JP2012055630A - In-vivo information acquiring system and control method of the in-vivo information acquiring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope system having a simple configuration.SOLUTION: The endoscope system 1 includes a capsule endoscope 10 and a receiver 20. The receiver 20 includes an image receiving part 22 for receiving an image to be transmitted by the capsule endoscope 10, an external memory 23 for storing the image to be received by the image receiving part 22, and a permission signal transmitting part 24 for transmitting permission signals at predetermined intervals. The capsule endoscope 10 includes an image acquiring part 14 for acquiring an in-vivo image, an image transmitting part 15 for transmitting an image to be acquired by the image acquiring part 14, a permission signal receiving part 11 for receiving permission signals, and a control part 12 for controlling the image transmitting part 15 to transmit immediately the image to be acquired by the image acquiring part 14 when the permission signal receiving part 11 receives the permission signals.

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vivo information acquisition system and an in-vivo information acquisition system including an in-vivo information acquisition device that acquires in-vivo information of a subject and wirelessly transmits the received information, and a receiving device that receives information transmitted by the in-vivo information acquisition device. Regarding the method.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a capsule endoscope has been proposed that is an in-vivo information acquisition device that is introduced into the body by swallowing a subject and moves inside the body with a peristaltic motion while photographing the body cavity. While moving in the body cavity, an image captured inside the body is transmitted to the outside as an image signal, received by an external receiving device, and stored in an external memory. The subject can move freely after swallowing the capsule endoscope by carrying the receiving device.

  A capsule endoscope generally has a configuration in which an image signal is continuously transmitted regardless of a reception state of a receiving device. For this reason, when the communication state between the capsule endoscope and the receiving apparatus is not good, there is a problem that useless data that is not received by the receiving apparatus is transmitted. For this reason, the effective life of the capsule endoscope driven by the built-in battery, that is, the time for transmitting data that can be received by the receiving apparatus is reduced, and the reception state is transmitted during an unfavorable period. Since the received image is not stored in the receiving apparatus, there is a problem that diagnosis during this time cannot be performed.

  For this reason, the applicant discloses in JP-A-2005-342083 an endoscope system that transmits an image only when the communication state between the capsule endoscope and the receiving apparatus is good. That is, the capsule endoscope first stores a captured image in a memory. Then, before transmitting the image, a communication confirmation signal is transmitted. When receiving the communication confirmation signal, the receiving device transmits a permission signal to the capsule endoscope. The capsule endoscope receives the permission signal, confirms that communication between the capsule endoscope and the receiving device is possible, and then transmits the image stored in the memory. Note that the prior communication state confirmation using the communication confirmation signal and the permission signal is performed every time an image is transmitted.

  However, since the capsule endoscope stores a captured image in a memory, power consumption associated with the storage operation occurs. In addition, before the image is transmitted, the communication between the capsule endoscope and the receiving device is performed twice: (1) from the capsule endoscope to the receiving device, and (2) from the receiving device to the capsule endoscope. Therefore, the system configuration is complicated and the power consumption is increased.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-342083

  An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vivo information acquisition system and a control method for an in-vivo information acquisition system that can confirm a communication state with a simple configuration.

  An in-vivo information acquiring system according to an aspect of the present invention includes an in-vivo information acquiring device and a receiving device, and the receiving device arranged outside the body of a subject receives information transmitted by the in-vivo information acquiring device. An information receiving unit; an external storage unit that stores the information received by the information receiving unit; and a permission signal transmitting unit that transmits a permission signal at predetermined time intervals, and is introduced into the body of the subject. The in-vivo information acquiring device includes an information acquiring unit that acquires information in the body, an information transmitting unit that transmits the information acquired by the information acquiring unit, a permission signal receiving unit that receives the permission signal, And a control unit that controls the information transmitting unit to immediately transmit the information acquired by the information acquiring unit when the permission signal receiving unit receives the permission signal.

  The control method of the in-vivo information acquisition system according to another aspect of the present invention includes an introduction step of inserting the in-vivo information acquisition device into the subject, and a permission signal transmission step in which the reception device wirelessly transmits a permission signal at predetermined time intervals. And a permission signal receiving step in which the in-vivo information acquiring device detects whether or not the permission signal can be received, and when the permission signal is received in the permission signal receiving step, the information acquiring unit of the in-vivo information acquiring device And an information transmitting step in which the information transmitting unit immediately wirelessly transmits the information acquired by the information acquiring unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an in-vivo information acquisition system and a control method for an in-vivo information acquisition system that can perform a communication state check with a simple configuration.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the use condition of the endoscope system of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the endoscope system of a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the endoscope system of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a flow of operation | movement of the endoscope system of 1st Embodiment. It is a time chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the endoscope system of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the endoscope system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a flow of operation | movement of the endoscope system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a time chart for demonstrating operation | movement of the endoscope system of 2nd Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the control method of the endoscope system 1 and the endoscope system 1 which are the in-vivo information acquisition system of 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system 1 of this embodiment includes a capsule endoscope (hereinafter also referred to as “capsule”) 10 that is an in-vivo information acquisition device, and a receiving device 20. The capsule 10 is introduced into the digestive tract lumen in the body by the subject 2 swallowing. The receiving device 20 arranged outside the body of the subject includes an antenna unit 21 that receives a signal from the capsule 10 and a main body 25 that the subject 2 wears on the waist.

