireless communication, electrical insulation with respect to the human body can be ensured, and safety can be maintained. Furthermore, since the external device includes a recording device, restrictions on the size and power consumption of the recording device are relaxed, so that processing such as image processing of received data can be performed at high speed and in real time by the external device. It becomes possible. [0037] (Embodiment 3)

By the way, the capsule endoscope 2 intermittently transmits a radio signal in units of frames by alternately repeating a transmission period and a stop period instead of always performing a radio signal transmission operation. It is configured. That is, from the viewpoint of reducing the power consumption of the capsule endoscope 2, in this embodiment, in order to reduce the data amount of the image acquired by the imaging device or the like, for example, the imaging interval is set to about 0.5 seconds. Yes. This means that the amount of data to be transmitted is reduced, and the RF transmission device of the capsule endoscope 2 is used to transmit individual image data acquired at intervals of 0.5 seconds. The transmission operation is performed for about 2 seconds, and the remaining period of about 0.22 seconds is a stop period during which transmission operation is not performed.

[0038] Since the relay unit 3 according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as the relay unit according to the second embodiment, it will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the relay unit 3 is provided with a recording unit 40 having a small storage capacity as a recording means for temporarily recording data received from the capsule endoscope 2, and the relay unit 3 While receiving the wireless signal from the capsule endoscope 2, the data received from the capsule endoscope 2, for example, one frame, without establishing communication between the relay unit 3 and the external device 4. Minute data is temporarily recorded in the recording unit 40, and when reception of the radio signal from the capsule endoscope 2 is completed and communication between the relay unit 3 and the external device 4 is established, that is, in the above-described stop period, The data recorded in the recording unit 40 is transmitted together by radio from the transmission unit 37.

Therefore, in the receiving circuit 32, in addition to the band-pass filter 33 and the amplifying unit 34 similar to those in the first embodiment, an image of the body cavity based on the frequency component signal amplified by the amplifying unit 34, etc. And a signal processing unit 39 for performing signal processing of the demodulated data. The data processed by the signal processing unit 39 is installed in the relay unit 3. After being recorded in the recording unit 40, it is read out during the stop period, and is frequency-modulated by the transmitting unit 37, for example, and wirelessly transmitted as a radio signal from the transmitting antenna B. In this embodiment, the transmission time from the capsule endoscope 2 and the transmission time from the relay unit 3 are different from each other. It is possible to cope with the problem by using a timing clock with a short period, for example, by shortening the time required for signal transmission from the communication unit 37. In this embodiment, the frequency of the radio signal transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2 and the frequency of the radio signal transmitted from the transmission unit 37 are different even if they are set to the same frequency component frequency. Set it to the frequency of the frequency component.

[0040] The external device 4 has the same configuration power as that of the first embodiment, and the wireless device 50 receives the wireless signal from the relay unit 3 and the capsule endoscope 2 acquires it based on this signal. After demodulating the data such as the image inside the body cavity, converting the format of the image, and processing the image, the controller 51 controls the data such as the body cavity image to be recorded in the recording device 53 and the display device 52 It is possible to observe and diagnose by doctors.

[0041] Thus, in this embodiment, the relay unit includes a recording unit with a small storage capacity, and a signal (data) transmitted from the capsule endoscope to the relay unit is temporarily stored in the recording unit. When the capsule endoscope force radio signal reception is completed and communication between the relay unit and the external device is established, the signal recorded in the recording unit is relayed to Since the recording on the recording device provided in the part device and the display on the display device are performed, the device carried by the subject can be reduced in size.

Also in this embodiment, similarly to Embodiments 1 and 2, by using wireless communication, electrical insulation with respect to the human body can be ensured and safety can be maintained. Furthermore, since the external device has a recording device, restrictions on the size and power consumption of the recording device are relaxed, so that processing such as image processing of received data can be performed at high speed and in real time on the external device. Is possible.

