CAPSULE RETRIEVE SHEET AND CAPSULE RETRIEVE TOOL CREATED THEREFROM

Abstract

A capsule retrieve sheet for retrieving a capsule endoscope excreted from a body by separation from excretions, includes a fold at which the capsule retrieve sheet is folded. By folding the capsule retrieve sheet at the fold, a recess including a hole for passing through the excretions and a wing for the capsule retrieve sheet to be placed on a toilet, are formed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a capsule retrieve sheet, especially to a capsule retrieve sheet for retrieving a used capsule endoscope.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, a capsule endoscope device for observing inside a digestive organ or other organs has been developed. In a capsule endoscope device, a capsule endoscope for photographing inside a body is swallowed by a subject person, and images of inside the body of the subject person are generated by processing image data obtained by the capsule endoscope.

In the capsule endoscope devicer a capsule endoscope that is excreted from a body after photographing the inside thereof is retrieved from excretions. For this purpose, a capsule retrieve device including a capsule retrieve tool and other tools for retrieving a used capsule has been known. In such a capsule retrieve device, for example, a capturing member for capturing an excreted capsule, a member for setting the capturing member on a toilet at a predetermined position, a retrieve member for retrieving a capsule from the capturing member, and other members, are included.

A capsule retrieve device including a member for setting the capturing member at a predetermined position tends to be complex and be not portable. Further, in such a capsule retrieve device, operations for adjusting the position of the capturing member are required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a capsule retrieve tool that has a simple structure, and that enables retrieve of a capsule endoscope via a simple operation.

A capsule retrieve sheet for retrieving a capsule endoscope excreted from a body by separation from excretions, according to the present invention, includes a fold at which the capsule retrieve sheet is folded. By folding the capsule retrieve sheet at the fold, a recess having a hole for passing through excretions is provided, and a wing for the capsule retrieve sheet to be placed on a toilet is formed.

The recess may be formed at the center of the capsule retrieve sheet, and a pair of wings may be formed on both sides of the recess.

The capsule retrieve sheet may have a rectangular shape. The recess may be formed to extend in a direction parallel to a short side of the outline of the capsule retrieve sheet. The recess may be formed to extend along a first line that runs through the center of the capsule retrieve sheet. The first line may run at the bottom of the recess. A border line between the recess and the wing may be parallel to the short side of the outline.

The fold may include a first line that runs through the center of the capsule retrieve sheet and that is parallel to a short side of the outline of the capsule retrieve sheet; a second line that extends from a first point on the first line and between the ends of the first line, to a first periphery area that is along a long side of the outline of the capsule retrieve sheet; a third line that is between the first line and the second line; a fourth line that is located at the opposite side of the third line across the second line, a fifth line; a sixth line; and a seventh line that extend from the first point to a second periphery area that is adjacent to the first periphery area and that is along the long side; the fifth line, the sixth line, and the seventh line being symmetric to the second line, the third line, and the fourth line respectively, across the first line. When the capsule retrieve sheet is folded down at the first line and the second line, folded up at the third line, folded down at the fourth line and the fifth line, folded up at the sixth line, and folded down at the seventh line, a first side surface of the recess that has an outline including the fourth line and the seventh line may be formed.

A first angle between the second line and the third line may be identical to a second angle between the second line and the fourth line, so that the capsule retrieve sheet can be folded as the third line and the fourth line overlap.

The fold may further comprise an eighth line, a ninth line, a tenth line, an eleventh line, a twelfth line, and a thirteenth line that are symmetric to the second line, the third line, the fourth line, the fifth line, the sixth line, and the seventh line, respectively, across a line that runs through the center of the capsule retrieve sheet and that is parallel to the long side. When the capsule retrieve sheet is further folded down at the eighth line, folded up at the ninth line, folded down at the tenth line and the eleventh line, folded up at the twelfth line, and folded down at the thirteenth line, a second side surface of the recess that opposes the first side surface may be further formed.

