Abstract: A guiding device is configured to guide a capsule medical device within a subject by means of a magnetic field. The guiding device includes a magnetic field generating unit configured to generate the magnetic field to define a specific position where the capsule medical device is restrained on an arbitrary horizontal plane, a position detecting unit configured to detect a position of the capsule medical device in the subject to output positional information, and a control unit configured to: compare a distance between the specific position and the capsule medical device with a first threshold value based on the positional information; and control the magnetic field generating unit to change distribution of the magnetic field relative to the capsule medical device so as to bring the specific position close to a position of the capsule medical device when the distance is determined to be greater than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope system includes: a capsule endoscope configured to be introduced into a subject; a guiding unit that generates a magnetic field to guide the capsule endoscope; a guidance magnetic field control unit that switches between ON and OFF of the magnetic field; a body posture discriminating unit that discriminates a body posture of the subject; a model extracting unit that extracts a body posture model according to the body posture of the subject, from among prepared body posture models, and extracts an organ model according to the body posture of the subject, from among prepared organ models; and a display control unit configured to: superimpose the organ model according to the body posture of the subject, on the extracted body posture model when the magnetic field is ON; and display the extracted body posture model and to hide the organ model when the magnetic field is OFF.

Abstract: A guidance device includes: a permanent magnet; an accommodating portion; a shielding member configured to shield the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet; a supporting mechanism configured to support the permanent magnet between a first position and a second position; a driving unit configured to operate the supporting mechanism upon receiving an electric power supply; and a shielding member moving mechanism configured to move the shielding member between a shielding position and a non-shielding position in conjunction with an operation of the supporting mechanism causing the permanent magnet to move in a vertical direction. When the electric power supply to the driving unit stops, the shielding member moving mechanism moves the shielding member to the shielding position in conjunction with an operation of the supporting mechanism causing the permanent magnet to move to the first position.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope system includes: a capsule endoscope configured to be introduced into a subject; a guiding unit that generates a magnetic field to guide the capsule endoscope; a guidance magnetic field control unit that switches between ON and OFF of the magnetic field; a body posture discriminating unit that discriminates a body posture of the subject; a model extracting unit that extracts a body posture model according to the body posture of the subject, from among prepared body posture models, and extracts an organ model according to the body posture of the subject, from among prepared organ models; and a display control unit configured to: superimpose the organ model according to the body posture of the subject, on the extracted body posture model when the magnetic field is ON; and display the extracted body posture model and to hide the organ model when the magnetic field is OFF.

Abstract: A medical guidance system and a control method of a medical device are provided, which may increase the drive force of a medical device and improve controllability thereof. The medical guidance system has a medical device that includes a biologic information acquisition unit that acquires biologic information of the inside of a body cavity and a magnet that generates drive force in response to a magnetic field exerted from the outside of a body, a magnetic field generation unit 101 that generates the magnetic field to be exerted on the magnet from the outside of a body, and a displacement detection unit 105 that detects displacement being an angle formed between the magnetization direction of the magnet and the field direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit 101 at the position of the medical device; wherein the magnetic field generation unit 101 is controlled based on the displacement.

Abstract: A guiding apparatus includes a magnetic field generation unit, a translation mechanism that translates the magnetic field generation unit relative to a subject, a rotation mechanism that rotates the magnetic field generation unit relative to the subject, an input unit that receives first and second information about operations for changing a position a posture of a capsule medical device, respectively and a control unit that controls the translation mechanism and the rotation mechanism on the basis of the first information and the second information such that the magnetic field generation unit is translated and rotated relative to the subject, wherein, when the input unit receives the second information, the control unit corrects a change in the position of the capsule medical device caused by the rotation of the magnetic field generation unit relative to the subject by translating the magnetic field generation unit relative to the subject.

