Abstract: Even in the event of movement by the operator, vibrations received from outside, changes in orientation etc., the spectral characteristics can be controlled with high precision, thus enabling acquisition of a desired observation image.

Abstract: A steerable, tendon-driven endoscope is described herein. The endoscope has an elongated body with a manually or selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled, segmented proximal portion. The steerable distal portion and the segment of the controllable portion are actuated by at least two tendons. As the endoscope is advanced, the user maneuvers the distal portion, and a motion controller actuates tendons in the segmented proximal portion so that the proximal portion assumes the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. By this method the selected curves are propagated along the endoscope body so that the endoscope largely conforms to the pathway selected. When the endoscope is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves can propagate distally along the endoscope body. This allows the endoscope to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.

Abstract: A proximal connector of an endoscope shaft can be manually attached to and detached from a console, such that the connector and endoscope shaft can be provided as a single use device. An interface between the proximal connector and console can include a sliding plate moveable to operably make and break at least some of the connections between the console and endoscope shaft. A fluid reservoir may be separately connected to the proximal connector and hang from a mount on the interface.

Abstract: In an endoscope apparatus of the present invention, an one-side gap between a tube main body of an overtube and an insertion portion is set at 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Lubricity is improved because a lubricating liquid such as water supplied from the injection port to the base end side of the tube main body is sufficiently supplied to the whole area of the gap between the tube main body and the insertion portion by setting the one-side gap at not less than 0.5 mm. Also, the snaking of the insertion portion with respect to the tube main body can be held to a minimum by setting the one-side gap at not more than 1.5 mm. As a result of this, the insertion and extraction operability of the insertion portion with respect to the overtube is improved.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for manipulating scoping devices, surgical tools, and/or tissue. An exemplary system for manipulating a scoping device can include a scoping device having a working channel, a tether extending through the working channel, and an internal coupling member attached to the tether and positioned adjacent to a distal end of the scoping device. The internal coupling member can be magnetically coupled to an external coupling member. An exemplary method for manipulating a scoping device can include inserting at least a portion of a scoping device into a body cavity and positioning an external coupling member proximate to an external surface of tissue such that the external coupling member magnetically couples through the tissue to an internal coupling member disposed within the body cavity and attached to a tether passed through at least one working channel of the scoping device.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument is provided and includes a handle assembly for operating the surgical instrument, an articulatable neck assembly supported on and extending from the handle assembly, and an end effector operatively supported on the neck assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing; a trigger operatively supported on the housing; at least one actuation shaft operatively connected to the trigger and extending from the housing, wherein an actuation of the trigger imparts axial translation to the actuation shaft; and at least one articulation cable operable from the housing. The end effector includes a pair of pivotably mounted, juxtaposed jaws, wherein the jaws are movable at least between an open position and a closed position, and wherein a distal end of an actuation shaft is operatively engaged with the pair of jaws to effectuate opening and closing of the jaws.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope for picking up an image in a body cavity by an image pickup apparatus provided in a distal end of an insertion portion; a position detecting apparatus for detecting, based on luminal information acquired by the image pickup apparatus, position information used for inserting the distal end of the insertion portion; a recording apparatus for recording, in a time-sequential manner, the position information detected by the position detecting apparatus; a determining apparatus for determining whether or not the detecting operation of the position information performed by the position detecting apparatus satisfies a set condition; and a direction calculating apparatus for, when the determination result shows that the set condition is not satisfied, reading out the position information recorded in the recording apparatus and outputting information on a direction in which the distal end of the insertion portion is to be inserted.

Abstract: A control arrangement for use in a medical or surgical instrument, which arrangement includes a keypad for providing manual control functions to a user of the instrument, a retainer clip and a sealing member. The keypad and retainer clip are located within an opening formed in the instrument housing, whereby when the retainer clip is assembled to the housing, the retainer clip automatically causes the sealing member to sealingly engage with a corresponding sealing surface defined adjacent the housing opening, without the need for the use of additional sealing agents.