A third angle between the fifth line and the sixth line may be identical to a fourth angle between the fifth line and the seventh line, so that the capsule retrieve sheet can be folded as the sixth line and the seventh line overlap.

The recess may have a V-shaped section perpendicular to the first line, and the first line running at the bottom of the recess connects the first side surface and the second side surface. The fold may further comprise a fourteenth line that is parallel to the short side and that intersects the third line and the ninth line, and a fifteenth line that is parallel to the short side and that intersects the sixth line and the twelfth line. When the capsule retrieve sheet is further folded down at the fourteenth line and the fifteenth line, a third side surface and a fourth side surface that are between the first side surface and the second side surface, the third side surface having an outline of the first line, a part of the third line, a part of the ninth line, and the fourteenth line; the fourth side surface having an outline of the first line, a part of the sixth line, a part of the twelfth line, and the fifteenth line may be further formed.

A first wing that has an outline including a first short side of the outline of the capsule retrieve sheet, and a second wing that has an outline including a second short side of the outline of the capsule retrieve sheet, may be formed. A plurality of the holes may be arranged along the first line.

Adjacent to the fold, indications regarding whether the fold should be folded up or folded down may be indicated. The fold may be lightly cut on the surface. The hole may be provided at the bottom of the recess. In the capsule retrieve sheet, a plurality of holes may be provided along and on both sides of the fold, the fold being provided in the recess. The capsule retrieve sheet may comprise a net that has a mesh functioning as the hole.

A foreign substance retrieve sheet for retrieving a foreign substance excreted from a body by separation from excretions, according to the present invention, includes a fold at which the foreign substance retrieve sheet is folded. By folding the foreign substance retrieve sheet at the fold, a recess including a hole for passing through excretions is provided, and a wing for the foreign substance retrieve sheet to be placed on a toilet is formed.

A capsule retrieve tool, for retrieving a capsule endoscope excreted from a body by separation from excretions according to the present invention, includes a recess and a wing. The recess includes a hole for passing through excretions. The wing is for the capsule retrieve sheet to be placed on a toilet. The capsule retrieve tool is formed by folding a sheet material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention set forth below, together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view representing a capsule retrieve sheet of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a plan view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment, in a folded state;

FIG. 3 is a front view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment, in a folded state;

FIG. 4 is a side view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment, in a folded state;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment, in a folded state;

FIG. 6 is a plan view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment, where it is placed on a Western style toilet to which a capsule endoscope is excreted;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment, where the capsule endoscope is retrieved on the Western style toilet;

FIG. 8 is a plan view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment, where it is placed on a Japanese style toilet to which the capsule endoscope is excreted;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment, where the capsule endoscope is retrieved on the Japanese style toilet;

FIG. 10 is a plan view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment, where the folds are detailed;

FIG. 11 is a conceptual view representing steps in the folding the capsule retrieve sheet of the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a plan view representing a capsule retrieve sheet of a second embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the second embodiment, in a folded state;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the second embodiment, where adhesive sheets are used;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view representing the capsule retrieve sheet of the second embodiment, where it is removed from the toilet; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view representing a net of a capsule retrieve sheet of a third embodiment and a capsule endoscope, which are enlarged.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the attached drawings.

A capsule retrieve sheet 10 is used for retrieving a capsule endoscope excreted from inside a body of a subject person. As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 has a sheet shape before usage, and a plurality of folds are provided on the capsule retrieve sheet 10. The capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded at all the folds, then, it becomes usable (see FIGS. 2 to 9).

In the folded state (hereinafter, called the deployed state), where the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is prepared for usage, a recess 16 (see FIG. 2) is formed around the center of the capsule retrieve sheet 10, and a plurality of holes 20 are provided at the bottom of the recess 16. The capsule endoscope (not shown) engages with the holes 20 and is captured at the bottom of the recess 16, while excretions are washed off through the holes 20 to a toilet. Thus, the capsule endoscope can be retrieved while it is separated from the excretions, by the capsule retrieve sheet 10.

