Abstract: After a receiving antenna (A1) is inserted from a slot (B16) into a housing portion (B14) formed between cover members (B11, B12), the slot (B16) is pasted so as to secure the receiving antenna (A1). The receiving antenna (A1) is thus housed. Further, a tab (B17) which extends from one side of a pasted edge portion, holes (B20, B21) that penetrate opposing surfaces of the cover members (B11, B12), and perforated lines (B22, B23) running from the slot (B16) to the holes (B20, B21), respectively, are provided. Therefore, the receiving antenna (A1) can be easily attached to the antenna cover (B1) and to an outer surface of a subject (1), and the receiving antenna (A1) can be easily removed from the antenna cover (B1) and from the outer surface of the subject (1).

Abstract: An in-body information acquiring apparatus includes a function executing unit that realizes a predetermined function inside a body of a patient. A power-supply circuit includes a power unit that includes a cell and that outputs a first current and a first voltage; and a converter that converts the first current to a second current, which is a current required to operate the function executing unit for a predetermined time, and converts the first voltage to a second voltage, which is a voltage required to operate the function executing unit.

Abstract: After a receiving antenna (A1) is inserted from a slot (B16) into a housing portion (B14) formed between cover members (B11, B12), the slot (B16) is pasted so as to secure the receiving antenna (A1). The receiving antenna (A1) is thus housed. Further, a tab (B17) which extends from one side of a pasted edge portion, holes (B20, B21) that penetrate opposing surfaces of the cover members (B11, B12), and perforated lines (B22, B23) running from the slot (B16) to the holes (B20, B21), respectively, are provided. Therefore, the receiving antenna (A1) can be easily attached to the antenna cover (B1) and to an outer surface of a subject (1), and the receiving antenna (A1) can be easily removed from the antenna cover (B1) and from the outer surface of the subject (1).

Abstract: Each of detecting circuits 36a, 36d, 36f, and 36h detects a key signal such as a horizontal synchronization signal, a vertical synchronization signal, a capsule ID, a WB coefficient, and error information, i.e., a key signal superposed on RF signals received by an RF receiving unit 33. Each of determining units 36b, 36c, 36e, 36g, and 36i determines whether an image is valid or invalid based on the result of detection. A recording deciding unit 36k decides whether to record the image information in a storage unit 35 or not based on the result of determination. Thus, a receiving apparatus 3 can stop recording the image information received when a trouble occurs, thereby preventing defective images from mixing into the recorded image information, and preventing a recorded image size from becoming large, whereby necessary images can be recorded within a predetermined examination time.

Abstract: A pill inserted into a body of a patient acquires in-vivo information on the body of the patient. The in-vivo information on the body of the patient is input to a receiver from the pill through a receiving antenna. The pill receives a power-supply signal from the receiver through a power receiving antenna, and a power recovering circuit recovers power from the power-supply signal. A level determining circuit compares the power recovered with a predetermined value to determine the strength of the power-supply signal, and wirelessly transmits the determination result signal to the receiver.

Abstract: A transmitting and receiving apparatus (2) that transmits a radio signal to a capsule endoscope includes: a transmitting level determining unit (25) disposed near a transmitting resonance circuit (22); a frequency controller (26) that controls an oscillation frequency based on a result of determination executed by the transmitting level determining unit (25); and a frequency variable oscillator (16) that changes the oscillation frequency, based on the control of the frequency controller (26). By changing the oscillation frequency so that a transmission level becomes large, the oscillation frequency can be changed so as to decrease a frequency difference between the oscillation frequency and the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit (22) that changes along a variation in a self inductance value of a coil (24).

Abstract: A capsule endoscope 2 that picks up images within a body cavity and a receiving device 3 that has a function of radio transmission and reception to and from the capsule endoscope 2 are provided. A display device 4 that displays a body cavity image based on data received by the receiving device 3 and a portable recording medium 5 that delivers data between the receiving device 3 and the display device 4 are provided. A transmitting/receiving jacket 3b that constitutes the receiving device 3 has a receiving antenna A1 that receives a radio signal transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2, and an amplifier C1 near the receiving antenna A1, within the transmitting/receiving jacket 3b. Since the amplifier C1 is provided near the receiving antenna A1, attenuation of a received radio signal and a mixing of a noise signal are suppressed.

Abstract: In a capsule endoscope that functions as one example of a body insertable apparatus, a first imaging mechanism, a second imaging mechanism, a data generator, and a timing controller are provided on a same imaging board. The first imaging mechanism and the second imaging mechanism are arranged inside an outer casing member that determines an outer shape of the capsule endoscope. The data generator generates image data based on electric signals obtained by the imaging mechanisms. The timing controller controls driving timings of the first imaging mechanism, the second imaging mechanism, and the data generator. Since the aforementioned elements are formed on the same board, increase in number of the board can be suppressed.

Abstract: In a capsule endoscope illuminating units are disposed around an image capturing unit in such a manner that an optical axis of the illuminating units do not intersect with an optical axis of the observation unit, and illumination areas of the illuminating units overlap at substantially a central portion of an image capturing area of the image capturing unit.

Abstract: A remaining-power-amount recognizing circuit 20 provided within a capsule endoscope 2 recognizes a remaining power amount of a body-insertable apparatus (capsule endoscope 2), and superimposes information of the remaining power amount on a transmission signal. An RF transmitting unit 15 of the capsule endoscope 2 transmits the superimposed information to a receiving apparatus 3 at the outside of the subject. A remaining-power-amount detecting circuit 48 provided within an external device 32 of the receiving apparatus 3 detects the information of the remaining power amount, and displays the detected information on a display unit 51 provided within the external device 32. With this arrangement, a user can promptly recognize a remaining power amount of the capsule endoscope 2.

