JP2009028245A - Capsule-shaped medical treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capsule-shaped medical treatment device which is certainly separated when the capsule endoscope fixed in the body cavity is wanted to be separated from the body cavity. <P>SOLUTION: The capsule endoscope 1 is constituted so as to be passed through the body cavity 200 to image the inside of the body cavity 200 and equipped with an endoscope main body 2 having a capsule shape and a fixing mechanism 3 provided in the endoscope main body 2 to fix the endoscope main body 2 in the body cavity 200. The fixing mechanism 3 has an expansible and contractible balloon 4 arranged in the outside of the endoscope main body 2 and constituted of an elastic material, a gas supply source 5 for supplying a gas G into the balloon 4 to expand the balloon 4 and a discharge means that gradually discharges the gas G in the inner space 43 of the balloon 4 to the outside of the balloon 4 from the expanded state of the balloon 4. When the supply of the gas G in the expanded state of the balloon 4 is stopped, the gas G is gradually discharged by the discharge means to contract the balloon 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a capsule medical device.

  2. Description of the Related Art A capsule medical device that is used to obtain information in a body cavity by throwing it into the body cavity is known. Typical examples of the capsule medical device include a capsule endoscope and a capsule for collecting body fluid. For example, in a capsule endoscope, when a target site in a body cavity is imaged preferentially and information on the target site is to be collected, a fixing mechanism for fixing the capsule endoscope near the target site is provided. Some have (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). This fixing mechanism operates when power is supplied from a power supply unit installed in the capsule endoscope, that is, it can take a fixed state and a released state in which the fixed state is released.

  In the capsule endoscope described in Patent Document 1, the power of the power supply unit decreases as the fixing mechanism and other units operate. For this reason, when it is desired to operate the fixing mechanism in the fixed state to enter the released state, there is a possibility that the necessary power is not supplied to the fixing mechanism and the released state is not obtained. In order to solve this, in the capsule endoscope of Patent Document 1, when the voltage value of the power supply unit falls below a value (threshold value) slightly larger than the minimum level at which the fixing mechanism can be operated, the control unit This is detected and the fixing mechanism is forcibly activated. Thereby, the fixing mechanism in the fixed state is released and can be detached from the body cavity.

  However, in the capsule endoscope of Patent Document 1, for example, when an unexpected voltage suddenly decreases and the power value is significantly lower than the threshold value, detection of the threshold value in the control unit is delayed, and the fixed mechanism in the fixed state May not be released by operating. In this case, the capsule endoscope remains in the body cavity, and there is a possibility that the operation of collecting the capsule endoscope becomes extremely difficult.

JP 2007-37638 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a capsule medical device that can be reliably detached when it is desired to remove the capsule medical device fixed in the body cavity from the body cavity.

Such an object is achieved by the present inventions (1) to (9) below.
(1) A capsule medical device that passes through a body cavity and acquires information inside the body cavity,
A medical device body in the form of a capsule;
An imaging means installed in the medical device body and imaging the inside of the body cavity;
A fixing means provided on the medical device body, and fixing the medical device body to the body cavity;
The fixing means is disposed on the outside of the medical device main body, and is an expandable / deflatable balloon made of an elastic material, balloon expanding means for expanding the balloon by supplying a working fluid into the balloon, A discharge means for gradually discharging the working fluid inside the balloon from the expanded state where the balloon is expanded to the outside of the balloon;
When the supply of the working fluid is stopped in the expanded state, the working fluid is gradually discharged from the discharge means, and the balloon is deflated.

  Accordingly, when the capsule medical device fixed in the body cavity is desired to be detached from the body cavity, the separation can be reliably performed.

  (2) The capsule medical device according to (1), wherein the discharge unit includes at least one minute hole formed in the balloon and communicating between the inside and the outside of the balloon.

  Thereby, the working fluid inside the balloon can be gradually and gradually discharged to the outside of the balloon.

(3) The balloons are respectively fixed to both ends of the longitudinal direction with respect to the medical device main body,
In the above (1) or (2), the holes are unevenly distributed on the side of the balloon fixed to the medical device main body rather than the top portion when the balloon is expanded. The capsule-type medical device described.

  Thereby, when the balloon is expanded and the capsule medical device is fixed in the body cavity, it is possible to prevent the hole from being blocked by the inner wall forming the body cavity.

(4) The working fluid is a gas,
The capsule medical device according to (2) or (3), wherein the hole passes gas but does not pass liquid.