A pair of wings 18, which extend from the edges 16L of the recess 16 and which oppose each other, are formed when the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is in the deployed state. The capsule retrieve sheet 10 can be placed on a toilet at a predetermined position readily, using the pair of wings 18, as explained below.

Note that the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is a paper sheet that has suitable thickness and hardness, so that when the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is once folded, the shape thereof in the deployed state can be kept and can be transformed easily and properly, according to the shape of the toilet used with and other relevant factors.

In FIG. 1, the folds of the capsule retrieve sheet 10 are represented by solid lines, excluding the solid lines representing the outline of the capsule retrieve sheet 10, and excluding the solid curves representing the plurality of holes 20 arranged along the center of the capsule retrieve sheet 10. In FIGS. 2 to 5, the folds on the plane (that is the folds along which the capsule retrieve sheet 10 may be folded, or may not be folded) are represented by dashed lines, for convenience of explanation. For example, in FIG. 5, both of the wings 18 are planes that have a trapezoidal shape, including a side being an edge 16L of the recess 16, although the folds are on the surfaces of the pair of wings 18.

The capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the deployed state, for example, is placed on a Western style toilet 40 to receive a capsule endoscope 12 excreted from a body of a subject person (see FIGS. 6 and 7). At that time, the recess 16 is fit into an upper part of a hollow 40U of the Western style toilet 40, and the pair of wings 18 are placed between a toilet chair 42 and an upper edge 44 of the Western style toilet 40, so that the folded capsule retrieve sheet 10 is fixed in the predetermined position. Note that excretions excreted with the capsule endoscope 12 are omitted in FIG. 7 and the following figures. The capsule retrieve sheet 10 is designed to be adaptable to the Western style toilet 40, which is a typical toilet, in terms of shape and size. Therefore, complex operations for adjusting the setting position of the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the deployed state are not necessary, and fixing the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in a suitable position for deployment is easy.

Note that the capsule retrieve sheet 10 has the property of being waterproof, so as not to be transformed or broken by water.

On the other hand, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 can be used in a Japanese style toilet 50 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). That is, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is designed so that the recess 16 is fit into a hollow 50U of the Japanese style toilet 50, and the pair of wings 18 are placed on edges 54 of the Japanese style toilet 50. Then, the pair of wings 18 are stepped on by a subject person, then it is fixed in the predetermined position.

The size, shape, and material of the capsule retrieve sheet 10 can be adjusted and changed according to the type of toilet that it is used with (in the embodiment, the size of the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the sheet state before being folded is JIS B3; that is, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is a rectangular sheet that has a length of 515 mm and a width of 364 mm), to be suitable for usage with typical toilets such as the Western style toilet 40 and the Japanese style toilet 50. The weight and thickness of the capsule retrieve sheet 10, for example, is the same as those of copy paper generally used in Japan, and is 64 g/m². Therefore, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 may be made of general copy paper or the equivalent. Using thicker paper than general copy paper may provide more strength to the capsule retrieve sheet 10.

In the capsule retrieve sheet 10 shown in FIG. 10, the folds to be folded down are represented by solid lines, and the folds to be folded up are represented by broken lines. All of the folds are on both sides of the capsule retrieve sheet 10. The capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded as explained below, then the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is shifted to the deployed state. First, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded down at a first fold (a first line) L₁, which is parallel to first and second short lines 10S₁ and 10S₂ of the outlines of the capsule retrieve sheet 10, and which runs through the center point 10C of the capsule retrieve sheet 10.

Further, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded down at a second fold (a second line) L₂ that extends diagonally from a first point P₁, on the first fold L₁ and between the ends of the first fold L₁, to a first periphery area O₁ that is along a first long side 10L₁ of the outline of the capsule retrieve sheet 10 and located at the upper right side in FIG. 10 Then, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded up at a third fold (a third line) L₃ that is between the first fold L₁ and the second fold L₂ and that extends from within angle L₁ L₂, and is folded down at a fourth fold (a fourth line) L₄ that is located at the opposite side of the third fold L₃ over the second fold L₂.

