Abstract: A transmitting/receiving system includes a transmitting apparatus that generate modulated signals each containing a broadband signal component and a narrowband signal component, and transmits the modulated signals to the outside; and a receiving device that receives the modulated signals via at least three receiving antennas. The receiving device includes a signal processing system that processes the broadband signal component contained in the modulated signal; and a received-strength detecting system that processes the narrowband signal component contained in the modulated signal.

Abstract: In a capsule casing 16 as an exterior case that includes end cover casings 16a and 16b and body cover casings 16a and 16b, planar portions 16f and 16g are formed at portions of a circumferential surface of the body cover casings 16c and 16d, and imaging units 14a and 14b are arranged inside the capsule casing 16 at positions at which imaging inside of body cavities of a subject is possible through the planar portions 16f and 16g, thereby preventing a lens effect, eliminating image failures to improve images, and enhancing image quality.

Abstract: A capsule type medical device, which is introduced into the inside of a living body in order to observe the inside of the living body, includes an image capturing unit for capturing an image of the inside of the living body, a wireless communicating unit for transmitting the image data of the image captured by the image capturing unit to the outside of the living body through a wireless communication, a first voltage regulator unit for regulating a voltage output from a power supply unit and for supplying the voltage to the image capturing unit, and a second voltage regulator unit for regulating the voltage output from the power supply unit and for supplying the voltage to the wireless communicating unit. An oscillating unit included in the wireless communicating unit has a differential configuration.

Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus includes a reaction plane on which one or more kinds of reacting substance reacting with an internal substance in the body to be examined are fixed, wherein the reacting substance is chemical reacting substance or biochemical reacting substance, and an analyzer detects and analyzes the substance reacted with the reaction plane or a trace of the reaction outside of the body to be examined.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope 2 includes a partial-image acquiring unit that has a field of vision of 360° around a central axis in a longitudinal direction (moving direction), and acquires a plurality of partial image data on inner circumferential areas 28a, 28b and the like according to a movement of the capsule endoscope 2. On the other hand, the capsule endoscope 2 is configured to acquire position related data based on which positions Z(t1) and Z(t2) at which the respective partial image data is acquired can be calculated, and enables a receiving apparatus or the like to constitute overall image data based on the partial image data and the position related data, whereby an overall image of a predetermined imaging target in a body of a subject is acquired with simple constitution while suppressing an increase in data amount.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to be able to ensure detecting whether an open-circuit occurs to a feeder within short time with simple configuration. A receiving apparatus 2 according to the present invention receives image information transmitted from a capsule endoscope 3 through a coaxial cable and a receiving antenna selected and switched to from among coaxial cables 9a to 9d connected to receiving antennas 8a to 8d, respectively by a changeover switch 20. The receiving apparatus 2 includes a changeover switch 22, an open-circuit detecting circuit 23, and a control unit 26. The changeover switch 22 branches the coaxial cables 9a to 9d near the changeover switch 20, and selects and switches to one of the branched coaxial cables.

Abstract: An encapsulated medical device system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a selector between a receiving device and a plurality of receiving antennas having their respective directionalities. The system selects and disconnects any receiving antenna subjected to the effect of a magnetic field used to guide a capsule endoscope, and captures information about the inside of a body from the appropriate receiving antenna thus selected. The system prevents an overload current caused by induced voltage from being applied to the receiving device. The system includes the function of preventing the overload current, caused by induced voltage arising from a sudden movement of the capsule endoscope or sudden change in magnetic field gradient, from being applied to a transmission circuit of the capsule endoscope and a receiving device.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope apparatus includes an illuminating device, an image pick-up device which picks up an image of an illuminated portion, and a radio transmitting device. The illuminating device in the capsule endoscope apparatus has a switching device which switches two or more light-emitting amount or light-emitting time. The radio transmitting device in the capsule endoscope apparatus transmits by radio waves image data obtained by the image pick-up device upon sequentially switching the two or more light-emitting amount or light-emitting time.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus is for receiving radio signals including image information transmitted by a mobile transmitting device through a plurality of receiving antennas. The receiving apparatus includes a plurality of frequency converters for outputting modulated signals obtained by converting respective radio signal received through the plurality of receiving antennas by different modulation frequencies; a superposing unit for superposing each of the modulated signals generated by the plurality of frequency converters on a frequency axis; a cable with a single coaxial cable where each of the modulated signals superposed by the superposing unit is transmitted; and a receiving unit for demodulating each modulated signal input through the cable to receive and output the image information.