  Thereby, when the balloon is in the contracted state from the expanded state, the liquid can be reliably prevented from flowing into the inside of the balloon through the hole.

  (5) The capsule medical device according to (1), wherein the discharge unit is provided in the medical device main body and includes a communication path that communicates the inside and the outside of the balloon.

  Thereby, the working fluid inside the balloon can be gradually and gradually discharged to the outside of the balloon.

(6) When the working fluid is supplied to the balloon, the discharge amount of the working fluid by the discharge unit is smaller than the supply amount of the working fluid, according to any one of (1) to (5). Capsule medical device.
Thereby, when the working fluid is supplied to the balloon, the balloon is surely expanded.

  (7) The capsule medical device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein an outer shape of the balloon forms a ring shape along an outer peripheral direction of the medical device body.

  Thereby, when the balloon is expanded, a part or the whole of the outer peripheral surface of the balloon is surely brought into contact with the inner wall of the body cavity, so that the medical device body is securely fixed to the inside of the body cavity.

(8) The working fluid is a gas,
The balloon expansion means is provided in the cylinder filled with the gas, a connection pipe that connects the inside of the cylinder and the inside of the balloon, and the gas passes through the cylinder, and opens and closes the pipe line. The capsule medical device according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the capsule medical device has an opening and closing mechanism.

  Thereby, for example, when the supply of the working fluid stops unintentionally, the capsule medical device fixed in the body cavity can be reliably detached from the body cavity.

(9) The opening / closing mechanism is a solenoid valve that operates by energization, and the medical device main body is provided with a power source that supplies power to the solenoid valve,
The capsule medical device according to (8), wherein the electromagnetic valve is configured to be in an open state when power is supplied from the power source, and to be in a closed state when power supply is stopped.

  Thereby, for example, when the supply of the working fluid stops unintentionally, the capsule medical device fixed in the body cavity can be reliably detached from the body cavity.

  According to the present invention, when the supply of the working fluid to the expanding balloon is stopped, the balloon is configured to be surely deflated. As a result, when the capsule medical device fixed in the body cavity is to be removed from the body cavity, the balloon is deflated as long as the supply of the working fluid to the balloon is stopped. The release of the capsule medical device from the body cavity is surely performed.

  In addition, when the working fluid is set to be discharged by the discharge means when the working fluid is supplied to the balloon, the working fluid is supplied to the balloon. If done, the balloon will expand reliably.

  In addition, when the balloon expanding means has a cylinder and a solenoid valve, when the supply of power to the solenoid valve is stopped, the solenoid valve is surely closed. As a result, the supply of gas (working fluid) to the balloon is stopped, so that the balloon contracts and the capsule medical device is reliably detached from the body cavity.

  Hereinafter, a capsule medical device of the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
1 and 2 are longitudinal sectional views showing a first embodiment of the capsule medical device of the present invention (FIG. 1 shows a state in which the balloon is deflated, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the balloon is expanded). FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the main part of the capsule medical device of the present invention. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the left side in FIGS. 1 and 2 is referred to as “front” or “front”, and the right side is referred to as “rear” or “rear”. 1 and 2, each hole formed in the balloon is exaggerated.

  A capsule endoscope (capsule type medical device) 1 of the present invention shown in each figure is orally introduced into a body cavity 200 of a subject and passes through the body cavity 200 to acquire internal information. That is, it is used to image the inside. The body cavity 200 through which the capsule endoscope 1 passes is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.

  The capsule endoscope 1 includes a capsule-shaped endoscope body (case (medical device body)) 2, an imaging unit (imaging means) 11 housed in the endoscope body 2, and the endoscope body 2. And a power supply 12 that supplies power to the imaging unit 11 and the fixing mechanism 3. Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the endoscope main body 2 is configured by a cylindrical member in which the front end portion 21 and the rear end portion 22 are respectively closed, and the airtightness of the internal space 24 is maintained. . The front end portion 21 and the rear end portion 22 are each rounded. Thereby, when the capsule endoscope 1 is thrown into the body cavity 200, damage to the inner wall 201 of the body cavity 200 due to contact of the front end portion 21 and the rear end portion 22 can be prevented.

  The endoscope body 2 has a window portion 23 provided at the front end portion 21, and illumination light is irradiated to the target portion of the body cavity 200 through the window portion 23, and is illuminated by the light. An image of the target part can be taken.