Abstract: A method of navigating a magnet-tipped distal end of an elongate medical device through the body includes providing an image display of the part of the body through which the medical device is being navigated and using the display to input the desired path of the medical device by identifying points on the desired path on the display. The magnetic field needed to orient the end of the medical device in the direction of the desired path as indicated on the display is then determined. In one embodiment where only points on the desired path are identified, the field direction is the direction indicated by the points on the desired path.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a surgical equipment, having a proximal portion and a distal portion at least reversibly or temporarily interconnected along a main longitudinal axis (shaft P:D); said proximal portion is insertable into a body cavity, and having at least one manoeuvrable effecter; said effecter is adapted to be either manoeuvred linearly along said axis (linear effecter) or to be manoeuvred rotationally around said axis (rotational effecter); said distal portion comprising a handset located outside the body; said handset is adapted to manoeuvre said effecter with either a linear motion along said axis (linear handset) or a rotational motion around said axis (rotational handset); said effecter comprising a proximal effecting means and a distal converter; said converter translates either linear motion to rotational motion or rotational motion to linear motion; so as said rotational effecter is adaptable to a linear handset, and vice versa, a linear effecter is adaptable to a rotational handset.

Abstract: In an endoscope, a solid-state image pickup device images an object, to output an image signal. In a processing apparatus, an illuminator applies normal light and specific light having spectral distribution different from the normal light to the object. A display control unit operates according to the image signal, to cause display of a normal image of the object produced by applying the normal light, and a specific image of the object produced by applying the specific light. A motion detector detects information of relative motion of the object. A controller controls the illuminator, causes alternate emission of the normal and specific light periodically at a storage period of the image pickup device if the motion information is equal to or smaller than a threshold level, and causes emission of the normal light without emitting the specific light if the motion information is greater than the threshold level.

Abstract: A medical guidance system and a control method of a medical device are provided, which may increase the drive force of a medical device and improve controllability thereof. The medical guidance system has a medical device that includes a biologic information acquisition unit that acquires biologic information of the inside of a body cavity and a magnet that generates drive force in response to a magnetic field exerted from the outside of a body, a magnetic field generation unit 101 that generates the magnetic field to be exerted on the magnet from the outside of a body, and a displacement detection unit 105 that detects displacement being an angle formed between the magnetization direction of the magnet and the field direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit 101 at the position of the medical device; wherein the magnetic field generation unit 101 is controlled based on the displacement.

Abstract: A history information obtaining unit obtains information about a use history of an endoscope. An estimating unit makes an estimation of a secular change in the endoscope from its use start until the present time based on this information. A displaying unit displays a ratio of a result of the estimation made by the estimating unit to the degree of the secular change, which is preset for the endoscope.

Abstract: A treatment instrument output data analysis section includes a probe ID extraction section, an output waveform extraction section, a data analysis section and an analysis result output section. The analysis result output section of the treatment instrument output data analysis section can display on a centralized display panel a synthetic image made by synthesizing a frame image stored in an image storage section of an endoscopic camera apparatus and an analysis result analyzed by the data analysis section.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope switching device 3 to which a plurality of endoscope devices are simultaneously connected, and an endoscope control device which controls the plurality of endoscope devices via the endoscope switching device 3. The endoscope switching device 3 includes an image combining circuit 73 which combines video signals outputted from the plurality of endoscope devices and creates a combined image signal for simultaneously displaying the plurality of endoscope images, and a switching device control unit 75 which controls the image combining circuit 73. The switching device control unit 75 controls the operation for distributing a control command from a remote controller or PC to the corresponding endoscope device based on a character code sent from a system control unit in the endoscope control device. Simultaneously, the switching device control unit 75 controls the image combining circuit 73 via a serial I/F.

Abstract: A body insertion instrument has an inserting portion inserted into a body near a target organ as a target of surgery. The body insertion instrument further includes a space securing unit, disposed to the inserting portion, configured to secure a space, in which the target organ is operated on, one of between the target organ and an organ different from the target organ and between the target organ and one of an abdominal wall and a chest wall, and a drive unit configured to drive the space securing unit for acting force the one of between the target organ and the organ different from the target organ and between the target organ and the one of the abdominal wall and the chest wall.

Abstract: In an insertion support system according to the present invention, on the basis of the rotation angle data of the VBS images stored in the memory, an image processing unit rotates and corrects the VBS image and the thumbnail VBS images to generate the insertion support screen.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a minimally invasive diagnosis or intervention inside the body of a patient is provided. The apparatus includes a capsule endoscope, which can be introduced into the body of the patient and includes at least one medical instrument. At least one transmission antenna for emitting electromagnetic radiation is arranged outside the body. At least one reception antenna for receiving the electromagnetic radiation is provided in or on the capsule endoscope. The current position of the capsule endoscope is calculated in an analysis unit using antenna signals generated by the interaction of the transmission antenna with the reception antenna.