Then, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded at a fifth fold (a fifth line) L₅, a sixth fold (a sixth line) L₆, and a seventh fold (a seventh line) L₇, that all extend from the first point P₁ to a second periphery area O₂ that is along the first long side 10L₁, similarly to the first periphery area O₁, and that is adjacent to the first periphery area O₁ over the first fold L₁. The fifth to seventh folds L₅ to L₇ are symmetric to the second fold L₂, the third fold L₃, and the fourth fold L₄, respectively, across the first fold L₁.

That is, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded down at the fifth fold L₅ folded up at the sixth fold L₆, and folded down at the seventh fold L₇. At this stage, a first side surface of the recess 16 that is surrounded by the fourth fold L₄ and the seventh fold L₇ is formed by a first area S₁, represented by diagonal lines in FIG. 10.

In the capsule retrieve sheet 10, there are also eighth to thirteenth folds L₈ to L₁₃ (eighth to thirteenth lines) that are symmetric to the second fold L₂, the third fold L₃, the fourth fold L₄, the fifth fold L₅, the sixth fold L₆, and the seventh fold L₇ respectively, across a line L₁′ that runs through the center point 10C, that is perpendicular to the first fold L₁, and that is parallel to the first long side 10L₁ and to a second long side 10L₂ of the outline of the capsule retrieve sheet 10.

The eighth to tenth folds L₈ to L₁₀ extend from a second point P₂ on the first fold L₁ and between the ends of the first fold L₁ to a third periphery area O₃ that is located below the first periphery area O₁, and the eleventh to thirteenth folds L₁₁ to L₁₃ extend from the second point P₂ to a fourth periphery area O₄ that is located below the second periphery area O₂.

By folding the capsule retrieve sheet 10 at the eighth to tenth folds L₈ to L₁₀ further, similarly to the corresponding second to seventh folds L₂ to L₇, a second side surface of the recess 16 that is surrounded by the tenth fold L₁₀ and the thirteenth fold L₁₃, and that opposes the first side surface, is formed by a second area S₂ represented by diagonal lines.

Note that an angle α (a first angle) between the second fold L₂ and the third fold L₃ is identical to an angle β (a second angle) between the second fold L₂ and the fourth fold L₄, so that the capsule retrieve sheet 10 can be folded as the third fold L₃ and the fourth fold L₄ overlap. The third fold L₃ and the fourth fold L₄ form a side of the outline of the first side surface of the recess 16.

Because the fifth to seventh folds L₅ to L₇ are arranged similarly to the second to fourth folds L₂ to L₄, the sixth fold L₆ and the seventh fold L₇, which overlap with each other, form another side of the outline of the first side surface. Further, because the eighth to tenth folds L₈ to L₁₀, and the eleventh to thirteenth folds L₁₁ to L₁₃, are arranged similarly to the aforementioned folds, the ninth fold L₉ and the tenth fold L₁₀, which overlap with each other, and the twelfth fold L₁₂ and the thirteenth fold L₁₃, which also overlap with each other, form a side of the outline of the second side surface of the recess 16, respectively.

In the capsule retrieve sheet 10, a fourteenth fold (a fourteenth line) L₁₄ that is parallel to the first fold L₁ and that intersects the third fold L₃ and the ninth fold L₉, and a fifteenth fold (a fifteenth line) L₁₅ that is parallel to the first fold L₁ and that intersects the sixth fold L₆ and the twelfth fold L₁₂, are provided.

After the first side surface and the second side surface are formed, a third side surface and a fourth side surface that are between the first side surface and the second side surface in the recess 16 are formed, by folding up the capsule retrieve sheet 10 at the fourteenth fold L₁₄ and at the fifteenth fold L₁₅. The third side surface has an outline of the first fold L₁, a part of the third fold L₃, a part of the ninth fold L₉, and the fourteenth fold L₁₄. The fourth side surface has an outline of the first fold L₁, a part of the sixth fold L₆, a part of the twelfth fold L₁₂, and the fifteenth fold L₁₅.