  It does not specifically limit as a constituent material of the endoscope main body 2, For example, olefin resin materials, such as polyethylene and a polypropylene, can be used. Further, the window portion 23 is ensured to have optical transparency (transmittance of about 95%).

  The imaging unit 11 captures an image of a target site in the body cavity 200. As shown in FIG. 5, the imaging unit 11 has a controller 13, an image sensor 14, an LED (light emitting diode) 15, an LED driver 16, and a modem circuit 17, which are electrically connected. Has been.

  The image sensor 14 is an image sensor that images a target portion of the body cavity 200. The image sensor 14 includes an image pickup device such as a CCD that photoelectrically converts an image formed on the image pickup surface for each primary color of RGB by an optical system 18 positioned in front of the image sensor 14.

  The LED 15 is a light emitting element (illuminating means) that emits white light, for example. The LED 15 is connected to the power source 12 via the LED driver 16. Thereby, the inside of the body cavity 200 can be illuminated.

  The LED driver 16 is a device that controls the amount of power supplied from the power supply 12 to the LED 15. The LED driver 16 is controlled by the controller 13, and by this control, the amount of power supplied during the unit time is increased or decreased. Thereby, LED16 repeats lighting and extinction. When the LED 16 is turned on, the image sensor 14 is activated and the target part of the body cavity 200 can be imaged.

  The controller 13 is a circuit that controls each part of the capsule endoscope 1. The controller 13 controls the operation of the image sensor 14, the LED driver 16, and the fixing mechanism 3 based on a control signal received from the external device 30 via a receiving block 171 described later.

  Here, the “external device 30” receives the image and other signals transmitted from the capsule endoscope 1, stores the signals, and transmits a control signal for changing the operating state of the capsule endoscope 1. It is configured to be able to. The operating state is, for example, the frame rate, the light emission amount of the LED 16, and the state of the fixing mechanism (fixing means) 3.

  The modem circuit 17 includes a reception block 171 connected to the reception antenna 19a and a transmission block (transmission means) 172 connected to the transmission antenna 19b. The reception block 171 is provided with a reception amplifier 173 and a demodulation circuit 174, and the transmission block 172 is provided with a modulation circuit 175 and a transmission amplifier 176.

  A signal received by the reception antenna 19 a is input to the reception amplifier 173 of the reception block 171. The reception amplifier 173 amplifies the input signal and inputs it to the demodulation circuit 174. The demodulating circuit 174 demodulates various control signals modulated on the carrier wave of the input signal, and inputs the demodulated various control signals to the controller 13. The controller 13 executes various controls according to the input control signal.

  In the LED driver 16, a power amount corresponding to an instruction from the controller 13 is supplied from the power source 12 to the LED 15. When the amount of power is sufficient for the LED 15 to emit light, the LED 15 emits light. At this time, the target part of the body cavity 200 is illuminated by the light from the LED 15. The target portion illuminated by the light is imaged by the image sensor 14 and converted into an image signal. This image signal (image data) is input to the modulation circuit 175 of the transmission block 172. The modulation circuit 175 modulates the received image signal (video signal) with a predetermined carrier wave. The signal modulated in this way is amplified by the transmission amplifier 176 and then transmitted to the external device 30 through the transmission antenna 19b.

  Further, as described above, the power source 12 supplies power to the imaging unit 11 and the fixing mechanism 3. As this power supply 12, various batteries, such as a button battery, a dry battery, and a rechargeable storage battery, can be used, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing mechanism 3 fixes the endoscope body 2 to the inside of the body cavity 200. The fixing mechanism 3 includes a balloon 4 disposed outside the endoscope body 2 and a gas supply source (supply source) 5 that supplies a gas G as a working fluid to the balloon 4.

  The balloon 4 is composed of a band-shaped film member made of an elastic material. The membrane member is arranged in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral portion 25 of the endoscope body 2, and the front end portion and the rear end portion are fixed to the outer peripheral portion 25 to constitute fixed portions 41 and 42. . The fixing method for the outer peripheral portion 25 of the fixing portion 41 is not particularly limited. For example, a method by adhesion (adhesion with an adhesive or a solvent) or fusion (thermal fusion, high frequency fusion, ultrasonic fusion, etc.) ).

