Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus is inserted into a subject body and travels through the subject body and includes a magnetic field generator that generates a constant magnetic field; a covering member that covers the magnetic field generator and that is made of a biocompatible material; and a container that houses and seals the magnetic field generator covered by the covering member.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus supplies power to a body-insertable apparatus from outside a subject. The body-insertable apparatus is introduced into the subject and obtains intra-subject information. The power supply apparatus includes a first electric cable which is wound around a circumferential surface of a garment and forms a coil, the garment covering the subject, the coil having a non-directionality at a time of power supply; and a power supply unit which supplies power to the body-insertable apparatus in a contactless manner through the coil.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: An intra-subject position display system for displaying a position of an intra-subject device, which is introduced into a subject and moves therein, wherein a relative position of the intra-subject device to an outer surface of the subject is detected and displayed. The position of the intra-subject device is displayed in a relation with the outer surface of the subject. Thereby, it is possible to easily determine in which site of the subject the intra-subject device exists. The present invention is effective to recognize a position of, for example, a capsule type endoscope or a test capsule therefor in the subject (e.g., a human body). To recognize the outer surface of the subject, for example, a plurality of radio devices are arranged on the outer surface of the subject and their radio signals are analyzed.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus is for selecting and receiving a radio signal in a frame structure having an information body part including at least information body and an additional part including information for receiving field intensity measurement by using a plurality of antennas. The apparatus includes a controller that measures a receiving field intensity of not a first antenna which has received the information body in a transmission period of the additional part in a current frame but a second antenna, and measures a receiving field intensity of the first antenna in a transmission period of the information body part in the current frame, and if the receiving field intensity of the second antenna exceeds the receiving field intensity of the first antenna, selects and changes to the second antenna as the first antenna of a next frame.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus which is used while connected to a plurality of antennas, the receiving apparatus receiving a radio signal through the antennas to perform a predetermined process to the received radio signal, the radio signal being transmitted from a body-insertable apparatus inserted into a subject, includes a receiving antenna selection unit that selects the antenna which is suitable for reception of the radio signal when the radio signal is transmitted from the body-insertable apparatus; a sequential antenna selection unit that sequentially selects each of the plurality of antennas when performance inspection of the plurality of antennas is performed; and a signal processing unit that performs a predetermined process to the radio signal received through the antenna, the antenna being selected by the receiving antenna selection unit or the sequential antenna selection unit.

Abstract: This is the communication method of an image storage device for recording medical information. The communication method comprises a receiving information from a plurality of devices for providing at least one of setting information, status information, inspection image information and patient information, and transmits at least one of the setting information and status information or information obtained by processing the information, via a network, in addition to the inspection image information and patient information.

Abstract: A medical equipment storage belt, which enables a subject to carry a medical equipment, includes a belt wound around a subject and storage sections which are provided in the belt section and store at least one medical equipment therein. Since the belt section which is used for carrying medical equipment is adopted, mounting and removing the medical equipment is easy. In the storage section of the medical equipment storage belt, an attachment portion may be provided, which is movably attached on the belt section. The storage section may be provided with openings for exposing a notification section so that the notification section can be visually checked. The belt-section may be provided with an electromagnetic weakening member. The belt section is further provided with a second storage section for power supply equipment and a power-supply-cord storage section.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope includes a function executing unit which executes predetermined functions including capturing an image in a subject where the capsule endoscope is introduced; a package which encloses the capsule endoscope, and has an opening; and a cover which covers the opening, and is made of a material reacting with a substance in the subject to expose the opening. The capsule endoscope also includes a sensor which detects that the capsule endoscope is located in the subject, through the opening; and a driving controller which controls the function executing unit.

Abstract: A medical image recording apparatus records an endoscopic image captured by an endoscope, and includes a generation unit for generating image data used for display data on a monitor, and a composition unit for combining the endoscopic image captured by the endoscope with the image data, and outputting the composition result to the monitor.

Abstract: A medical image recording system easily obtains information of a device, etc. used at the time of an examination without conscious effort on operator's part, and records image information and the device information, which are obtained at the time of the examination, by making a 1-to-1 association between them. The system comprises at least an image information obtaining unit obtaining an observation image at the time of an examination for a medical treatment, a device information obtaining unit obtaining information of a device used at the time of the examination, and a recording unit recording information composing of the image information obtained by the image information obtaining unit and the device information obtained by the device information obtaining unit, as one associated information.

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: A capsule endoscope has a front cover having a window for illuminating light and a window for capturing images. The window for illuminating light is flat. The window for capturing images is flat or convex. Because the window for illuminating light is flat, the light passes through the window without being reflected toward an image capturing unit.

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 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 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 pill inserted into a body of a patient acquires in vivo information on the body of the patient. A receiver receives the in vivo information on the body of the patient from the pill through a receiving antenna. The receiver includes batteries, and a switching circuit that switches between the batteries according to respective residual amounts of the batteries. The receiver also includes an AC power source, which allows charging of the batteries. A residual amount detecting circuit detects a residual amount of an output of the receiver, and a result of detection is informed by an informing unit.

Abstract: An endoscope suitable for autoclave sterilization includes an insertion section having an objective lens section disposed at the extreme end thereof for focusing a subject image and an eyepiece section located on the base end side of the inserting section and including at least an eyepiece lens. an image guide fiber is disposed in the bundle for transmitting the subject image in an observation section focused by the objective lens section. An eyepiece lens unit is disposed in the eyepiece section, the eyepiece lens unit causing the eyepiece lens to confront the base end structure whose hermetic seal level is higher than the watertight seal level of the shell of the endoscope. A focus position changing means is disposed to the eyepiece lens unit to change the focus position of the eyepiece lens. The eyepiece section is so constructed and/or assembled that the autoclave sterilization process does not cause water vapor or the like to adversely affect the operability of the eyepiece section.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.