Abstract: This capsule medication administration system includes: a capsule type medical device which includes a drug retention section, a drug release section which releases a drug which is retained in the drug retention section, and a communication section which sends and receives signal between the outside; an external device which includes an external communication section which sends and receives signal between the capsule type medical device; a condition input section which inputs conditions for operating the drug release section to the external device; an information acquisition section which acquires information for comparison with conditions which have been inputted by the condition input section; and a comparison section which compares together the information which has been acquired by the information acquisition section and the conditions which have been inputted with the condition input section; and the drug release section is controlled based upon the result of comparison.

Abstract: This in vivo observation device is equipped with a capsular casing that is taken orally into the body, and an observation device provided within said casing which observes the inside of the body through an observation wall surface of said casing; and, is provided with a contact auxiliary device that causes the observation wall surface to closely contact to body tissue during observation.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus includes a capsular endoscope which examines the gastrointestinal tract, a flexible tube member, a flexible string member which is inserted in the tube member, and a connecting portion which is arranged to the capsular endoscope. In the gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus, the tube member is separated from the capsular endoscope by detachably connecting the string member to the connecting portion.

Abstract: A capsule type medical apparatus communication system of the present invention includes a capsule type medical apparatus and an information receiver, and the capsule type medical apparatus transmits towards the information receiver a communication confirmation signal which confirms the state of communication with the information receiver, while the information receiver, when it has received the communication confirmation signal, transmits a communication authorization signal which authorizes the capsule type medical apparatus to perform communication; and the capsule type medical apparatus includes a communication control device which transmits the information when it has received the communication authorization signal.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope is provided with lighting means for illuminating the interior of a living body, an image pickup means for capturing an image of a site illuminated by the lighting means, and a transparent cover which houses the image pickup means and the lighting means within a sealed, cylindrical-shaped capsule case. The image pickup means includes an objective optical system having a depth of field. An object within the depth of field of the objective optical system is illuminated more evenly than possible with a single lighting means by arranging multiple lighting means at the periphery of the objective optical system and causing the beams from individual lighting means to overlap in specified ways so that a nearly uniform illumination of an object of interest is achieved. Light diffusers may be employed to diffuse the light from the light sources, and a color correction filter may be used.

Abstract: A medical apparatus main body such as a capsule main body inserted in the body cavity includes a thrust generating mechanism such as a spiral projection. The medical apparatus main body further forms an information providing unit comprising at least one of a storing unit for storing a state of the thrust generating mechanism and a direction detecting unit for detecting the direction of the medical apparatus main body. An input unit instructs a thrust generating direction of the thrust generating mechanism and thus a control unit changes continuously or the like a thrust generating state of the thrust generating mechanism based on information from the information providing unit.

Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus for medical actions such as examination and treatment in the body detects by a sensor or the like whether it is just being evacuated from the body or it has already been evacuated. Upon detecting the capsule medical apparatus is positioned in the large intestine or it has already been evacuated, the capsule medical apparatus notifies such information in association with the detection.

Abstract: A medical capsule is taken into the human body to collect biomedical information about the human body. When the medical capsule is discharged from within the human body, a medical capsule retrieval device detects the medical capsule using a magnet or a sensor, and catches the medical capsule with a net.

Abstract: An encapsulated endoscope system in accordance with the present invention comprises: an encapsulated endoscope that rotates to develop a thrust; a controller that moves the encapsulated endoscope in an intended direction of advancement; an imaging unit incorporated in the encapsulated endoscope; and an image processing unit that receives image data sent from the imaging unit, and produces an image, which results from rotation of the received image data, according to the rotational phase of the encapsulated endoscope.