  Inside the balloon 4 arranged in this way, an opening 521 of a connection pipe 52 of a gas supply source (balloon expanding means) 5 to be described later is formed to open to the outer peripheral portion 25 of the endoscope body 2. . The gas G is supplied to the internal space 43 defined by the balloon 4 and the outer peripheral portion 25 of the endoscope body 2 through the opening 521. As a result, the internal pressure of the internal space 43 rises, and thus the deflated balloon 4 shown in FIG. 1 expands to an expanded state (expanded state) shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the expanded state, the balloon 4 has a ring shape. The body cavity 200 normally has a ring-shaped (annular) cross-sectional shape. Therefore, when the balloon 4 is in an expanded state, a part (or the whole) of the outer peripheral surface 45 of the balloon 4 is a body cavity. It reliably abuts against the inner wall 201 forming 200. Thereby, the capsule endoscope 1 (endoscope main body 2) is fixed in the body cavity 200. Further, when the expanded state is changed to the deflated state, the outer peripheral surface 45 of the balloon 4 is separated from the inner wall 201 of the body cavity 200. Thereby, fixation in the body cavity 200 of the capsule endoscope 1 is cancelled | released.

  The balloon 4 is formed with a plurality of minute holes 44 that penetrate in the thickness direction and communicate the inside and the outside of the balloon 4.

  These micro holes 44 are arranged so as to be unevenly distributed on the side of both the fixing portions 41 and 42 rather than the portion that becomes the top portion 451 (see FIG. 2) in the expanded state of the balloon. With such an arrangement, it is possible to prevent the micropores 44 from being blocked by the inner wall 201 of the body cavity 200 when the body cavity 200 is fixed in the expanded state.

  When the gas G is supplied to the internal space 43 of the balloon 4, the balloon 4 is in an expanded state, and from this state, the gas G is gradually exhausted (outflowed) to the outside of the balloon 4 through the micro holes 44. ). In this way, each microhole 44 functions as an exhaust hole (discharge means).

  In the capsule endoscope 1, these formation conditions (hole diameter and formation density) can be set as appropriate so that the discharge amount of the gas G into the internal space 43 is less than the supply amount. Thereby, when the gas G is supplied to the internal space 43, the discharge amount of the gas G discharged through each minute hole 44 is surely lower than the supply amount of the gas G. Therefore, the balloon 4 is reliably expanded.

  In addition, it does not specifically limit as total channel resistance in all the micropores 44, For example, 3-5 atmospheres and 5 mL gas G with which it filled in the internal space 43 of the balloon 4 are exhausted in 20-25 minutes. It is preferable to complete the process. In order to perform such control, for example, there is a method in which the gas G is supplied intermittently or continuously for several hours so that the internal pressure of the balloon 4 is maintained at a predetermined value or more.

  The constituent material of the balloon 4 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include natural rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, hydrin rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, and fluororubber. And various thermoplastic materials such as styrene, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polybutadiene, transpolyisoprene, fluororubber, and the like, one of these or Two or more kinds can be mixed and used.

  In addition, the number of microholes 44 formed is plural in the present embodiment, but is not limited to this, and may be one, for example.

  A gas supply source 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 supplies a gas G for expanding the balloon 4 to the internal space 43. The gas supply source 5 includes a cylinder 51, a connection pipe 52 that connects the inside of the cylinder 51 and the internal space 43, and an electromagnetic valve (opening / closing mechanism) 53 provided in the middle of the connection pipe 52. .

  The cylinder 51 is housed and arranged in the endoscope body 2. The cylinder 51 is composed of a metal can, and the internal space is filled with a high-pressure (compressed) aseptic gas G. Although it does not specifically limit as gas G, For example, nitrogen, air, a carbon dioxide, etc. are mentioned.

  The connecting pipe 52 is for the gas G to pass through the pipe line 522. One end of the connection pipe 52 opens in the outer peripheral portion 25 of the endoscope body 2, and the other end opens in the cylinder 51. Thereby, the gas G flowing out from the cylinder 51 passes through the pipe 522 and flows into the internal space 43 through the opening 521 (see FIG. 2).

  The constituent material of the connection pipe 52 is not particularly limited, and for example, the materials mentioned in the description of the endoscope body 2 can be used.

  In the middle of the connecting pipe 52, an electromagnetic valve 53 for opening and closing the pipe line 522 is installed. The electromagnetic valve 53 includes a casing 55, a gasket 56 that slides in the casing 55, a coil spring 57 that biases the gasket 56, and an electromagnet 58 that is fixed in the casing 55.

