Patent ID: 7697970
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A capsule endoscope for executing a medical action in a cavity organ of a body to be examined, the capsule endoscope comprising: an untethered main body further comprising: a rotation symmetrical member having a symmetrical axis in a traveling direction, the symmetrical axis further defining a front end and a rear end of the rotation symmetrical member; and a front diameter-reduced portion arranged to the front end of the rotation symmetrical member and a rear diameter-reduced portion arranged to the rear end of the rotation symmetrical member, the front and rear diameter-reduced portions each having a diameter which reduces toward the symmetrical axis of the rotation symmetrical member; an electromagnetic field response portion disposed in the untethered main body and acted by the rotation of an electromagnetic field applied from the outside of the body to be examined; a spiral structure, disposed on at least a portion of an external surface of the rotation symmetrical member of the untethered main body and at least a portion of an external surface of the front diameter-reduced portion of the untethered main body, for converting the rotating motion generated by the electromagnetic field response portion into a thrust; and an image pickup system, provided inside the front diameter-reduced portion of the untethered main body, for picking up an image, wherein an end of the spiral structure is disposed on an external surface of the front diameter-reduced portion of the untethered main body so as to reach the vicinity of a boundary of an imaging area of the image pickup system.