By folding the capsule retrieve sheet 10 at the fourteenth fold L₁₄ and the fifteenth fold L₁₅, the pair of wings 18 are formed in addition to the third and fourth side surfaces at the same time. The pair of wings 18 are formed by a third area S₃ and a fourth area S₄, represented by the diagonal lines. The third area S₃ contains an outline of a part of the third fold L₃, a part of the ninth fold L₉, the fourteenth fold L₁₄, and the first short line 10S₁. The fourth area S₄ contains an outline of a part of the sixth fold L₆, a part of the twelfth fold L₁₂, the fifteenth fold L₁₅, and the second short line 10S₂. The fourteenth fold L₁₄ and the fifteenth fold L₁₅ form border lines between the recess 16 and the wings 18; that is, the edges 16L of the recess 16 of the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the deployed state. Note that after being folded at the fourteenth fold L₁₄, the third side surface and one of the wings 18 are detached, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 9. That is, although the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is once folded at the fourteenth fold L₁₄ into two layers, one of the wings 18 and the third area S₃, the layers are unfolded in the deployed state. This is the same state as with the first fold L₁ where the third side surface and the fourth side surface of the recess 16 overlap once and are then detached, and with the fifteenth fold L₁₅.

A sixteenth fold L₁₆ is provided between the second fold L₂ and the third fold L₃, and a seventeenth fold L₁₇ is provided between the third fold L₃ and the fourth fold L₄. The sixteenth fold L₁₆ and the seventeenth fold L₁₇ are arranged to overlap with the fourteenth fold L₁₄ when the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded at the fourteenth fold L₁₄, so that the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded at the sixteenth fold L₁₆ and the seventeenth fold L₁₇ at the same time that it is folded up at the fourteenth fold L₁₄. Eighteenth to twenty-third folds L₁₈ to L₂₃ that are arranged around the second to fourth periphery areas O₂ to O₄ are arranged similarly to the sixteenth fold L₁₆ and the seventeenth fold L₁₇.

In the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the deployed stater an area that is surrounded by the third fold L₃ and the fourth fold L₄ and folded at the second fold L₂, and that corresponds to an area surrounded by the first area S₁ and the third fold L₃ in the unfolded capsule retrieve sheet 10 shown in FIG. 10, is formed on the edge of the third side surface adjacent to the first side surface of the recess 16. This area is further folded at the sixteenth fold L₁₆ and the seventeenth fold L₁₇, and is incorporated into the third side surface of the recess 16 and one of the wings 18. Not only on the edge of the third side surface adjacent to the first side surface, but also on the edge of the third side surface adjacent to the second side surface, and also on the edges of the fourth side surface adjacent to the first and second side surfaces of the recess 16, similar areas are provided. Therefore, the edges of the recess 16 are strengthened, so that the shape of the recess 16 can be maintained, and is not easily transformed by external force.

By folding the capsule retrieve sheet 10, as explained above, the recess 16 that contains a line connecting the first point P₁ and the second point P₂ (which is a part of the first fold L₁ running at the bottom) and also contains a V-shaped section perpendicular to the first fold L₁, as well as contains the first to fourth side surfaces are formed. Further, in addition to the recess 16, the pair of wings 18 adjacent to the recess 16 are formed as a result of folding. In the recess 16, the first side surface and the second side surface are connected by the first and second short lines 10S₁, 10S₂, and the first fold L₁ of the capsule retrieve sheet 10. In the capsule retrieve sheet 10, a plurality of holes 20 are provided prior to folding, along the first fold L₁, so that the holes 20 are arranged at the bottom of the recess 16 in the deployed state of the capsule retrieve sheet 10.

These holes 20 are semicircular, and their line edges are on the first fold L₁. The holes 20 are arranged on both sides of the first fold L₁ with their straight edges facing the first fold L₁ side. That is, the holes 20 are arranged in cross-stitch patterns; i.e., the holes 20 are arranged to touch both sides of the first fold L₁ alternately as represented in FIG. 10. Because the holes 20 explained above are not across the first fold L₁, the recess 16 can maintain enough strength, regardless of having holes 20.