  The casing 55 is configured by a cylindrical body (hollow body) having a circular or square cross-sectional shape. The casing 55 has a central axis arranged in a direction orthogonal to the connection pipe 52, and the hollow portion 551 communicates with the pipe line 522.

  A gasket 56 made of a permanent magnet is housed in the casing 55. The gasket 56 can slide along the longitudinal direction of the casing 55, and has a first position in contact with the electromagnet 58 (see FIG. 1) and a second position separated from the electromagnet 58 (see FIG. 2). ). In the first position, the gasket 56 is located on the pipeline 522 and closes the pipeline 522. As a result, the electromagnetic valve 53 is closed. Further, in the second position, the gasket 56 is retracted from the pipe line 522, and the pipe line 522 communicates from the cylinder 51 to the opening 521 (internal space 43). Thereby, the electromagnetic valve 53 will be in an open state.

  Further, the gasket 56 is formed of a columnar member having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the hollow portion 551. For example, the front end side is an N pole and the rear end side is an S pole. As the permanent magnet constituting the gasket 56, a ferrite magnet, an alnico magnet, a rare earth magnet, or the like can be used.

  Further, a seal member (not shown) made of an elastic material is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the gasket 56.

  A coil spring 57 is installed on the rear end side of the gasket 56. The front end 571 of the coil spring 57 contacts the rear end surface 561 of the gasket 56, the rear end 572 contacts the rear end wall 552 of the casing 55, and is stored in the casing 55 in a compressed state. The gasket 56 is urged forward by the coil spring 57 housed in this manner.

  An electromagnet 58 is fixed to the opposite side of the coil spring 57 via the connecting pipe 52 of the casing 55 by, for example, fitting. The electromagnet 58 is electrically connected to the power source 12 via the switch 54.

  When the switch 54 is ON (see FIG. 2), power is supplied from the power supply 12. At this time, the electromagnet 58 is energized to generate a magnetic field that repels the N pole of the gasket 56. As a result, the gasket 56 in the first position moves to the second position against the biasing force of the coil spring 57.

  When the switch 54 is OFF (see FIG. 1), the supply of power from the power source 12 is stopped. At this time, the magnetic field disappears, and the gasket 56 moves in the opposite direction and returns to the first position.

  In the electromagnetic valve 53 configured as described above, when power is supplied from the power source 12, the gasket 56 moves to the second position as described above and is in an open state. In the open state, the gas G is supplied into the internal space 43 of the balloon 4, and thus the balloon 4 is in an expanded state (see FIG. 2). Further, when the supply of power is stopped, the gasket 56 returns to the first position and is in a closed state. In the closed state, the supply of the gas G into the internal space 43 of the balloon 4 is stopped, so that the balloon 4 is gradually deflated and eventually becomes deflated (see FIG. 1).

  Next, the operation of fixing / releasing the body endoscope 200 of the capsule endoscope 1 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule endoscope 1 thrown into the body cavity 200 is in a contracted state. Thereby, the inside of the body cavity 200 can be easily moved.

  When it is predicted that the capsule endoscope 1 has reached a predetermined site (target site) in the body cavity 200, the switch 54 is turned on via the controller 13 by a control signal from the external device 30. At this time, the electromagnetic valve 53 is opened as described above. Thereby, the gas G from the cylinder 51 is supplied into the internal space 43 of the balloon 4 through the connection pipe 52. By supplying the gas G, the deflated balloon 4 is in an expanded state (see FIG. 2). Note that it may be determined whether the controller 13 of the capsule endoscope 1 has autonomously reached the predetermined site without depending on the control signal from the external device 30.

  In the expanded state, the top 451 of the raised outer peripheral surface 45 of the balloon 4 presses the inner wall 201 of the body cavity 200. Thereby, the capsule endoscope 1 is fixed to the body cavity 200. By operating the image sensor 14 in this fixed state, an image of the target part of the body cavity 200 can be taken.

  At this time, the gas G is discharged from each of the micro holes 44 of the balloon 4. As described above, the total discharge amount is set smaller than the supply amount of the gas G to the balloon 4. Yes. Thereby, a fixed state (expanded state) is maintained.

  Here, suppose a case where the internal pressure of the gas G in the cylinder 51 becomes approximately the same as the internal pressure of the balloon, and the supply of the gas G to the internal space 43 of the balloon 4 is stopped. In this case, the balloon 4 tries to recover to the contracted state, and the gas G in the internal space 43 is discharged through the micro holes 44 by the restoring force (contracting force). Thereby, the internal pressure of the internal space 43 starts to decrease, and thus the balloon 4 surely returns to the contracted state.

