PACKAGE FOR CAPSULE MEDICAL DEVICE
A package for a capsule medical device includes dome-shaped parts provided at two ends, a body locating between the two ends, and a plurality of retainers that are arranged at predetermined intervals so that a space in which the body of the capsule medical device is exposed to allow a grasp is formed and retain the body of the capsule medical device in a manner of allowing the capsule medical device to be taken out from the package.
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This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2011/050054, designating the United States and filed on Jan. 5, 2011 which claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-087276, filed on Apr. 5, 2010, and the entire contents of the International application and the Japanese Application are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a package for a capsule medical device, the package retaining a capsule medical device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a capsule medical device (capsule endoscope) provided with an imaging function and a radio communication function has made an appearance in the field of an endoscope. The capsule endoscope, after being swallowed by an examinee as a subject for the purpose of an observation (examination), travels an inside of organs such as a stomach and a small intestine (inside of a body cavity) according to their peristalsis during an observation period which ends when it is naturally excreted from a living body of the examinee, and sequentially captures images by using the imaging function.
Image data captured in the inside of the body cavity by the capsule endoscope during the observation period through the traveling in the inside of the organs is sequentially transmitted to an external device provided at an outside of the subject by the radio communication function like a radio communication and stored in a memory provided in the external device. The examinee, by carrying the external device provided with the radio function and the memory function, is able to move without any inconvenience during the observation period which starts when the capsule endoscope is swallowed and ends when excreted. After the observation, a doctor or a nurse is able to have the images of the inside of the body cavity displayed on a displaying unit such as a display device based on the image data stored in the memory of the external device to make a diagnosis.
Incidentally, since it is necessary to sterilize the capsule endoscope prior to a use on the subject, a process of sterilizing the capsule endoscope is performed by injecting sterilizing gas, while keeping the capsule endoscope housed in a package, into the package. As the package, a package has been proposed in which the capsule endoscope is inserted along its long axis direction into a hole formed on a main surface of a base container in such a manner that a body of the capsule endoscope is buried and then the main surface of the base container is sealed with a sterilization sheet (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-87524).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to an aspect of the present invention, a package for a capsule medical device which retains a capsule medical device including dome-shaped parts provided at two ends and a body locating between the two ends, includes a plurality of retainers that are arranged at predetermined intervals such that a space in which the body of the capsule medical device is exposed to allow a grasp is formed and retain the body of the capsule medical device in a manner of allowing the capsule medical device to be taken out from the package.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a package for a capsule medical device which retains a capsule medical device including imaging units which are provided at two ends for capturing an image of a subject and a body locating between the two ends, includes a plurality of retainers that are arranged at predetermined intervals such that a space in which the body of the capsule medical device is exposed to allow a grasp is formed and retain the body of the capsule medical device in a manner of allowing the capsule medical device to be taken out from the package.
The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Exemplary embodiments of a package for a capsule medical device according to the present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. The same part is assigned with the same reference symbol in the description of the drawings. It should also be noted that the accompanying drawings are merely schematic and a relation between a thickness and a width of each member, a ratio of each member, and the like may be different from the reality. The dimensional relations and the ratio may be different from one drawing to another.
First EmbodimentThe receiving device 3 serves as a radio receiving unit that receives data of in-vivo images of the subject 1 wirelessly transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2. The receiving device 3 is provided with a receiving jacket 3a which is worn by the subject 1 and includes a plurality of receiving antennas not shown, and an external device 3b which performs a signal process on the received radio signal.
The display device 4 displays intra-subject images captured by the capsule endoscope 2 and has a configuration such as a workstation in which images are displayed based on the data obtained by the portable recording medium 5. Specifically, the display device 4 may be configured to directly display the images by a CRT display device, a liquid crystal display device, and the like, or may be configured to output the images to another medium such as a printer.