Abstract: A system for guiding a capsule medical device comprising a magnet from a state in which surface tension of a liquid surface acts on the capsule medical device, the system having: a magnetic guidance device that generates: a reciprocally rotating magnetic field to the magnet at a predetermined frequency around a horizontal axis parallel to the liquid surface; and a guidance magnetic field to the magnet; and a control device that controls the magnetic guidance device to: in a first step, generate the reciprocally rotating magnetic field to the magnet to rotate the capsule medical device to eliminate the effect of the surface tension on the capsule medical device, and in a second step after the first step, generate the guidance magnetic field to the magnet in a direction away from the liquid surface to move the capsule medical device away from the liquid surface.

Abstract: A guidance device applies a magnetic field to a capsule medical apparatus within which a first permanent magnet is arranged when the capsule medical apparatus is introduced into a subject, to guide the capsule medical apparatus within the subject. The guidance device includes a second permanent magnet that is configured to be disposed outside the subject and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a polygonal column shape, the second permanent magnet having a first plane containing a magnetization direction and a first direction orthogonal to the magnetization direction, and being configured to confine the capsule medical apparatus within a region facing the first plane. The second permanent magnet has a length in the first direction longer than a length in the magnetization direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to actively control at least one of the position and direction of the imaging field in a subject and to observe a desired observed region in the subject certainly in a short period of time. A body-insertable device system according to the present invention includes a capsule endoscope 1 introduced into a subject and a permanent magnet 3. An imaging unit of the capsule endoscope 1 for taking an image inside the subject is fixed in a casing. The capsule endoscope 1 includes a drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a which is also introduced in the subject 100. The permanent magnet 3 controls the operation of the drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a.

Abstract: A system includes a capsule body having a casing introduced into a subject to perform, in liquid, examination of or treatment on the interior of the subject, the casing containing a permanent magnet, a mass of the casing excluding the magnet being set to be less than a product of a volume of the casing and a density of the liquid; a magnetic field generator that generates a magnetic attraction for the magnet to guide the capsule body; and a magnetic field generation device that controls the magnetic field generator to generate the magnetic attraction by setting a maximum value of the generated magnetic attraction vertically upward to the capsule body, to be equal to a maximum value of the generated magnetic attraction vertically downward to the capsule body, and by setting the maximum values to be less than a value obtained by multiplying a mass of the magnet by a gravitational acceleration.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to actively control at least one of the position and direction of the imaging field in a subject and to observe a desired observed region in the subject certainly in a short period of time. A body-insertable device system according to the present invention includes a capsule endoscope 1 introduced into a subject and a permanent magnet 3. An imaging unit of the capsule endoscope 1 for taking an image inside the subject is fixed in a casing. The capsule endoscope 1 includes a drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a which is also introduced in the subject 100. The permanent magnet 3 controls the operation of the drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a.

Abstract: A capsule medical device includes: a power supply unit; a capsule detection magnetic field generation unit configured to generate a capsule detection magnetic field, with which at least one of a position and a posture of the capsule medical device is detected, upon receiving electric power; a state detection unit configured to detect a state of the capsule medical device; a control unit configured to control power supply to the capsule detection magnetic field generation unit; and a magnetic field response unit configured to respond to a guiding-magnetic field for guiding at least one of the position and the posture, wherein the state detection unit includes a guiding-magnetic field detector configured to detect at least one of a strength, a direction, and a gradient of the guiding-magnetic field, and the control unit controls the power supply in accordance with a detection result of the guiding-magnetic field detector.

Abstract: Using a guidance system with a simple configuration, propulsive motion along a longitudinal direction and changing of the propulsion direction are easily performed with good precision and stability. There is provided a capsule-type medical apparatus which is inserted into the body of a subject and is guided by an external magnetic field, the capsule-type medical apparatus comprising: a substantially cylindrical capsule; a propulsion mechanism for converting rotary motion about a longitudinal axis R of the capsule into propulsive motion along the longitudinal axis R; a magnet accommodated inside the capsule and disposed in such a manner that the magnetic-pole direction thereof can be switched between a direction along the longitudinal axis R and a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis R; and a securing portion for securing the magnet to the capsule in each of the switched states of the magnetic-pole direction.