Abstract: A capsule-type medical device comprises a capsule main unit having functions for being inserted into the body cavity and performing medical acts such as taking images or the like. The capsule main unit comprises therein a magnet which is acted upon by external magnetism, and a spiral portion on the outer perimeter, so that rotating force acting upon the magnet is readily converted into a propelling force for propelling the capsule-type medical device. A flexible insertion portion which is long and small in diameter is provided to the capsule main unit to allow smooth progression through the body cavity, and the center of gravity of the device is placed upon the longitudinal center axis of the capsule main unit, thus facilitating smooth progression through the body cavity.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope is disclosed that includes means for illuminating an object, means for imaging the object, and a transparent cover having a center of curvature. The transparent cover covers the illumination means and the imaging means, and the imaging means includes an objective optical system and an image detecting element. The illumination means is positioned relative to the image detecting element, as viewed axially from the object side of the capsule endoscope, so that an area that is symmetrically positioned about the optical axis of the objective optical system from a light emitting area of the illumination means overlaps an area of the image detecting element, but does not overlap any areas of the image detecting element that are used for image detection.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope is disclosed having an illumination means, an imaging system that includes an objective optical system, and a transparent cover. The invention is characterized by one of: (1) the transparent cover has a larger radius of curvature in a central region of the field of view of the objective optical system than the radius of curvature of the transparent cover in a peripheral region of the field of view of the objective optical system, or (2) the imaging system has a different near point of focus distance for a central region of the field of view than the near point of focus distance of a region that is peripheral to the central region of the field of view and the objective optical system includes a meniscus lens element of positive refractive power and a plano-convex lens element.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope includes an image sensor that is fixed to a substrate and is covered by a transparent cover member such that a sealed air space is provided between the objective optical system and the image sensor. Also, a capsule endoscope is disclosed that includes a transparent cover member, an image sensor having an imaging area that is covered by the transparent cover member; and an objective optical system which includes at least two lenses. The lens of the objective optical system that is nearest the image side is either integral with, or is adhered to, the transparent cover member. The transparent cover member seals an air space above the imaging area of the image sensor from dust which may be generated during a focusing adjustment of the two lenses. A focusing method adjusts the position of a first lens, in order from the object side, relative to that of a second lens which is nearest the image side.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope is provided with lighting means for illuminating the interior of a living body, an image pickup means for capturing an image of a site illuminated by the lighting means, and a transparent cover which houses the image pickup means and the lighting means within a sealed, cylindrical-shaped capsule case. The image pickup means includes an objective optical system having a depth of field. An object within the depth of field of the objective optical system is illuminated more evenly than possible with a single lighting means by arranging multiple lighting means at the periphery of the objective optical system and causing the beams from individual lighting means to overlap in specified ways so that a nearly uniform illumination of an object of interest is achieved. Light diffusers may be employed to diffuse the light from the light sources, and a color correction filter may be used.

Abstract: In this invention, a drum around which an insertion portion is wound is integrally housed in a carrying case, and a cylinder for supplying a fluid to a hydropneumatic actuator and a solenoid valve unit for controlling the application of a hydropneumatic pressure are housed in the carrying case or drum. In addition, a joystick for operating the controlled variables of the solenoid valve unit can be housed in the carrying case.

Abstract: A capsulated body having a facility, which acquires biomedical information through endoscopic examination or the like, incorporated therein is inserted into a duct within a living body. Whether the capsulated body has halted for a certain period of time is detected from the time-varying position of the capsulated body or a time-passing change in an image. If it is judged that the capsulated body has halted at a stenosed region or the like, the fact is notified so that the capsulated body can be collected immediately.

Abstract: In this invention, a drum around which an insertion portion is wound is integrally housed in a carrying case, and a cylinder for supplying a fluid to a hydropneumatic actuator and a solenoid valve unit for controlling the application of a hydropneumatic pressure are housed in the carrying case or drum. In addition, a joystick for operating the controlled variables of the solenoid valve unit can be housed in the carrying case.

Abstract: An encapsulated medical device includes a radio antenna through which the encapsulated medical device transmits or receives a radio wave to or from an extracorporeal device. The encapsulated medical device is passed through the lumen of a body cavity in order to examine, cure, or treat an internal region of the body cavity under the control of the extracorporeal device. A capsule body included in the encapsulated medical device has an extended portion formed at an upper end of one axis of a cross section of the capsule body cut at right angle to the longitudinal axis thereof. Herein, the cross section of the capsule body is non-circular. However, providing the capsule body does not has the extended portion, the cross section of the capsule body is substantially circular.

Abstract: The capsule-type medical device in accordance with the present invention is advanced the inside of the somatic cavities and lumens of humans being or animals for conducting examination, therapy, or treatment. The capsule-type medical device comprises a plurality of hard units and a soft linking unit which links the plurality of hard units and has a diameter less than that of any of the hard units, wherein one of the plurality of hard units is different in size from other hard units.

Abstract: A battery self-containing body, which self-contains a battery or a battery accommodating body, which accommodates a battery removably is attached to a capsule body including a drive circuit for driving an imaging device and an illuminating device. Thus, the power supply can be turned ON easily. In addition, the inside portion is sealed water-tightly. Thus, the battery self-containing body or a battery can be exchanged easily, which allows the easy reuse. The direction of the visual field of the imaging device is diagonal with respect to the axis of the capsule body. Furthermore, spiral-shape projections are provided on the peripheral surface of the cylinder form. Thus, the rotation allows the surface of canal cavity wall to be examined easily.