  When the balloon 4 is in a deflated state, the outer peripheral surface 45 of the balloon 4 that has pressed the inner wall 201 of the body cavity 200 in the expanded state is separated from the inner wall 201. Thereby, the fixed state with respect to the body cavity 200 of the capsule endoscope 1 is released. Therefore, the supply of the gas G to the internal space 43 of the balloon 4 is stopped, so that the capsule endoscope 1 can be reliably detached from the body cavity 200.

  Also, let us consider a case where the remaining amount of the power supply 12 decreases in a fixed state and the output voltage value unintentionally reaches a predetermined lower limit voltage value (for example, 0.5 V). When the output voltage value of the power supply 12 reaches the lower limit voltage value, the magnetic field disappears and the gasket 56 in the second position returns to the first position, as in the case of “when the switch 54 is OFF”, The electromagnetic valve 53 is closed. In this closed state, the supply of the gas G into the internal space 43 of the balloon 4 is stopped, and the balloon 4 is in a deflated state as described above. Thereby, the fixed state with respect to the body cavity 200 of the capsule endoscope 1 is released.

  Thus, even when the output voltage value of the power supply 12 becomes the lower limit voltage value, the capsule endoscope 1 can be detached from the body cavity 200.

  In addition to the case where the internal pressure of the gas G in the cylinder 51 is about the same as the internal pressure of the balloon as described above, or the output voltage value of the power supply 12 becomes the lower limit voltage value, When the capsule endoscope 1 is released from the body cavity 200 by releasing the fixed state with respect to the capsule endoscope 1 in the fixed state, the release is performed reliably. This separation is performed as follows.

  The switch 54 is turned off via the controller 13 by a control signal from the external device 30. As a result, the electromagnetic valve 53 is closed and the supply of the gas G to the balloon 4 is stopped. When the supply of the gas G is stopped, the balloon 4 is in a deflated state as described above, so that the fixed state of the capsule endoscope 1 with respect to the body cavity 200 is released. Thereby, the capsule endoscope 1 is detached from the body cavity 200.

  Thus, the capsule endoscope 1 is fail-safe with respect to the separation from the body cavity 200.

Second Embodiment
3 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views showing a second embodiment of the capsule medical device of the present invention (FIG. 3 shows a state where the balloon is deflated, and FIG. 4 shows a state where the balloon is expanded). ). In the following, for convenience of explanation, the left side in FIGS. 3 and 4 is referred to as “front” or “front”, and the right side is referred to as “rear” or “rear”.

Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the capsule medical device of the present invention will be described with reference to these drawings. However, the difference from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described, and the description of the same matters will be omitted.
This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the configuration of the balloon is different.

  In the capsule endoscope 1A shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of micro holes 44 formed in the balloon 4 described in the first embodiment are omitted, and instead of these micro holes 44, an endoscope is used. A communication passage 26 is formed in the mirror body 2. The communication path 26 functions as an exhaust path (exhaust means) through which the gas G supplied to the internal space 43 of the balloon 4 is gradually exhausted, as with the minute holes 44.

  The communication path 26 penetrates the wall portion of the endoscope body 2, one end 261 opens into the internal space 43 of the balloon 4, and the other end 262 is outside the balloon 4, that is, the endoscope body 2. It opens toward the outside. Thereby, the inner side (internal space 43) and the outer side of the balloon 4 communicate. Therefore, when the gas G is supplied into the internal space 43, the gas G is discharged through the communication path 26.

  When the gas G in the internal space 43 is supplied, the discharge amount is lower than the supply amount, so that the balloon 4 is surely expanded.

  Further, it is preferable that a water repellent layer (not shown) having water repellency is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the communication passage 26. The water repellent layer can be formed, for example, by applying a fluorine-based resin to the inner peripheral surface of the communication path 26. By forming the water repellent layer, the liquid can be prevented from inadvertently flowing into the internal space 43 from the outside via the communication path 26.

  In addition, the number of communication passages 26 formed is one in the illustrated configuration, but is not limited thereto, and may be a plurality, for example.

  As described above, the capsule medical device of the present invention has been described with respect to the illustrated embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each part constituting the capsule endoscope may be any device that can exhibit the same function. It can be replaced with the configuration of Moreover, arbitrary components may be added.