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: An active drive type medical apparatus includes: an active mechanism having a rotatable joint provided near the distal end of a long member; an active mechanism driving section; a position/attitude detecting section configured to detect a position/attitude of the active mechanism; an instruction input section for performing instruction input of the position/attitude of the active mechanism; and a force calculating section configured to calculate, on the basis of the instruction input of the position/attitude, a force corresponding to a net external force acting on the active mechanism, by subtracting an estimated driving force estimated in the case where the active mechanism in a no-load state is driven, from a driving force required in the case where the active mechanism is actually driven by the active mechanism driving section from the position/attitude before the instruction input to the instructed and inputted position/attitude.

Abstract: A capsule medical device includes a capsule casing that contains an illumination board, an imaging board, a transmission board, and a control board on which functional components are mounted, and a sheet-like battery that supplies power to the functional components. The sheet-like battery is rolled up to be a pole shape and located between cutout parts of the imaging board, the transmission board, and the control board and the inner wall of the capsule casing.

Abstract: To precisely determine whether it is a stored image data and further reduce the apparatus scale. An intra-subject information acquiring system has a receiver apparatus (3) for acquiring an image data from a capsule type endoscope (2) and also has a monitor apparatus (7) for displaying the image data acquired by the receiver apparatus (3). The receiver apparatus (3) has an image determination part (40) that determines whether the acquired image data is effective or ineffective; a data generating part (41) that generates an output data obtained by adding a determination result to the image signal; and a differential transmission I/F (44) that transmits the output data to the monitor apparatus (7).

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a power supply section which supplies necessary power to respective sections in the medical apparatus, a maintaining section (a delay circuit 15) which maintains supply of power to a part of processing circuits (an image processing circuit 16) until processing in the processing circuit is completed, when an operation of instructing interruption of supply of power to the respective sections is performed, and a stopping section (a control circuit 18) which immediately stops supply of power to a part of circuit elements (a CCD, an LED) when an operation of instructing interruption of supply of power to the respective sections is performed.

Abstract: Multi-directional transmitters for in-body devices, such as implantable and ingestible devices, are provided. Aspects of the in-body multi-direction transmitters of the invention include signal transmitters configured to transmit an identifying signal in at least two different directions in an x-y plane. Embodiments of the in-body devices are configured to emit a detectable signal upon contact with a target physiological site. Also provided are methods of making and using the devices of the invention.

Abstract: A situation where a medical device is outside a region suitable for guidance control thereof can be easily coped with. Included are a medical device provided with a magnet; a guiding unit (5X-1, 5X-2, 5Y-1, 5Y-2, 5Z-1, 5Z-2) that forms a control magnetic field for guidance control of the medical device, inside a prescribed control area; a detection unit (7Y-1, 7Y-2) that detects positional information of the medical device; and a computational unit that judges that the medical device has gone outside the control area on the basis of an output from the detection unit (7Y-1, 7Y-2) and calculates a direction for returning the medical device to the control area, wherein a signal-waveform calculating unit (21) stops forming the control magnetic field when the medical device is outside the control area.

Abstract: A gas supply source for supplying gas and a channel along which the gas is supplied can be easily switched by providing an instrument channel for passing an endoscope treating tool, a gas and water supply channel for supplying carbon dioxide etc. to the inside of a body, a gas supply source for a visceral cavity capable of supplying gas at a predetermined pressure, a gas supply source for a lumen capable of supplying gas at an optional pressure, and a switch device for switching from any of and an instrument channel and a gas and water supply channel to any of the gas supply source for a visceral cavity and the gas supply source for a lumen.

Abstract: Endoscope position/attitude information acquisition means which acquires position/attitude information of an endoscope is connected to a control device which controls a motor box which actively actuates a surgical instrument, and the control device utilizes the position/attitude information to adjust a control signal of the motor box so that a position deviation of the surgical instrument within an endoscope image when the position of the endoscope changes is prevented from occurring.