In the capsule retrieve sheet 10, marks (not shown) are provided beside each of all first to twenty-third folds L₁ to L₂₃, to indicate that the capsule retrieve sheet 10 should be folded up or down at each of the first to twenty-third folds L₁ to L₂₃. Further, all of the first to twenty-third folds L₁ to L₂₃ are lightly cut on the surface to ease the folding operations. The lightly-cut lines for all of the first to twenty-third folds L₁ to L₂₃ are provided only on either the front surface or the rear surface of the capsule retrieve sheet 10, depending on whether the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded up or down at each fold. That is, the lightly-cut line for each fold is provided on only one side, so as to be inside the capsule retrieve sheet 10 when it is folded. Therefore, whether the capsule retrieve sheet 10 should be folded up or down is clear, so that a subject person can use the capsule retrieve sheet 10 easily and properly, without folding it in a wrong direction.

After retrieving the capsule endoscope 12, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the deployed state is further folded, regardless of the folds (see FIG. 11). That is, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is folded so that the recess 16 is closed and the pair of wings 18 are connected to each other, as the arrows A and B represent. Further, the capsule retrieve sheet 10, which now has an almost trapezoid shape, for example, can be folded at the broken lines where both ends of the capsule retrieve sheet 10 come inside, and then folded again to be smaller.

The capsule retrieve sheet 10 has a suitable hardness, so that it can be folded not only at the folds, but also other areas, and can be miniaturized. Disposing of the used capsule retrieve sheet 10 is easy, by folding it with the recess 16 inside, as explained above, although the recess 16 usually has become wet at this point by contact with water for washing off excretions.

Note that the capsule retrieve sheet 10 may be folded after the capsule endoscope 12 is taken out with a pair of tweezers or other tools, although the capsule retrieve sheet 10, where the capsule endoscope 12 is engaged inside, is folded in this embodiment.

As explained above, in the first embodiment, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is a flat member before deployment, so it has simple structure. Further, the folded capsule retrieve sheet 10 can retrieve the capsule endoscope 12 reliably, via a simple operation by placing it on a toilet in the predetermined position.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention is explained, mainly focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is that adhesive sheets 26 to fix the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the predetermined position on a toilet are provided (see FIG. 12). In the second embodiment, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is fixed more firmly than in the first embodiment, where the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the deployed state can be fixed by putting it between the toilet chair 42 and an upper edge 44 of the Western style toilet 40, or by a subject person stepping on it.

The adhesive sheets 26 are made of resin, which has a suitable adhesive property, and are provided on each of the third area S₃ and the fourth area S₄. The adhesive sheets 26 are arranged at the center of the third area S₃ and the fourth area S₄, to extend in a longitudinal direction of the unfolded capsule retrieve sheet 10. Therefore, at least a part of the adhesive sheets 26 can be easily used regardless of the shape and size of the toilet that a subject person uses, and the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is easily fixed in the predetermined position.

The adhesive sheets 26 are arranged on below surfaces of the third area S₃ and the fourth area S₄, so that the adhesive sheets 26 are below the wings 18 in FIG. 13, representing the capsule retrieve sheet 10 that is in the deployed state, viewed from the upper side obliquely. On the surfaces of the adhesive sheets 26, protecting sheets 28 to protect the adhesive sheets 26 are provided. The protecting sheets 28 can be easily removed, and when the protecting sheets 28 are removed from the adhesive sheets 26 as the arrow C represents (see FIG. 14), the adhesive sheets 26 become usable. Then, the exposed adhesive sheets 26 are attached to a toilet, and the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the deployed state is fixed in the predetermined position on a toilet; for example, on the upper edge 44 of the Western style toilet 40 (see FIGS. 6 to 9 and 15).

