Patent ID: 8517919
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A capsule endoscopic system composed of a capsule endoscope swallowed by a patient to be inspected for shooting an image of a region to be observed inside a body of said patient, a receiver for wirelessly receiving image data of said region to be observed obtained by said capsule endoscope and storing said image data, and an information management device for retrieving said image data of said region to be observed from said receiver to store and manage said image data, said capsule endoscopic system comprising: (A) said information management device includes: a first storage device for storing past diagnostic information of a past examination for said patient; (B) said receiver includes: a second storage device for storing said diagnostic information retrieved from said information management device; a first data analyzer for comparing first image data included in said diagnostic information and second image data included in present information obtained by said capsule endoscope during endoscopy to output an image feature value which shows extent of conformity between said first and second image data, and for comparing first position information included in said diagnostic information and second position information included in said present information to output a position evaluation value which shows extent of conformity between said first and second position information; a control command producer for producing a control command to control operation of each component of said capsule endoscope based on an analysis result of said first data analyzer; and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting said control command; and (C) said capsule endoscope includes: a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving said control command; and an operation controller for causing each component of said capsule endoscope to operate in accordance with said control command, wherein said control command specifies a frame rate of said image shooting, wherein said frame rate is initially set at a first frame rate, wherein said frame rate is set at said first frame rate when said position evaluation value is less than a first threshold value, wherein said frame rate is set at said second frame rate when said position evaluation value is equal to or more than said first threshold value and said image feature value is less than a second threshold value, wherein said frame rate is set at a third frame rate higher than said second frame rate when said position evaluation value is equal to or more than said first threshold value and said image feature value is equal to or more than said second threshold value, wherein said frame rate is maintained at said second frame rate when said position evaluation value is less than said first threshold value, said image feature value is less than said second threshold value, said frame rate set last time is said second frame rate and a predetermined time has not elapsed since said frame rate was set at said second frame rate, and wherein said frame rate is set at said first frame rate when said position evaluation value is less than said first threshold value, said image feature value is less than said second threshold value, said frame rate set last time is said second frame rate and said predetermined time has elapsed since said frame rate was set at said second frame rate.