The portable recording medium 5 can be connected to the external device 3b and the display device 4 and has a structure which allows the information to be output or recorded when attached and connected to both devices. In the present embodiment, the portable recording medium 5 is inserted into the external device 3b to record the data transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2 while the capsule endoscope 2 moves in the inside of the subject 1. After the capsule endoscope 2 is excreted from the subject 1, namely, after the imaging in the subject 1 is finished, the portable recording medium 5 is then taken out from the external device 3b and inserted into the display device 4 and the data recorded in the portable recording medium 5 is read by the display device 4. For example, the portable recording medium 5 is configured by CompactFlash (registered trademark) memory and the like, the data can indirectly be input and output between the external device 3b and the display device 4 through the portable recording medium 5, and the subject 1 is able to freely move during the imaging unlike the case where the external device 3b and the display device 4 are directly connected by a cable.
Next, the capsule endoscope 2 shown in
The capsule-shaped casing 12 is an outer casing formed in a size allowing an insertion to the inside of organs of the subject and realized by blocking open edges at both sides of a cylindrical casing 12a with dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c. The dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c are optical members which have a dome like shape and a transparency with respect to a light of a predetermined wavelength band such as a visible light. The cylindrical casing 12a is a colored casing which is nearly opaque with respect to the visible light. The capsule-shaped casing 12 formed by the cylindrical casing 12a and the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c includes therein the imaging units 11A and 11B, the radio communication unit 16, the control unit 17, and the power source unit 18 in a liquid-tight manner.
The imaging units 11A and 11B capture images in respective imaging directions different to each other. Specifically, the imaging unit 11A includes an illumination unit 13A such as an LED, an optical system 14A such as a condenser lens, and an imaging element 15A such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD. The illumination unit 13A emits an illumination light such as a white color light to an imaging field S1 of the imaging element 15A to illuminate the subject within the imaging field S1 (inner wall of organs at a side of the imaging field S1 in the inside of the subject, for example) through the dome-shaped casing 12b. The optical system 14A condenses a reflection light from the imaging field S1 on an imaging surface of the imaging element 15A to form a subject image in the imaging field S1 on the imaging surface of the imaging element 15A. The imaging element 15A receives the reflection light from the imaging field S1 via the imaging surface and performs a photoelectric conversion process with respect to the received optical signal to capture the subject image in the imaging filed S1 (angle of field T), i.e., the in-vivo image of the subject. The imaging unit 11B includes an illumination unit 13B such as an LED, an optical system 14B such as a condenser lens, and an imaging element 15B such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD. The illumination unit 13B emits an illumination light such as a white color light to an imaging field S2 of the imaging element 15B to illuminate the subject within the imaging field S2 (inner wall of organs at a side of the imaging field S2 in the inside of the subject, for example) through the dome-shaped casing 12c. The optical system 14B condenses a reflection light from the imaging field S2 on an imaging surface of the imaging element 15B to form a subject image in the imaging field S2 on the imaging surface of the imaging element 15B. The imaging element 15B receives the reflection light from the imaging field S2 via the imaging surface and performs a photoelectric conversion process with respect to the received optical signal to capture the subject image in the imaging filed S2 (angle of field T), i.e., the in-vivo image of the subject.
When the capsule endoscope 2 is a binocular-type capsule medical device that captures respective images of the front and the rear in a direction along a long axis La as shown in
The control unit 17 controls operations of the imaging units 11A and 11B and the radio communication unit 16 which are components of the capsule endoscope 2 and controls input and output of a signal among these components. Specifically, the control unit 17 controls the imaging element 15A to capture images of the subject in the imaging field S1 illuminated by the illumination unit 13A and the imaging element 15B to capture images of the subject in the imaging field S2 illuminated by the illumination unit 13B. Besides, the control unit 17 includes a signal processing function of generating an image signal. The control unit 17 obtains in-vivo image data in the imaging field S1 from the imaging element 15A and performs a predetermined signal process with respect to the in-vivo image data each time of the obtainment to generate an image signal containing the in-vivo image data in the imaging field S1. Similarly to this, the control unit 17 obtains in-vivo image data in the imaging field S2 from the imaging element 15B and performs a predetermined signal process with respect to the in-vivo image data each time of the obtainment to generate an image signal containing the in-vivo image data in the imaging field S2. The control unit 17 controls the radio communication unit 16 to wirelessly transmit each image signal sequentially to the outside along time series.