Abstract: To achieve a moving-state detecting apparatus and a moving-state detecting system that detect a moving state of a body-insertable apparatus such as a capsule endoscope within a subject, a body-insertable apparatus (2) includes a sensor signal transmitter that transmits a sensor signal which is attenuated according to a propagation distance. A moving-state detecting apparatus (3) includes receiving antennas (7a to 7h) that receive sensor signals, and a moving-state calculator that calculates a moving state of the body-insertable apparatus (2), based on received strength of sensor signals received by the receiving antennas (7a to 7h).

Abstract: To realize a receiving system that can excellently receive radio signals before and after a body insertable device, which is a radio signal source, is inserted into a subject, the receiving system has a first receiving antenna (1), a second receiving antenna (2), and a receiving apparatus (3). The first receiving antenna (1) is used when the body insertable device is outside the subject. The second receiving antenna (2) is used when the body insertable device is inserted into the subject. The receiving apparatus (3) performs a receiving processing on radio signals received through the first receiving antenna (1) or the second receiving antenna (2).

Abstract: To achieve a body-insertable apparatus such as a capsule endoscope that moves in a subject at a low speed at which acquisition of in-vivo information is sufficiently possible, the body-insertable apparatus is inserted into the subject and moves in the subject. The body-insertable apparatus includes an in-vivo information acquiring unit that acquires the in-vivo information, an external case member accommodating the in-vivo information acquiring unit, and a moving-speed suppressing unit positioned inside or outside of the external case member to generate a predetermined suppressing force for suppressing the moving speed between an inner wall of a passage route in the subject and the external case member.

Abstract: To provide a capsule endoscope in which a degree of appearance of a sting-like member in a captured image is reduced, a capsule endoscope (2) includes an optical system (18) having a predetermined principal point, an imaging unit (19) which captures light focused by the optical system (18), and an attachment member (28) which is arranged at a predetermined position on a window portion (17a) having optical transparency and forming a portion of an outer casing member (17) housing the optical system (18) and the imaging unit (19). The capsule endoscope (2) further includes a traction member (29) having one end secured to the attachment member (28) and extending by a predetermined distance in a direction from the optical system (18) toward a position of the attachment member (28). Since the traction member (29) has such a structure, an appearance of an image of the traction member (29) can be reduced at the imaging unit (19).

Abstract: After a receiving antenna (A1) is inserted from a slot (B16) into a housing portion (B14) formed between cover members (B11, B12), the slot (B16) is pasted so as to secure the receiving antenna (A1). The receiving antenna (A1) is thus housed. Further, a tab (B17) which extends from one side of a pasted edge portion, holes (B20, B21) that penetrate opposing surfaces of the cover members (B11, B12), and perforated lines (B22, B23) running from the slot (B16) to the holes (B20, B21), respectively, are provided. Therefore, the receiving antenna (A1) can be easily attached to the antenna cover (B1) and to an outer surface of a subject (1), and the receiving antenna (A1) can be easily removed from the antenna cover (B1) and from the outer surface of the subject (1).

Abstract: A pill inserted into a body of a patient acquires in-vivo information on the body of the patient. A receiver disposed on the outside of the body receives the in-vivo information on the body of the patient from the pill through an antenna. When a power supply signal is transmitted from the receiver to the pill through the antenna, a drive control signal for making the pill to execute a predetermined function is superposed on the power supply signal, which makes it possible to control various functions performed by the pill from outside.

Abstract: An intra-subject position detection system includes a subject insertable device introduced into a subject, moving through the subject; and including a magnetic field generator that generates a magnetostatic field. The system also includes a position detecting device arranged outside the subject and obtaining position information of the subject insertable device inside the subject. The position detecting device also includes a magnetic field detector that is arranged on the subject at a time of use and detects a strength of the magnetostatic field output from the magnetic field generator; a reference sensor that derives a position of the magnetic field detector relative to a reference position on the subject; and a position deriving unit that derives a position of the subject insertable device inside the subject based on the magnetic field strength and the position of the magnetic field detector.

Abstract: Provided is an in-vivo information acquiring apparatus including a plurality of illuminating units, a plurality of imaging units, and a transmission unit. The plurality of illuminating units are disposed within the apparatus and illuminate a body cavity. The plurality of imaging units pair up with the illuminating units, respectively, and sequentially captures images of the body cavity illuminated by the illumination units. The transmission unit transmits information on the images obtained by the imaging units, in a communication mode capable of identifying the imaging units.

Abstract: A pill inserted into a body of a patient acquires in-vivo information on the body of the patient. A receiver disposed on the outside of the body receives the in-vivo information on the body of the patient from the pill through an antenna. When a power supply signal is transmitted from the receiver to the pill through the antenna, a drive control signal for making the pill to execute a predetermined function is superposed on the power supply signal, which makes it possible to control various functions performed by the pill from outside.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives an image signal, identification information on a transmitting apparatus, and color adjusting information that are radio transmitted from the transmitting apparatus; a lock controller that locks the color adjusting information when the receiving unit receives at least one of consecutively repeated identical color adjusting information and consecutively repeated identical identification information during a predetermined period or when the receiving unit most often receives at least one of the identical color adjusting information or the identical identification information during the predetermined period; and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the received image signal based on the locked color adjusting information.