[0043] (Embodiment 4)

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal configuration of the relay unit according to the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the difference from the third embodiment is that the relay unit 3 is connected to a mobile communication terminal 42 such as a mobile phone via an input / output interface 41 instead of the transmission unit 37. . Then, the data output from the signal processing unit 39 is wirelessly transmitted from the portable communication terminal 42 to the external device 4 via a communication infrastructure using, for example, an existing wide area network (WAN). This mobile communication terminal 42 is connected by a connector. It is electrically connected to the input / output interface 41 in a detachable manner.

In this embodiment, similar to the third embodiment, the relay unit 3 stores the radio signal when reception of the radio signal from the capsule endoscope 2 is completed and communication with the external device 4 is established. The data recorded in the recording unit 40 with a small capacity can be collectively output to the mobile communication terminal 42 and wirelessly transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 42. Even when a radio signal is received from the capsule endoscope 2, Data recorded in the recording unit 40 may be collectively output to the mobile communication terminal 42 and wirelessly transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 42. However, in the latter case, it is necessary to set the frequency of the radio signal transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2 and the frequency of the radio signal transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 42 to different frequency components. is there.

[0045] The external device 4 has the same configuration power as that of the first embodiment, and the wireless device 50 receives the wireless signal from the relay unit 3 and is acquired by the capsule endoscope 2 based on this signal. After demodulating the data such as the image inside the body cavity, converting the format of the image, and processing the image, the controller 51 controls the data such as the body cavity image to be recorded in the recording device 53 and the display device 52 It is possible to observe and diagnose by doctors.

Thus, in this embodiment, as in Embodiment 3, the relay unit includes a recording unit that temporarily stores data with a small amount of data, and the external device has a capsule endoscope. Since the data such as the in-vivo image acquired by the patient is recorded, the device carried by the subject can be miniaturized.

[0047] Since the signal transmission from the relay unit is performed by connecting a removable mobile communication terminal to the relay unit, for example, when the capsule endoscope targets only a specific part (organ) as an observation target. The mobile communication terminal can be removed from the relay unit while reaching the specific site, so that the subject can see the capsule endoscope before reaching the specific site. The portable communication terminal becomes unnecessary, and the burden on the subject can be reduced.

[0048] Also in this embodiment, similarly to Embodiments 1 and 2, by using wireless communication, electrical insulation with respect to the human body can be ensured and safety can be maintained. Furthermore, since the external device has a recording device, restrictions on the size and power consumption of the recording device are relaxed, so that processing such as image processing of received data can be performed at high speed and in real time on the external device. Is possible. Industrial applicability

As described above, the relay unit according to the present invention is useful for relaying a signal transmitted from within a subject to an external device outside the subject, and in particular, a signal transmitted by capsule endoscope force. Suitable for relaying to the external device!

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A plurality of receiving antennas that are provided on the body surface of the subject and receive signals wirelessly transmitted from the in-subject information acquisition device;

Receiving means for performing signal processing of a signal received via the receiving antenna; and transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting a signal processed by the receiving means to an external device outside the subject;

A relay unit comprising:

[2] As the signal processing, the receiving means converts the signal received at a specific frequency to another frequency, and the transmitting means converts the signal converted to another frequency by the receiving means. The relay unit according to claim 1, wherein the relay unit wirelessly transmits the external device.

[3] As the signal processing, the reception means modulates the received signal and adds an error detection code, and the transmission means modulates the signal to which the error detection code is added. The relay unit according to claim 1, wherein the relay unit wirelessly transmits to the external device.

[4] Storage means for temporarily storing the signal received by the receiving means,

Further, the receiving means receives the signal intermittently wirelessly transmitted from the in-vivo information acquiring apparatus, and the signal is stored in the storage means while receiving the signal as the signal processing. 2. The process of temporarily storing data in the storage unit, and outputting the signal stored in the storage unit to the transmission unit while receiving the signal is completed. Relay unit.