Incidentally, it is necessary to sterilize the capsule endoscope 2 prior to the use on the subject 1 and keep the sterilized state. In the first embodiment, the capsule endoscope 2 is housed in a package which allows sterilization. The package for the capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment will be explained below with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The retainers 24 are formed to cover respective ends of the capsule endoscope 2 in the long axis La. As shown in
As shown in
The retainer 24 is formed in such a manner that a distance D24 (see
One retainer 24 supports the edge part of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 at two spots. Thus, the two retainers 24 are in contact with respective edge parts of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 at four spots, thereby retaining the capsule endoscope 2 in the base container 22. As shown in
The two retainers 24 are formed away from each other in a manner of allowing the body of the capsule endoscope 2 to be exposed. An area not occupied by the retainers 24 between the retainers 24 serves as a non-retaining part 25. In an area A2 in the non-retaining part 25 in
As shown in
In this manner, since the capsule endoscope 2 is retained in the state where the body of the capsule endoscope 2 is widely exposed, it is possible in the first embodiment to secure a wide area to be grasped by fingers and take out the capsule endoscope 2 with fingers easily from the base container 22.
In the first embodiment, since the retainers 24 are formed around the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c respectively including therein the imaging units 11A and 11B, the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c are not grasped by fingers from the direction along the long axis La. Therefore, since the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c do not have contact with fingers in the first embodiment, the observation quality of the capsule endoscope 2 does not deteriorate.
Since the retainers 24 retain both edges of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 in the state of sandwiching each edge by the pair of contact parts 24b and thereby a function of retaining the capsule endoscope 2 can be secured adequately in the first embodiment, the capsule endoscope 2 does not jump out from the package 20 due to shaking or dropping of the package 20 and it is possible to stably retain the capsule endoscope 2.
Second EmbodimentNext, a second embodiment will be explained. While the example of implementing, in the retainer, both of the function of retaining edge part of the body of the capsule endoscope and the function of preventing each end of the capsule endoscope 2 from being grasped is explained in the first embodiment, a case of providing a grasp preventive part separately from the retainer will be explained in the second embodiment.
As shown in
The retainers 341 and 342, as shown in an area P2 in
In the state where the capsule endoscope 2 is arranged in the base container 32, the retainers 341 to 344 are not in contact with the capsule endoscope 2 and formed in a manner of retaining the capsule endoscope 2 in the base container 32 with an adequate force so as to allow taking out of the capsule endoscope 2 by a grasp with fingers from the base container 33.
As shown in
In the base container 32, two grasp preventive parts 37 are provided separately from the retainers 341 to 344. The grasp preventive parts 37 are formed to cover respective ends of the capsule endoscope 2 in the long axis La. Specifically, the grasp preventive parts 37 are formed around the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c of the capsule endoscope 2 when seen from the top as shown in
As shown in
The operator who takes out the capsule endoscope 2, after the fingers are guided to the body of the capsule endoscope 2 exposed in the non-retaining part 35, grasps the body of the capsule endoscope 2 by having fingers approach like an arrow Y3 in
In this case, a side surface of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 is in line contact or a point contact with the protruding parts 341a and 342a, the capsule endoscope 2 having moved along the axis Lc like the arrow Y4 shown in
In this manner, since the function of retaining the capsule endoscope 2 is secured adequately and the capsule endoscope 2 is retained in the state where the body of the capsule endoscope 2 is widely exposed, the capsule endoscope 2 can be easily taken out, and since the grasp preventive parts 37 are formed around the dome-shaped casing 12b and 12c, the dome part does not get dirty in the second embodiment similarly to the first embodiment.