Abstract: A guiding apparatus includes a magnetic field generation unit, a translation mechanism that translates the magnetic field generation unit relative to a subject, a rotation mechanism that rotates the magnetic field generation unit relative to the subject, an input unit that receives first and second information about operations for changing a position a posture of a capsule medical device, respectively and a control unit that controls the translation mechanism and the rotation mechanism on the basis of the first information and the second information such that the magnetic field generation unit is translated and rotated relative to the subject, wherein, when the input unit receives the second information, the control unit corrects a change in the position of the capsule medical device caused by the rotation of the magnetic field generation unit relative to the subject by translating the magnetic field generation unit relative to the subject.

Abstract: A guiding system includes a capsule medical device including a permanent magnet; a magnetic field generating unit to generate a magnetic field to the magnet to guide the capsule, and change a direction of the magnetic field in a three-dimensional space; and a control unit to control the magnetic field generated by the generating unit. Where the capsule is located on a liquid surface, the control unit generates a first magnetic field such that a plane, which is parallel to a vertical axis and in which a magnetic field including a rotating magnetic field where a magnetic field is rotated on the plane is generated, pivots about the vertical axis at a predetermined period and a second magnetic field for generating a magnetic attracting force for moving the magnet vertically downward to submerge the capsule in the liquid, the first and second magnetic fields being applied at a same time.

Abstract: A magnetic field generation apparatus for generating a guiding-magnetic field which is a magnetic field for magnetically guiding a target object includes a plurality of permanent magnets configured to generate a magnetic field, and a switching unit configured to change relative relationship of the plurality of permanent magnets to switch between a first state in which the plurality of permanent magnets generate the guiding-magnetic field in a predetermined region and a second state in which a strength of the guiding-magnetic field in the predetermined region is less than a strength of the guiding-magnetic field in the first state.

Abstract: Provided is an intra-subject medical system which includes a body-insertable device and a physical quantity generator. The body-insertable device is to be introduced into a subject, is covered by a capsule-shaped exterior member, and includes a physical quantity detecting member which has a directivity to detect a predetermined physical quantity; at least one functional member which has a necessary function for examining or treating inside the subject; and a switch control unit which controls an on/off state or operation mode of the at least one functional member when the physical quantity detecting member detects a physical quantity. The physical quantity generator has a physical quantity emitting unit which emits a temporary physical quantity inside the subject; and a physical quantity direction changing unit which changes an emission direction of the physical quantity.

Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus includes a capsule housing 3 having a protruded portion on a long axis at one end. The protruded portion is on a straight line lvm connecting a center of buoyancy Pv and a center of gravity Pm when the capsule housing is in liquid 7 in a body cavity, and the protruded portion is formed so that at least one straight line is present which passes a point Pf at which buoyant moment produced by buoyancy acting on the center of buoyancy Pv and gravitational moment produced by gravity acting on the center of gravity Pm are balanced and which intersects perpendicularly with an outer surface of the protruded portion. The inclined posture allows the capsule housing to receive a large fluid resistance against the liquid 7. Moreover, the capsule endoscope 1 can easily move along the flow of the liquid 7 because the capsule endoscope 1 is in the point contact state with the inner wall surface 2a.

Abstract: An intra-subject observation system includes a first liquid inserted into a desired organ of a subject; and a second liquid inserted into the organ without being mixed with the first liquid due to a specific gravity lighter than that of the first liquid. The system also includes a capsule medical apparatus inserted into the organ with an intermediate specific gravity between the specific gravity of the first liquid and that of the second liquid to acquire intra-subject information, which is output out of the subject by radio.

Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is introduced into a subject to inject medical agent stored in a casing into a desired part in the subject. The body-insertable apparatus includes a fixing unit which fixes the casing to the desired part; and a projecting unit which projects, from the casing, an injection needle for injecting the medical agent. The fixing unit and the projecting unit are driven by a driving source.