Abstract: An endoscopic system includes a surgical instrument position control apparatus. The surgical instrument position control apparatus estimates motion of an endoscope main body with respect to a target site, based on an image picked up in conjunction with movement of an endoscope. To determine the moving amount of the surgical instrument, the surgical instrument position control apparatus calculates the amounts of operations, such as bending, rotation, and forward and backward movements, of each joint of a surgical arm section which amounts are required to move the surgical instrument from a position taken by the surgical instrument after movement of the endoscope to a surgical procedure position. The surgical instrument position control apparatus thus bends each joint to move the surgical section to the original surgical procedure position so as to hold the position of the surgical instrument every time the endoscope is moved.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a capsule medical device includes mounting one or more functional components on each of a first circuit board group and a second circuit board group, which are separate bodies from each other; mounting a control unit that controls an operation of the one or more functional components, on a control board that is a separate body from the first circuit board group and the second circuit board group; and connecting the first circuit board group and the second circuit board group to the control board.

Abstract: This invention comprises an instrument with a unique trigger mechanism for approximating any tissues that can physically reach each other during a performance of any laparoscopic procedure. The user friendly double grasper comprises an elongated cannula having visually coded jaws at one end which cooperate with an intermediate member. The visually coded jaws are connected to control means within the cannula which are coupled to tacile coded control triggers mounted to a longitudinal handle. Each trigger is spring loaded to passively close a particular jaw after manually opening the jaw. Both triggers may be operated individually or simultaneously with the same operating digit. The triggers include a dimple on one trigger and a bubble on the other trigger so that an operator may recognize which trigger corresponds to which jaw and thus control the jaws by feel. The jaws are also coded for visual recognition with different color or letter.

Abstract: A system for guiding capsule medical device is provided with a capsule medical device, a magnetic guidance device, and an image display device. The capsule medical device is provided with an imaging unit for imaging an in-vivo image of a subject and a permanent magnet magnetized in a known direction relatively fixed with respect to an upward and downward direction of an imaging surface of the imaging unit in a capsule casing, and has a center of gravity at a location deviated from a geometric center of the capsule casing in a direction parallel to a plane parallel to a magnetization direction of the permanent magnet and an imaging direction of the imaging unit and different from the magnetization direction of the permanent magnet, and maintains a specific state in which the magnetization direction of the permanent magnet and the imaging direction of the imaging unit are parallel to a vertical plane in liquid introduced into the subject.

Abstract: A system for guiding capsule medical device is provided with a capsule medical device, a magnetic guidance device, an operation input unit, a control device, and an image display device. The capsule medical device is includes therein a first and second imaging units that image images in imaging directions different from each other and a permanent magnet. The magnetic guidance device applies a magnetic field to the permanent magnet to magnetically guide the capsule medical device in a subject. The operation input unit receives operation information to operate magnetic guidance of the capsule medical device. The control device controls the magnetic guidance device to magnetically guide the capsule medical device in response to the operation information input through the operation input unit.

Abstract: A system for guiding capsule medical device includes a capsule medical device that includes a capsule casing including an imaging unit and a permanent magnet magnetized in a direction relatively fixed with respect to an upward and downward direction of an imaging surface of the imaging unit. The capsule medical device has a center of gravity deviated from a geometric center of the casing toward a direction different from a magnetization direction of the permanent magnetic. In the capsule medical device, a plane parallel to the imaging surface and a plane parallel to the magnetization direction and a deviation direction of the center of gravity with respect to the geometric center form an intersection line. The system further includes a magnetic guidance device; and an image display device displaying an in-vivo image such that a direction of the intersection line conforms to an upward and downward direction of a screen.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an accessory including an actuation portion configured to be actuated, an operating unit for operating the actuation portion, an endoscope including an accessory insertion pass wherein the accessory is adapted to be inserted through the accessory insertion pass from a proximal end portion of the accessory insertion pass to a distal end portion of the accessory insertion pass, and projected from and retracted into the distal end portion of the accessory insertion pass, a detecting unit configured to detect a condition of a part of the accessory, which is projected from the distal end portion of the accessory insertion pass, and a control unit configured to control an actuation of the actuation portion by an operation to the operating detecting unit.