Furthermore, since the retainers 341 to 344 are not in contact with the capsule endoscope 2 in the state where the capsule endoscope 2 is arranged in the base container 32 in the second embodiment, an area in which the capsule endoscope 2 and the base container 32 are in contact is smaller than the area in the first embodiment. Therefore, the second embodiment can further enhance a certainty of the sterilization since sterilizing gas is able to be in contact with the side surface of the capsule endoscope 2 adequately.
First Modification of the Second Embodiment
Next, a first modification of the second embodiment will be explained. In the first modification of the second embodiment, a case of taking out the capsule endoscope not upward along the vertical axis of the upper surface of the base part but by sliding in parallel with the upper surface of the base part will be explained.
As shown in
Each of the retainers 44 has a shape with an opening in a part at an upper side in the diametrical direction of the capsule endoscope 2 of the capsule endoscope 2 along the surface Lb as shown in
Each of the retainers 44 has a protruding part 44a as shown in
In the state where the capsule endoscope 2 is arranged in the base container 42, the retainers 44 are not in contact with the capsule endoscope 2 and formed in a manner of retaining the capsule endoscope 2 in the base container 42 with an adequate force so as to allow taking out of the capsule endoscope 2 by a grasp with fingers from the base container 42.
As shown in
As shown in
Besides, the retainers 44 are formed away from each other in a manner of allowing the body of the capsule endoscope 2 to be exposed, similarly to the first embodiment. An area not occupied by the retainer 44 between the retainers 44 serves as a non-retaining part 45. In an area A4 in the non-retaining part 45 in
The operator who takes out the capsule endoscope 2, after the fingers are guided to the body of the capsule endoscope 2 exposed in the non-retaining part 45, grasps the body of the capsule endoscope 2 by having fingers approach like an arrow Y6 in
In this case, a side surface of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 is in line contact or a point contact with the protruding parts 44a, the capsule endoscope 2 having moved along the surface Lb like the arrow Y7 shown in
In this manner, since the function of retaining the capsule endoscope 2 is secured adequately and the capsule endoscope 2 is retained in the state where the body of the capsule endoscope 2 is widely exposed, the capsule endoscope 2 can be easily taken out, and since the grasp preventive parts 47 are formed around the dome-shaped casing 12b and 12c, the dome part does not get dirty in the first modification of the second embodiment similarly to the second embodiment. Since the retainers 44 are not in contact with the capsule endoscope 2 in the state where the capsule endoscope 2 is arranged in the base container 42 also in the first modification of the second embodiment, an area in which the capsule endoscope 2 and the base container 42 are in contact is smaller than the area in the first embodiment and therefore it is possible to further enhance a certainty of the sterilization.
Third EmbodimentNext, a third embodiment will be explained. In the third embodiment, a case where a retainer and a base part are integrally formed by using a thin resin material and the like will be explained.
As shown in
The retainers 54 are formed to cover respective ends of the capsule endoscope 2 in the long axis La. As shown in
As shown in
The retainers 54 are formed away from each other in a manner of allowing the body of the capsule endoscope 2 to be exposed. An area not occupied by the retainer 54 between the retainers 54 serves as a non-retaining part 55. In an area A5 in the non-retaining part 55 in
Furthermore, the base member 53 and the retainers 54 are formed integrally as shown in
The operator who takes out the capsule endoscope 2, after the fingers are guided to the body of the capsule endoscope 2 exposed in the non-retaining part 55, grasps the body of the capsule endoscope 2 by having fingers approach like an arrow Y9 in the area A5 in the non-retaining part 55. Then, the operator depresses the base member 53 from both sides along the surface Lb like the arrow Y10 in
In this manner, since the function of retaining the capsule endoscope 2 is secured adequately and the capsule endoscope 2 is retained in the state where the body of the capsule endoscope 2 is widely exposed, the capsule endoscope 2 can be easily taken out, and since the retainers 54 are formed around the dome-shaped casing 12b and 12c, the dome part does not get dirty also in the third embodiment similarly to the first embodiment.
Furthermore, since the capsule endoscope 2 is taken out by widening the distance between the retainers 54 via the depression of the base member 53 and therefore a small force to be applied to the capsule endoscope 2 will do for taking out the capsule endoscope 2 in the third embodiment compared to the first and the second embodiments, it is possible to further enhance an ease in taking out the capsule endoscope 2.