Abstract: When a capsule is manufactured, a unique number such as a serial number is stored in non-volatile memory in the capsule. If the capsule is used with an external apparatus, the unique number is sent from the capsule to the external apparatus. The external apparatus relates each unique number with a capsule ID comprising a small number of bits in a management table formed in non-volatile memory and sends the capsule ID to the capsule, and the capsule ID with the small number of bits is set as an identifier in the capsule. In this manner, it is made unnecessary to provide a switch in the capsule for setting the identifier and it becomes possible to reduce and send the quantity of information sent as the identifier.

Abstract: When a capsule is manufactured, a unique number such as a serial number is stored in non-volatile memory in the capsule. If the capsule is used with an external apparatus, the unique number is sent from the capsule to the external apparatus. The external apparatus relates each unique number with a capsule ID comprising a small number of bits in a management table formed in non-volatile memory and sends the capsule ID to the capsule, and the capsule ID with the small number of bits is set as an identifier in the capsule. In this manner, it is made unnecessary to provide a switch in the capsule for setting the identifier and it becomes possible to reduce and send the quantity of information sent as the identifier.

Abstract: Image information (corresponding to 1 pixel) of 8 bits acquired by an imaging unit (23) are input into an A/D converter (24a1) provided on an AD board (23a), the input image information are digitally converted to parallel signals of 8 bits, the parallel signals are divided into every 4 bits by a bit-number-converting and outputting circuit (24a2) of an IC configuration, each parallel signals of 4 bits are output to a digital signal processor (25a1) provided on a signal processing board (25a) through four signal lines (80a) of a flexible board (80) by time division, and a predetermined signal processing is performed on the output parallel signals of 4 bits at the digital signal processor 25a1. Consequently, the number of IC pins and the number of signal lines are reduced; therefore, an capsule endoscope is miniaturized, hardening of a board is prevented, and probability of disconnection of the signal lines is reduced.

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: 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: 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: An image pick-up unit inserted in the body picks up an image of the body, and transmits by radio the image to an extra-corporeal unit which is arranged outside the body. The image pick-up unit includes an image pick-up portion capturing an image, a data transmitting portion for transmitting the image obtained by the image pick-up portion to the extra-corporeal unit at a plurality of transmitting ratios, a characteristic amount detecting portion for detecting a predetermined amount of characteristics based on the image, and a determining portion for determining a valid image based on an output from the characteristic amount detecting portion. The data transmitting portion controls the data transmitting ratio in accordance with the determining result of the determining portion.

Abstract: A capsule type medical device is of a type of a capsule type medical device that is introduced inside the living body to gather in-vivo information, and comprises a capsule shaped casing; an in-vivo information acquisition device for acquiring the in-vivo information; a communication device for sending the in-vivo information acquired by the in-vivo information acquisition device to outside of the living body by wireless; at least one pair of first electrodes provided in a vicinity of one end along an axis of the casing for giving electric stimulation to body tissue in the living body; a first current control device for sending current to the first electrodes; and an interelectrode distance variation device for changing a distance between the electrodes.

Abstract: An image pick-up unit inserted in the body picks up an image of the body, and transmits by radio the image to an extra-corporeal unit which is arranged outside the body. The image pick-up unit includes an image pick-up portion capturing an image, a data transmitting portion for transmitting the image obtained by the image pick-up portion to the extra-corporeal unit at a plurality of transmitting ratios, a characteristic amount detecting portion for detecting a predetermined amount of characteristics based on the image, and a determining portion for determining a valid image based on an output from the characteristic amount detecting portion. The data transmitting portion controls the data transmitting ratio in accordance with the determining result of the determining portion.

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.