Abstract: Robotic system for assisting in minimally-invasive surgery, which can position a surgical instrument in response to orders from a surgeon, is not attached to the operating table and does not require pre-calibration of the insertion point. The system includes: a manipulator robot having three active degrees of freedom, which is provided with an end actuator having two passive degrees of freedom, said actuator being used to attach a surgical instrument; a robot controller built into the structure thereof, which can perform a method for calculating the movement to be imparted to the carried surgical instrument so that it reaches the desired location without requiring pre-calibration and without the assembly having to be attached to the operating table; and an interface system for ordering the system to perform the desired actions. The assembly comprising the robot, the controller and the interface system is battery operated.

Abstract: Smooth guiding through the inside of a body cavity is carried out by a magnetic field applied from the outside of the body. The provided capsule medical device (1) includes a bio-information detecting device (5) for detecting bio information of the inside of a body cavity; a magnet (12) for receiving a guidance magnetic field applied from outside the body and generating a driving force; a coil (7) for receiving a position-detection magnetic field applied from outside the body and generating a position-detection signal; a filter device (8), connected to the coil (7), for attenuating an induction signal component which is generated by the guidance magnetic field incident on the coil (7); and a wireless transmission device (10) for externally transmitting the position-detection signal which has passed through the filter device (8) and the bio information which has been detected by the bio-information detecting device (5).

Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus inserted in the body cavity includes a spiral projected portion on the outer peripheral surface of a body cavity inserting portion. The pitch, height, and cross section of the projected portion and the like are set to have proper values and shapes suitable to the advance thereof. The body cavity inserting portion has a magnet. An external magnetic guiding device applies a rotating magnetic field to the magnet and the magnetic torque acts on a magnet for rotation. Thus, the medical apparatus stably advances.

Abstract: An in vivo imaging system including an ingestible in vivo imaging device for obtaining images and transmitting image data; a receiver for receiving said transmitted image data; a processor for processing said image data; and a controller for controlling movement of the in vivo imaging device based on processed image data. Controlling the movement of the in vivo imaging device is typically achieved by an external magnet moved along the patient's body unconstrained by a predetermined track.

Abstract: A magnetically guiding system includes: a capsule medical device that has a magnet provided therein; an information acquiring unit that acquires physical information about magnetic guiding of the capsule medical device; a magnetic field generating unit that generates a magnetic field for magnetically guiding the capsule medical device; and a control unit that sets a magnetic field condition based on the physical information acquired by the information acquiring unit and controls the magnetic field generating unit to generate a magnetic field corresponding to the magnetic field condition.

Abstract: A portable simplified image display apparatus and a receiving system are provided, which can sensuously know the state of received strength of radio signals transmitted from a body-insertable apparatus, in either case of before examination or during examination. A viewer (7) includes a detector that detects received strength of a radio signal transmitted from a capsule endoscope (2) and a notifying unit that notifies the detected state of received strength in a display pattern such as a picture display of a capsule (41). Therefore, in either case of before examination or during examination, the state of received strength of radio signals transmitted from the capsule endoscope (2) can be sensuously known according to the notification result of the state of received strength. If it is during examination, supplementary observation can be performed based on an excellent received image by searching a site having strong received strength, thereby enabling contribution to satisfactory examination.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system used for observing living tissues inside a body cavity includes a single imaging device configured to output image signals corresponding to a received optical image, an illuminating apparatus having a white light source emitting white light and an excitation light source emitting excitation light, an image forming system configured to form the optical image of the living tissues illuminated with each of the white light and the excitation light on the imaging device, a display device, an image processing system that receives the image signals output from the single imaging device, the image processing system transforming the received image signals into signals which are allowed to be displayed on the display device, and a control system configured to control the whole of the electronic endoscope system, the image processing system employs image signals, obtained from an image, output from the single imaging device as a first field of image signals of an interlaced image, and empl

Abstract: A device, system and method for capturing in-vivo images allows for size or distance estimations for objects within the images. A scale may be overlayed on or otherwise added to the images and, based on a comparison between the scale and an image of an object, the size of the object and/or the distance of the object from an imaging device may be estimated or calculated.