While the distance between the retainers 54 is configured to be deformed and widened by depressing the base member 53 in the third embodiment, a mechanism allowing the retainers 54 to be automatically opened and closed may be provided and the capsule endoscope 2 may be taken out when the retainers 54 are opened.
Besides, a protruding part which functions as a stopper which prevents the capsule endoscope 2 from jumping out in the direction along which the capsule endoscope 2 is taken out may be provided, in addition to putting the capsule endoscope 2 between the contact parts 54b provided in pairs to retain the capsule endoscope 2 in the third embodiment.
As shown in
Next, a fourth embodiment will be explained. A case of taking out the capsule endoscope not in the diametrical direction but in the longitudinal direction of the capsule endoscope will be explained in the fourth embodiment.
As shown in
The blister pack 141 includes a cylindrical part 141a having a bottom, a handgrip part 141b which has a tongue like shape and is provided on a part of an upper edge of an opening of the cylindrical part 141a, an edge part 141c provided along an outer circumference of the upper edge of the opening of the cylindrical part 141a and the handgrip part 141b, and a plurality of protruding parts 141d which are provided on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical part 141a and each have nearly semi-cylindrical shape formed along a long side direction of the cylindrical part 141a in a manner of protruding from an inside to an outside of the cylindrical part 141a. The handgrip part 141b is formed of a plate member having an approximately triangular upper surface and configured so that a handgrip part 142b of the base container 142 to be described later can abut thereon. The edge part 141c has a predetermined width and is formed in a step shape higher by one step along the outer circumference of the upper edge of the opening of the cylindrical part 141a and the handgrip part 141b. A height of the edge part 141c is configured to be equivalent to or more than a thickness of the handgrip part 142b and an edge part 142c of the base container 142 abutting on the handgrip part 141b and the sterilizing sheet 143 is attached to the upper surface of the edge part 141c in a state where the base container 142 is housed in the blister pack 141.
Next, the base container 142 will be explained with reference to
In addition, a plurality of convex parts protruding from the base surface 142f uninterruptedly with a part of a side wall of the hole 142e are formed as retainers 144 on the base surface 142f. The retainers 144 are formed in a manner of protruding up to the vicinity of the center of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 fitted and mounted into the hole 142e. In the fourth embodiment, a case where three retainers 144 are formed will be taken as an example and explained.
Each of the retainers 144 has a fan like shape of stretching out towards an outer circumference of the base container 142. The retainers 144 are in contact with the edge part of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 fitted and mounted into the hole 142e in respective contact parts 144a which are uninterrupted from the hole 142e as shown in an area P6 in
The retainers 144 are formed away from each other in a manner of allowing the body of the capsule endoscope 2 to be exposed and an area not occupied by the retainer 144 among the retainers 144 serves as a non-retaining part 145. In the non-retaining part 145 as shown in an area P7 in
Besides, when the base container 142 is seen from the top as shown in
The operator, after the three fingers are guided to the side surface of the body of the capsule endoscope 2, grasps the body of the capsule endoscope 2 directly at the three spots to raise and take out the capsule endoscope 2 along the long axis La of the capsule endoscope 2 like an arrow Y22 in
Since the bottom part of the hole 142e covers the one end of the capsule endoscope 2 in the long axis La when the capsule endoscope 2 is fitted and mounted into the hole 142e, the bottom part of the hole 142e also has a function of preventing the one end of the capsule endoscope 2 in the long axis from being grasped from the direction along the long axis La of the capsule endoscope 2.
In this manner, the retainers 144 retain the capsule endoscope 2 in the state of allowing the body of the capsule endoscope 2 to be widely exposed in the direction along which the fingers approach and in the depth direction in the fourth embodiment. Therefore, since fingers can easily approach the side surface of the body and grasp the side surface of the body as far as a lower side of the body in the fourth embodiment, the capsule endoscope 2 can be easily taken out by fingers from the base container 142.
