Abstract:
An endoscope device is provided. The endoscope device includes a capsule sensor entering a human body for detection and sending a signal, a driving device movably disposed outside of the human body and moving and rotating the capsule sensor in the human body with non-contact force for omni-directional human body detection, a data receiving device disposed outside of the human body and receiving signals from the capsule sensor, and a power supply device providing power to the driving device and the data receiving device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 96124653, filed on Jul. 6, 2007, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to an endoscope, and in particular relates to a capsule-shaped endoscope that enters the human body for detection. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    For a conventional gastroscopy test, a hose with optical fibers and lenses is used to inspect the gullet, stomach, and duodenum. Doctors can clearly and precisely locate alimentary canal diseases using the test. Since the hose has a considerable diameter, when the hose enters the alimentary canal, the patient may feel afraid or uncomfortable. In addition, the gastroscopy test is not able to completely inspect small intestine areas. 
         [0006]    The apparatus used for small intestine inspection is a capsule endoscope, such as a Given Imaging M2A produced in Israel. The capsule endoscope, Given Imaging M2A, as shown in  FIG. 1 , comprises a cover  100 , a seat  200 , a lens  300 , a light source (LED)  400 , a CMOS detector  500 , two batteries  600 , an ASIC transmitting module  700  and an antenna  800 . With the diameter of a human small intestine around 25 mm, the capsule endoscope is able to squirm within the small intestine and capture images for detection. However, when entering the stomach, the capsule endoscope randomly moves around and cannot precisely observe specific portions of the stomach. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    An embodiment of an endoscope device of the invention comprises: a capsule sensor entering a human body for detection and sending out a signal; a driving device movably disposed outside of the human body to move and rotate the capsule sensor inside of the human body with non-contact force for omni-directionally human body detection; a data receiving device disposed outside of the human body which receives signals from the capsule sensor; and a power supply device providing power to the driving device and the data receiving device. 
         [0008]    The capsule sensor comprises a housing which is capsule-shaped and has a periphery surface and two end surfaces and an inner magnetic element disposed in the housing. The driving device comprises a plurality of outer magnetic elements rotating around a first axis which attracts the inner magnetic element. When the driving device moves, the capsule sensor moves simultaneously and when the outer magnetic element rotates around the first axis, the capsule sensor rotates for omni-directionally detection. 
         [0009]    When the outer magnetic element rotates at a low speed, the capsule sensor is rotated around a third axis extending through the inner magnetic element and perpendicular to a periphery surface. 
         [0010]    The driving device further comprises: a turn table rotating around the first axis, wherein the outer magnetic elements are disposed on the turn table at equal distance with respect to the first axis; a base on which the turn table is disposed; and a cover covering the turn table and connected to the base maintaining rotation of the turn table when the driving device contacts the human body. 
         [0011]    The driving device further comprises a motor disposed in the base and connected to the turn table to rotate the turn table, and a switch disposed on the base connecting the power supply device and the motor to start or stop the motor and control rotational speed of the turn table. 
         [0012]    The detection module comprises at least one illuminating element disposed in the housing as a light source, at least one optical lens disposed in the housing to catch images of the human body, and at least one detecting element disposed in the housing to convert the images into signals. 
         [0013]    A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional capsule endoscope device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a capsule sensor of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   a  is a front view of a magnetic field control and data receiving device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3   b  is a side view of the magnetic field control and data receiving device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4   a ˜ 4   d  depict the capsule sensor of the invention when applied to intestine detection; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 4   e   1  to  4   h   2  depict the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field control and data receiving device when the capsule sensor of the invention is rotated; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 5   a ˜ 5   f  depict the endoscope device of the invention when applied to stomach detection; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the capsule sensor of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the magnetic field control and data receiving device of the invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  depicts the magnetic field control and data receiving device controlling the capsule sensor when applied to stomach detection. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0025]    An embodiment of an endoscope device of the invention comprises a capsule sensor, a driving device, a data receiving device and a power supply device. The capsule sensor can be swallowed by a patient to enter the alimentary canal. The driving device, the data receiving device and the power supply device are disposed outside of a human body. The capsule sensor is moved and rotated in the human body by the driving device to detect the alimentary canal omni-directionally. The detected image is converted into electronic signals which are transmitted to the data receiving device by wireless methods. The power for the capsule sensor is provided by a battery. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the capsule sensor  1  comprises a housing  11  having a capsule shape, a pair of illuminating elements  12 , an optical lens  13 , a detecting element  14 , a first wireless module  15 , a transmitter  15   a , an antenna  15   b , an inner magnetic element  16 , and a battery  17 . 