Abstract: Method and system providing an automated workflow for installing and/or calibrating laboratory equipment. The workflow empowers an end user to perform installation and calibration thereby reducing the costs associated with such activities. The automated workflow taught herein, can greatly reduce the incidence of calibration error by providing for verification of certain events during the calibration process.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical instrument configured to be ergonomic and anthropometrically correct, comprising: a) an ergonomic handle configured to orient a hand of a surgeon in a functional position, the handle comprising a wall structure defining an interior portion, and adapted to contain at least a portion of one or more working mechanisms; b) an actuating mechanism actuatable by the surgeon and supported within the interior portion of the handle; c) a working shaft having a proximal end coupled to and operable with the actuating mechanism, the working shaft having an elongate configuration and a distal working end configured to couple a surgical tool to be manipulated by the surgeon; and d) means for accessing the interior portion of the handle to expose an inner side of the wall structure and at least a portion of each of the working mechanisms for cleaning, sterilization and maintenance purposes.

Abstract: A capsule camera includes a wireless transmitter that transmits data and a receiving system having multiple receiving units to allowing storing multiple data streams simultaneously. The multiple stored data streams may be used at a later time to derive the best data stream for analysis, based on the network conditions at the time each data packet is received. The best data stream may be derived from the multiple stored data streams at a later time during the decoding process. For example, in a capsule camera application, the multiple data streams may be stored in the memory devices associated with the receiving units, which are typically attached to different locations on the body during diagnosis. The multiple data streams are maintained as the capsule passes through the gastrointestinal tract. Subsequently, after the diagnosis, the receiving units are recovered and connected to a computer or another standalone device for analysis.

Abstract: An operating device operates a capsule endoscope with 6 degrees-of-freedom motion by using a magnetic field generator with respect to the capsule endoscope inserted into the subject. The operating device includes an operating unit including a fixed unit and a movable unit, and a force sensor incorporated in the operating unit. The operating unit has a three-dimensional shape substantially identical to the capsule endoscope and is a holdable size. The force sensor detects force information of the movable unit when the movable unit of the operating unit is operated once or continuously. The force information detected by the force sensor is output as instruction information for instructing 6 degrees-of-freedom motion of the capsule endoscope.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system for observing living tissues inside a body cavity includes an illuminating apparatus having a white light source emitting white light and an excitation light source emitting excitation light, an electronic endoscope including an insertion part to be inserted into the body cavity, an imaging device that receives an optical image and outputs image signals corresponding to the optical image, an image forming system that forms the optical image, an operating pant provided at a rear anchor of the insertion part, and a plurality of operable members arranged at the operating part, a display device, an image processing system that receives the image signals outputted from the imaging device, the image processing system obtaining a normal image when the living tissues are illuminated with the white light and a fluorescence image when the living tissues are irradiated with the excitation light, and a control system that controls the whole of the electronic endoscope system.

Abstract: A display device includes: a display unit that displays examination procedure information indicating an examination procedure of a subject; and a control unit that acquires position-related information of a capsule endoscope inserted into the subject, calculates a position of the capsule endoscope based on the acquired position-related information, determines a to-be-executed examination procedure of the subject corresponding to the calculated position, and performs control to display the examination procedure information indicating the determined to-be-executed examination procedure of the subject.

Abstract: Using a guidance system with a simple configuration, propulsive motion along a longitudinal direction and changing of the propulsion direction are easily performed with good precision and stability. There is provided a capsule-type medical apparatus 201 which is inserted into the body of a subject and is guided by an external magnetic field, the capsule-type medical apparatus 201 comprising: a substantially cylindrical capsule 202; a propulsion mechanism 207 for converting rotary motion about a longitudinal axis R of the capsule 202 into propulsive motion along the longitudinal axis R; a magnet 205 accommodated inside the capsule 202 and disposed in such a manner that the magnetic-pole direction thereof can be switched between a direction along the longitudinal axis R and a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis R; and a securing portion 212 for securing the magnet 205 to the capsule 202 in each of the switched states of the magnetic-pole direction.

Abstract: A battery section of an electronic endoscope is provided with an EEPROM. The EEPROM stores charging time and the number of charging of batteries, necessary for calculating remaining power of the batteries, and customized information for assigning functions to first, second and third switches of an operation section. A remaining-power calculator calculates the remaining power of the batteries based on a relation between discharge voltage and discharge time of the batteries as well as on the charging time and the number of charging of the batteries read out from the EEPROM. A function assignment circuit assigns the functions to the first, second and third switches in accordance with the customized information read out from the EEPROM.