  Further, the capsule medical device of the present invention may be a combination of any two or more configurations (features) of the above embodiments.

  For example, the communication path described in the second embodiment may be further provided in the capsule endoscope of the first embodiment.

  Further, the gas supply source is not limited to the one having a cylinder filled with gas. For example, the gas is generated by contacting the foaming agent with the first container containing the foaming agent. A second container filled with a liquid, and the liquid in the second container is supplied into the first container so that the foaming agent and the liquid can be brought into contact with each other. Also good. A body fluid may be used instead of the liquid in the second container.

  In the above embodiment, a capsule endoscope is used as an example of a capsule medical device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to various capsule medical devices such as a capsule for collecting body fluid.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (figure which shows the state which the balloon contracted) which shows 1st Embodiment of the capsule type medical device of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (figure which shows the state which the balloon expanded) which shows 1st Embodiment of the capsule type medical device of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (figure which shows the state which the balloon deflated) which shows 2nd Embodiment of the capsule type medical device of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (figure which shows the state which the balloon expanded) which shows 2nd Embodiment of the capsule type medical device of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the capsule type medical device of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A Capsule endoscope 2 Endoscope main body 21 Front end part 22 Rear end part 23 Window part 24 Internal space 25 Outer peripheral part 26 Communication path 261 One end 262 Other end 3 Fixing mechanism 4 Balloon 41, 42 Fixing part 43 Internal space 44 Microhole 45 Peripheral surface 451 Top 5 Gas supply source 51 Cylinder 52 Connection pipe 521 Opening 522 Pipe line 53 Solenoid valve 54 Switch 55 Casing 551 Hollow part 552 Rear end wall 56 Gasket 561 Rear end face 57 Coil spring 571 Front end 572 Electromagnetic end 572 Magnet end 11 Imaging unit 12 Power supply 13 Controller 14 Image sensor 15 LED
16 LED driver 17 Modulation / demodulation circuit 171 Reception block 172 Transmission block 173 Reception amplifier 174 Demodulation circuit 175 Modulation circuit 176 Transmission amplifier 18 Optical system 19a Reception antenna 19b Transmission antenna 30 External equipment 200 Body cavity 201 Inner wall G Gas

Claims (9)

A capsule medical device that passes through a body cavity and acquires information inside the body cavity,
A medical device body in the form of a capsule;
An imaging means installed in the medical device body and imaging the inside of the body cavity;
A fixing means provided on the medical device body, and fixing the medical device body to the body cavity;
The fixing means is disposed on the outside of the medical device main body, and is an expandable / deflatable balloon made of an elastic material, balloon expanding means for expanding the balloon by supplying a working fluid into the balloon, A discharge means for gradually discharging the working fluid inside the balloon from the expanded state where the balloon is expanded to the outside of the balloon;
When the supply of the working fluid is stopped in the expanded state, the working fluid is gradually discharged from the discharge means, and the balloon is deflated.   2. The capsule medical device according to claim 1, wherein the discharging means includes at least one minute hole formed in the balloon and communicating between the inside and the outside of the balloon. The balloons are respectively fixed to both ends of the medical device main body in the longitudinal direction,
The capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hole is unevenly distributed on a side of the balloon fixed to the medical device main body with respect to a portion that becomes a top when the balloon is expanded. Type medical equipment. The working fluid is a gas,
The capsule medical device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein gas passes through the hole but liquid does not pass through the hole.   2. The capsule medical device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge unit is provided in the medical device main body and is configured by a communication path that communicates the inside and the outside of the balloon.   The capsule medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the working fluid is supplied to the balloon, a discharge amount of the working fluid by the discharge unit is smaller than a supply amount of the working fluid.   The capsule medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an outer shape of the balloon forms a ring shape along an outer peripheral direction of the medical device main body. The working fluid is a gas,
The balloon expansion means is provided in the cylinder filled with the gas, a connection pipe that connects the inside of the cylinder and the inside of the balloon, and the gas passes through the cylinder, and opens and closes the pipe line. The capsule medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an opening and closing mechanism. The opening / closing mechanism is a solenoid valve that operates by energization, and the medical device main body is provided with a power source that supplies power to the solenoid valve,
The capsule medical device according to claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic valve is configured to be in an open state when electric power is supplied from the power source, and to be in a closed state when supply of the electric power is stopped.

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