         [0027]    The illuminating element  12  can be an LED, and the detecting element  14  can be a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor. 
         [0028]    The housing  11  has a cylinder periphery surface and two hemispherical end surfaces  112  and  113 . The illuminating element  12  faces the periphery surface  111  and is electrically connected to the transmitter  15   a  to catch images. The detecting element  14  is electrically connected to the optical lens  13  and the transmitter  15   a  to convert the detected image to electronic signals. The transmitter  15   a  is disposed on the end surface  112  and is electrically connected to the antenna  15   b  to transmit electronic signals. 
         [0029]    The inner magnetic element  16 , which can be a permanent magnet, is disposed at the center of the housing  11 . The magnetic poles of the permanent magnet are radically disposed with respect to a rotational axis (second axis) L 2  of the housing  11  to provide magnetic force for spinning, moving or rotating. The battery  17  is disposed on the end surface  113  to provide power for all elements of the capsule sensor  1 . The first wireless module  15  comprises an antenna  15   b  disposed on the end surface  112  to transmit signals to a second wireless module  21  of a magnetic field control and data receiving device  2 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  depicts the driving device and data receiving device of the invention. In this embodiment, the driving device and the data receiving device are integrated as a magnetic field control and data receiving device. In this way, the data receiving device can move along with the driving device and receive signals from the capsule sensor  1 .  FIG. 3   a  is a front view of the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2 , and  FIG. 3   b  is a side view of the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2 . The magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  comprises a second wireless module  21 , a turn table  22   a , a base  22   b   1 , a handler  22   b   2 , a cover  22   c , a motor  22   d , a data receiving and power supply module  22   f , a shaft  22   g , and four outer magnetic elements  23   a˜d.    
         [0031]    In addition, the endoscope device of the invention further comprises a cable  24  and a work station  25 . 
         [0032]    The four outer magnetic elements  23   a˜d  can be a permanent magnet or electric magnet. 
         [0033]    The second wireless module  21  is disposed on the base  22   b  to receive the electronic signals from the first wireless module  21   b  of the capsule sensor  1  and connect to the data receiving and power supply module  22   f.    
         [0034]    The turn table  22   a  and the outer magnetic elements  23   a˜d  generate a rotational magnetic field. The base  22   b   1  is connected to the second wireless module  21  and the cover  22   c  to constitute a housing of the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2 . The handler  22   b   2  is jointed to the base  22   b   1  by the shaft  22   g , whereby the angle θ between the handler  22   b   2  and the base  22   b   1  can be changed. The cover  22   c  covers the turn table  22   a  and contacts the human body, whereby the turn table  22   a  maintains rotation when the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  contacts the human body. The motor  22   d  is disposed in the base  22   b   1 . The shaft of the motor  22   d  is jointed to the turn table  22   a  to rotate the turn table  22 . The data receiving and power supply module  22   f  is disposed in the handler  22   b   2  to provide power for the motor  22   d  and receive electronic signals from the second wireless module  21 , which are transmitted from the first wireless module  15 . A switch  22   i  is disposed on the bottom of the handler  22   b   2  and connected to the data receiving and power supply module  22   f  to start or stop the turn table  22   a  and control rotational speed of the turn table  22   a . Four outer magnetic elements  23   a˜d  surround an axis (first axis) L 1  and are axially disposed on the turn table  22   a  with respect to the axis L 1  to provide a magnetic field. The cable  24  is connected to the data receiving and power supply module  22   f  to transmit data to the work station  25  and provide power from the work station  25  to the data receiving and power supply module  22   f.    
         [0035]      FIGS. 4   a ˜ 4   d  depict the capsule sensor of the invention when applied to intestine detection.  FIG. 4   a  is a cross section of the capsule sensor  1 .  FIG. 4   b  is a side view of the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2 .  FIG. 4   c  is a front view of the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2 .  FIG. 4   d  depicts a doctor using the endoscope device of the invention for intestine inspection. A doctor  31  holds the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  to control the capsule sensor  1 . The movement of the capsule sensor  1  is shown in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c . When the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  is held in a specific position and the switch  22   f  is turned on, the motor  22   d  rotates the turn table  22   a  and the outer magnetic elements  23   a˜d  which rotate the inner magnetic element  16  in the capsule sensor  1  to rotate the capsule sensor  1  around the axis L 2 , whereby the optical lens  13  on the end of the capsule sensor  1  captures views of different portions of an intestine. When the turn table  22   a  rotates, the capsule sensor  1  is capable of spinning whether the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  moves or not. 