In the fourth embodiment, since one of the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c is covered by the bottom part of the hole 142e when the capsule endoscope 2 is fitted and mounted into the hole 142e, the fingers do not have contact with the one of the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c and the dome part does not get dirty. Besides, the fingers of the operator are guided to the side surface of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 along the shape of the retainers 144 in the fourth embodiment. Here, since the other one of the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c not fitted and mounted into the hole 142e does not locate in a pathway of the guidance, there are few possibilities that the fingers of the operator have contact with it and the dome part not fitted and mounted into the hole 142e gets dirty.
In the fourth embodiment, three retainers 144 are in contact with the edge part of the body of the capsule endoscope 2. Thus, since the edge part of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 is retained at three spots, the function of retaining the capsule endoscope 2 can be secured adequately in the fourth embodiment.
In the fourth embodiment, it is possible to restrict a positional movement in the depth direction of the capsule endoscope 2 by providing a step 144b on an uninterrupted surface, with the hole 142e, of the retainers 144 and causing a joint part between the cylindrical casing 12a and the dome-shaped casing 12b to get stuck in the step 144b as shown in
While the fourth embodiment is explained by taking as an example the base container 142 in which the retainers 144 each having the fan like shape are formed when seen from the top as shown in
For example, a retainer 1441 having an I shape may be adopted as shown in a base container 1421 in
A retainer 1442 having a T shape may be adopted as shown in a base container 1422 in
As shown in a base container 1423 in
Next, a fifth embodiment will be explained.
As shown in
A base surface 242f as a main surface is formed in the cylindrical part 242a and a hole 242e which has a bottom and into which one end of the capsule endoscope 2 in the long axis La and the body of the capsule endoscope 2 are fitted and mounted is provided at a center of the base surface 242f. As shown in
Besides, concave parts each of which has nearly circular shape are formed on the base surface 242f in such a manner that a part around the hole 242e on the base surface 242f is dug down uninterruptedly with a part of a side wall of the hole 242e. The concave part serves as a non-retaining part 245 and three concave parts are formed as the non-retaining parts 245 in the example shown in FIGS. 27 to 29. As shown in
The non-retaining parts 245 are formed away from each other in a manner of being dug down while leaving a part of the side wall of the hole 242e and an area except for the concave parts (non-retaining parts 245) around the hole 242e on the base surface 242f serves as a retainer 244. In the retainer 244 as shown in an area P8 in
The fingers of the operator is inserted, from an upper direction of the base container 242, into the respective non-retaining parts 245 each opening of which is widely opened and grasps, after being guided to the side surface of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 like an arrow Y23, the body of the capsule endoscope 2 directly at the three spots to raise and take out the capsule endoscope 2 from the base container 242 along the long axis La of the capsule endoscope 2 like the arrow Y24 in
In this manner, since the capsule endoscope 2 is retained in the base container 242 in a manner of allowing the body of the capsule endoscope 2 to be exposed adequately at three spots, it is possible in the fifth embodiment to secure an area to be grasped by fingers and take out the capsule endoscope 2 from the base container 242 stably.
Since one of the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c is covered by the bottom part of the hole 242e in the fifth embodiment, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the fingers do not have contact with the one of the dome-shaped casings 12b and 12c and the dome part gets dirty.
Since the edge part of the body of the capsule endoscope 2 is retained at three spots by the three retainers 244 in the fifth embodiment, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the function of retaining the capsule endoscope 2 can be secured adequately.
While the case of providing three concave parts to form three retainers 244 is taken as an example and explained in the fifth embodiment, the present invention is not, of course, limited thereto and it is only necessary to provide a plurality of concave parts in a manner of allowing the capsule endoscope 2 to be retained.
While the case of housing the capsule endoscope 2 of binocular type is taken as an example and explained in the package for a capsule endoscope according to the first to the fifth embodiments, the present invention is not, of course, limited to this configuration and a so-called monocular capsule endoscope may be housed.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A package for a capsule medical device which retains a capsule medical device including dome-shaped parts provided at two ends and a body locating between the two ends, the package comprising:
- a plurality of retainers that are arranged at predetermined intervals such that a space in which the body of the capsule medical device is exposed to allow a grasp is formed, the retainers retaining the body of the capsule medical device in a manner of allowing the capsule medical device to be taken out from the package.