When the capsule endoscope 12 is captured by the holes 20, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is removed from the upper edge 44 of the Western style toilet 40, as the arrow D represents (see FIG. 15). Then, the adhesive sheets 26 are detached from the wings 18, and are left on the upper edge 44 of the Western style toilet 40. The adhesive sheets 26 have suitable removable adhesive, so that the adhesive sheets 26 are easily removed from the surface of the upper edge 44 of the Western style toilet 40, and are disposed by a subject person.

As explained above, in the second embodiment, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is fixed in the predetermined position of a toilet more firmly than in the first embodiment via simple operations, and the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is easily retrieved after usage.

Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention is explained. In the third embodiment (see FIG. 16), the difference from the aforementioned embodiments is that the capsule retrieve sheet 10 is a rectangular net made of plastic, and the net has a honeycomb shape with a mesh composed of many regular hexagons. The length E of the diagonal of a hexagon mesh is shorter than the diameter F of the capsule endoscope 12. Therefore, in the third embodiment, many meshes have the same function as the holes 20 in the aforementioned embodiments.

Since the recess 16 has a net shape as a whole, when the capsule endoscope 12 and excretions are captured by the recess 16, removing only the excretions readily and engaging the capsule endoscope 12 in the recess 16 can be carried out. Note that the net may provide either only an area forming the recess 16, or also form an area only around the bottom of the recess 16 in the deployed state, although the capsule retrieve sheet 10 has a net throughout itself, not only in the recess 16 in the embodiment, to simplify the manufacturing steps of the capsule retrieve sheet 10.

As explained above, excretions are excluded throughout the recess 16, not only at the holes 20, so that the capsule endoscope 12 can be readily separated from excretions and retrieved.

Note that the shape and material of the capsule retrieve sheet 10 are not limited to those of the aforementioned embodiments. For example, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 in the third embodiment may be made of paper, so long as it can have a net shape and folds to be folded at. Further, some embodiments may be combined; for example, it is possible to provide the adhesive sheets 26 on the net-shaped capsule retrieve sheet 10.

The capsule retrieve sheet 10 may be used as a foreign substance retrieve sheet to retrieve foreign substances other than the capsule endoscope 12 excreted from a body by separation from excretions, In such a case, the size or shape of the holes 20 may be adjusted according to the foreign substances to be retrieved. Further, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 may be folded during the manufacturing process, as a capsule retrieve tool, for a subject person to use it promptly.

On the first to twenty-third folds L₁ to L₂₃ of the capsule retrieve sheet 10, perforated lines may be provided instead of lines with light cuts on the surface.

Note that the capsule retrieve sheet 10 may be transformed to be in the deployed state only by bending it, not by folding it. That is, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 may have bent portions instead of the folds, and may be bent along the straight bent portions to be in the deployed state. For example, the capsule retrieve sheet 10 may not necessarily be folded at the first, fourteenth, or fifteenth folds L₁, L₁₄, or L₁₅ into two layers such as one of the side surfaces of the recess 16 and one of the wings 18, as explained above, and may be bent to be in the state where the two layers are unfolded at an angle from each other.

This invention is not limited to that described in the preferred embodiments; namely, various improvements and changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-277869 (filed on Sep. 26, 2005), which is expressly incorporated herein, by reference, in its entirety.

Claims

1. A capsule retrieve sheet for retrieving a capsule endoscope excreted from a body by separation from excretions, comprising:

a fold at which said capsule retrieve sheet is folded;

wherein a recess having a hole for passing through said excretions and a wing for said capsule retrieve sheet to be placed on a toilet are formed by folding said capsule retrieve sheet at said fold.

2. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 1, wherein said recess is formed at the center of said capsule retrieve sheet, and a pair of said wings are formed on both sides of said recess.

3. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 1, wherein said capsule retrieve sheet has a rectangular shape.

4. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 3, wherein said recess is formed to extend in a direction parallel to a short side of the outline of said capsule retrieve sheet.

5. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 4, wherein said recess is formed to extend along a first line that runs through the center of said capsule retrieve sheet.

6. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 5, wherein said first line runs at the bottom of said recess.

7. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 4, wherein a border line between said recess and said wing is parallel to said short side of the outline.

8. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 3, wherein said fold comprises a first line that runs through the center of said capsule retrieve sheet and that is parallel to a short side of the outline of said capsule retrieve sheet; a second line that extends from a first point on said first line and between the ends of said first line, to a first periphery area that is along a long side of the outline of said capsule retrieve sheet; a third line that is between said first line and said second line; a fourth line that is located at the opposite side of said third line over said second line; a fifth line; a sixth line; and a seventh line that all extend from said first point to a second periphery area that is adjacent to said first periphery area and that is along said long side, said fifth line, said sixth line, and said seventh line being symmetric to said second line, said third line, and said fourth line respectively, across said first line;

wherein said capsule retrieve sheet is folded down at said first line and said second line, folded up at said third line, folded down at said fourth line and said fifth line, folded up at said sixth line, and folded down at said seventh line, so that a first side surface of said recess that has an outline including said fourth line and said seventh line is formed.

9. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 8, wherein a first angle between said second line and said third line is identical to a second angle between said second line and said fourth line, so that said capsule retrieve sheet can be folded as said third line and said fourth line overlap.

10. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 8, wherein said fold further comprises an eighth line, a ninth line, a tenth line, an eleventh line, a twelfth line, and a thirteenth line that are symmetric to said second line, said third line, said fourth line, said fifth line, said sixth line, and said seventh line, respectively, across a line that runs through the center of said capsule retrieve sheet and that is parallel to said long side;

wherein said capsule retrieve sheet is further folded down at said eighth line, folded up at said ninth line, folded down at said tenth line and said eleventh line, folded up at said twelfth line, and folded down at said thirteenth line, so that a second side surface of said recess that opposes said first side surface is further formed.

11. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 10, wherein a third angle between said fifth line and said sixth line is identical to a fourth angle between said fifth line and said seventh line, so that said capsule retrieve sheet can be folded as said sixth line and said seventh line overlap.

12. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 10, wherein said recess has a V-shaped section perpendicular to said first line, and said first line running at the bottom of said recess connects said first side surface and said second side surface.

13. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 10, wherein said fold further comprises a fourteenth line that is parallel to said short side and that intersects said third line and said ninth line, and a fifteenth line that is parallel to said short side and that intersects said sixth line and said twelfth line;

wherein said capsule retrieve sheet is further folded down at said fourteenth line and said fifteenth line, so that a third side surface and a fourth side surface are between said first side surface and said second side surface; said third side surface having an outline of said first line, a part of said third line, a part of said ninth line, and said fourteenth line; said fourth side surface having an outline of said first line, a part of said sixth line, a part of said twelfth line, and said fifteenth line, are further formed.

14. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 10, wherein a first wing that has an outline including a first short side of the outline of said capsule retrieve sheet, and a second wing that has an outline including a second short side of the outline of said capsule retrieve sheet, are formed.

15. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of said holes are arranged along said first line.

16. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 1, wherein whether said fold should be folded up or be folded down is indicated beside said fold.

17. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 1, wherein said fold is lightly cut on the surface.

18. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 1, wherein said hole is provided at the bottom of said recess.

19. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said holes are provided along and on both sides of said fold, said fold being provided in said recess.

20. The capsule retrieve sheet according to claim 1, wherein said capsule retrieve sheet comprises a net that has a mesh functioning as said hole.

21. A foreign substance retrieve sheet for retrieving a foreign substance excreted from a body by separation from excretions, comprising:

a fold at which said foreign substance retrieve sheet is folded;

wherein a recess comprising a hole for passing through said excretions and a wing for said foreign substance retrieve sheet to be placed on a toilet are formed by folding said foreign substance retrieve sheet at said fold.

22. A capsule retrieve tool for retrieving a capsule endoscope excreted from a body by separation from excretions, comprising:

a recess that comprises a hole for passing through said excretions; and

a wing for said capsule retrieve sheet to be placed on a toilet;

wherein said capsule retrieve tool is formed by folding a sheet material.