         [0036]    The images caught by the optical lens  13  are converted into electronic signals by the detecting element  14 . The electronic signals are processed in the transmitter  15   a  and transmitted to the second wireless module  21  via the antenna  15   b  of the first wireless module  15 . The electronic signals are sent to the data receiving and power supply module  22   f  and further sent to the work station  25  via the cable  24 . 
         [0037]    The doctor  31  can manually move the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  to move the capsule sensor  1  along the intestine  32  or stay at a position. When the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  moves, the capsule sensor  1  is moved whether the turn table  22   a  rotates or not. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 4   e   1  to  4   h   2  depict the magnetic field rotating the capsule sensor of the invention. When the turn table  22   a  starts, the outer magnetic elements  23   a ˜ 23   d  are disposed as shown in  FIG. 4   e   1 . The capsule sensor  1  is disposed above the turn table  22   a  and located at the position marked by ▴.  FIG. 4   e   2  is a side view observed from the position marked by ▴, wherein the magnetic field has an upward moving. 
         [0039]    When the outer magnetic elements  23   a ˜ 23   d  rotate to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4   f   1 , the capsule sensor  1  still remains above the position marked by ▴.  FIG. 4   f   2  is a side view observed from the position marked by ▴, wherein the magnetic field has a direction from left to right. Referring to the mark “T”, compared with  FIG. 4   e   2 , the mark T moves from left to top in  FIG. 4   f   2 , which means the capsule sensor  1  spins 90°. 
         [0040]    When the outer magnetic elements  23   a ˜ 23   d  rotates to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4   g   1 , the capsule sensor  1  still remains above the position marked by ▴.  FIG. 4   g   2  is a side view observed from the position marked by ▴, wherein the magnetic field has a direction going downward. Compared with  FIG. 4   f   2 , the mark T moves from left to right in  FIG. 4   g   2 , which means the capsule sensor  1  spins 180°. 
         [0041]    When the outer magnetic elements  23   a ˜ 23   d  rotates to be the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4   h   1 , the capsule sensor  1  still remains above the position marked by ▴.  FIG. 4   h   2  is a side view observed from the position marked by ▴, wherein the magnetic field has a direction from right to left. Compared with  FIG. 4   g   2 , the mark T moves from left to bottom in  FIG. 4   h   2 , which means the capsule sensor  1  spins 270°. 
         [0042]    When the outer magnetic elements  23   a ˜ 23   d  rotates back to be the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4   e   1 , the capsule sensor  1  still remains above the position marked by ▴.  FIG. 4   e   2  is a side view observed from the position marked by ▴, wherein the magnetic field has a direction going upward. The mark T returns to left, which means the capsule sensor  1  spins 360°. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 5   a ˜ 5   f  depict the endoscope device of the invention detecting a stomach.  FIG. 5   a  depicts a doctor operating the magnetic field control and data receiving device for stomach inspection.  FIGS. 5   b ˜ 5   f  depict the movement of the magnetic field control and data receiving device and the capsule sensor. A doctor  31  holds the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  to control the capsule sensor  1 . When the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  remains in a position and the switch  22   f  is turned on to rotate the turn table  22  at a very low speed as shown in  FIGS. 5   b ˜ 5   f , the slow rotation of the outer magnetic elements  23   a˜d  rotates the capsule sensor  1  around another axis L 3  (the third axis perpendicular to the periphery surface  111 , see  FIG. 2 ), whereby the optical lens  13  catches images of different portions of the stomach  41 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the capsule sensor of the invention. A screw portion is formed on the periphery surface  111  to stabilize the rotation of the capsule sensor  1 .  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the magnetic field control and data receiving device. FIG.  8  depicts the magnetic field control and data receiving device  2  controlling the capsule sensor  1  to detect a stomach. 
         [0045]    The invention also provides a magnetic field control method comprising the following steps. 
         [0046]    The magnetic field control and data receiving device starts. 
         [0047]    The capsule sensor catches images. 
         [0048]    The caught images are converted into electronic signals transmitted from capsule sensor to the magnetic field control and data receiving device. 
         [0049]    The magnetic field control and data receiving device is operated to move or rotate the capsule sensor. 
         [0050]    In the last step, the rotation of the capsule sensor is controlled by the turn table of the magnetic field control and data receiving device whether the magnetic field control and data receiving device moves or not. 
         [0051]    In the last step, the movement of the capsule sensor is controlled by the magnetic field control and data receiving device whether the turn table of the magnetic field control and data receiving device rotates or not. 
         [0052]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.