2. A package for a capsule medical device which retains a capsule medical device including imaging units which are provided at two ends for capturing an image of a subject and a body locating between the two ends, the package comprising:
- a plurality of retainers that are arranged at predetermined intervals such that a space in which the body of the capsule medical device is exposed to allow a grasp is formed, the retainers retaining the body of the capsule medical device in a manner of allowing the capsule medical device to be taken out from the package.
3. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 2, further comprising:
- a grasp preventive part that is formed in a manner of covering at least one of the ends of the capsule medical device in a long axis and prevents at least the one of the ends of the capsule medical device in the long axis from being grasped.
4. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 2, wherein the retainers retain respective edge parts of the body of the capsule medical device in such a manner that the capsule medical device can be taken out from the package in a diametrical direction of the capsule medical device.
5. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 4, wherein the retainers are provided at both edge parts of the body of the capsule medical device and retain the edge parts of the body of the capsule medical device.
6. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 4, wherein
- each of the retainers includes a pair of contact parts which are in contact with the edge part of the body of the capsule medical device,
- the contact parts provided in pairs are formed to sandwich the body of the capsule medical device therebetween, and
- a distance between the contact parts provided in pairs is shorter than an outer diameter of the body of the capsule medical device.
7. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 4, wherein
- each of the retainers includes a protruding part protruding to prevent a separation of the capsule medical device in the diametrical direction and
- a distance between facing surfaces of the protruding parts of the retainers is shorter than an outer diameter of the body of the capsule medical device.
8. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 7, further comprising
- a regulator that regulates a movement of the capsule medical device along a plane perpendicular to a direction along which the capsule medical device housed in the package is taken out.
9. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 4, wherein
- each of the retainers includes a pair of contact parts which are in contact with the edge part of the body of the capsule medical device and a pressure receiving part,
- the contact parts provided in pairs are framed to sandwich the body of the capsule medical device therebetween,
- a distance between the contact parts provided in pairs is shorter than an outer diameter of the body of the capsule medical device, and
- the pressure receiving part is formed integrally with the contact parts provided in pairs and allows the distance between the contact parts provided in pairs to be widened to be equivalent to or more than the outer diameter of the body of the capsule medical device when depressed from a predetermined depression direction.
10. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 2, wherein the retainers retain the capsule medical device housed in the package in one of a point contact manner and a line contact manner.
11. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of retainers retain at least one part of an edge part of the body of the capsule medical device in such a manner that the capsule medical device can be taken out from the package in a longitudinal direction of the capsule medical device.
12. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 11, further comprising:
- a base part in which a hole into which a predetermined end of the capsule medical device in a long axis is fitted and mounted is formed on a main surface, wherein
- the retainers are formed by a convex part protruding from the main surface of the base part uninterruptedly with a part of a side wall of the hole so that a part of the body of the capsule medical device is exposed to allow the grasp.
13. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 12, wherein information indicating a grasp direction is shown on the main surface of the base part.
14. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 11, further comprising:
- a base part in which a hole into which a predetermined end of the capsule medical device in a long axis and the body of the capsule medical device are fitted and mounted is formed on a main surface and
- a concave part formed in such a manner that a part of the main surface of the base part is dug down uninterruptedly with a part of a side wall of the hole, wherein
- the retainers are formed by a part except for the concave part on the main surface of the base part.
15. The package for a capsule medical device according to claim 2, wherein a surface of the package retaining the capsule medical device is closed by a sterilization sheet having sterilizing gas permeability.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 3, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 5, 2012
Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP. (Tokyo)
Inventors: Masaki TAKAHASHI (Tokyo), Hidetake SEGAWA (Tokyo)
Application Number: 13/251,549
International Classification: B65D 1/09 (20060101);