  Next, the configuration of the endoscope system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The capsule 10 is a permission signal receiving unit 11 that is a control signal receiving unit, a control unit 12, an image acquisition unit 14 that is an information acquisition unit, an image transmission unit 15 that is an information transmission unit, and a power supply unit that supplies power. A battery 13 and a reed switch 19 are included. The in-vivo image acquired by the image acquisition unit 14 is wirelessly transmitted to the outside by the image transmission unit 15.

  The reed switch 19 is maintained in an OFF state when a DC magnetic field having a predetermined strength or more is applied from a magnet disposed in a container (not shown). However, when the capsule 10 is taken out from the container, the reed switch 19 is turned on. Power supply from 13 is started.

  On the other hand, the receiving device 20 includes an antenna unit 21, an image receiving unit 22 that is an information receiving unit that receives an image wirelessly transmitted by the capsule 10, an external memory 23 that is an external storage unit, a permission signal transmitting unit 24, Have An image received by the image receiving unit 22 via the antenna unit 21 is stored in the external memory 23. The permission signal transmission unit 24 has a transmission antenna (not shown). Then, the doctor downloads the image stored in the external memory 23 of the receiving device 20 to the workstation, and makes a diagnosis by viewing the in-vivo image displayed on the screen of the workstation.

  Next, the configuration of the endoscope system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the capsule 10 includes an illumination unit 14 </ b> A, an imaging unit 14 </ b> B, an image transmission unit 15 that is an information signal transmission unit, a control unit 12, and a permission signal that are sealed inside a housing 16. And a battery 13 that supplies driving power to the imaging unit 14B, the image transmission unit 15, the permission signal reception unit 11, and the control unit 12. The casing 16 has an elongated capsule shape, the end portion 16A on the photographing unit 14B side has a dome shape made of a transparent material, and the central cylindrical portion 16B and the opposite dome-shaped end portion 16C have a light shielding material. It is configured.

  The illuminating unit 14A of the capsule 10 includes an LED (not shown) for irradiating the imaging region when imaging the inside of the subject, and an LED driving circuit (not shown) for controlling the driving state of the LED. The imaging unit 14B includes a CCD (not shown) that images an area irradiated by the LED, and a signal processing circuit (not shown) that processes an image signal output from the CCD into an image of a desired format. The image transmission unit 15 includes an image signal transmission unit (not shown) that modulates an image captured and processed by the CCD to generate an image signal, and transmits the image signal via an antenna (not shown). In addition, although LED was illustrated as an illumination means, if it can irradiate an imaging | photography area | region, it will not limit to this. Further, although the CCD is exemplified as the photographing means, it is not limited to this as long as photographing can be performed. For example, a CMOS sensor or the like may be used.

  Next, operation | movement of the endoscope system 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. 4 and FIG. Hereinafter, a description will be given according to the flowchart of FIG.

<Step S <b>10> Introduction Step When the capsule 10 is taken out from the container, the DC magnetic field applied to the reed switch 19 disappears, so that power is supplied from the battery 13 to the control unit 12. The power supply to the image acquisition unit 14, the image transmission unit 15, the permission signal reception unit 11, and the like is controlled by the control unit 12 that has started driving. The activated capsule 10 is introduced into the body of the subject 2 by swallowing by the subject 2.

<Step S11> Permission signal transmission step The permission signal transmission unit 24 of the receiving device 20 wirelessly transmits the permission signal at predetermined time intervals. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the permission signal is continuously transmitted at the photographing interval (frame rate) of the photographing unit 14B. The permission signal transmission unit 24 consumes a relatively large amount of power, but the power supply capacity of the receiving device 20 disposed outside the body is large, and the battery 10 can be replaced / charged during use, so that the capsule 10 can be observed. Time will never be shortened.

  The permission signal is, for example, a signal having the same pattern format and the same frequency as the radio signal used by the image transmission unit 15 for image transmission. Further, by setting the signal strength of the permission signal to be smaller than the signal strength of the image transmission signal or the like, when the capsule 10 can receive the permission signal, the receiving device 20 can reliably receive the image.

<Step S12> Permission signal reception step The capsule 10 waits until the permission signal receiving unit 11 can receive the permission signal wirelessly transmitted by the receiving device 20 via a receiving antenna (not shown). That is, when the permission signal receiving unit 11 receives the permission signal (Yes), the process from step S13 is started. In other words, in the permission signal receiving step, the control unit 12 of the capsule 10 detects whether or not the permission signal can be received.

<Step S13> Shooting (information acquisition step)
The image acquisition unit 14 of the capsule 10 captures an image inside the subject 2.

<Step S14> Image transmission (information transmission step)
The image transmission unit 15 of the capsule 10 immediately wirelessly transmits the endoscopic image captured by the image acquisition unit 14. For example, even if the capsule 10 has an internal storage memory (not shown) that can store a plurality of endoscopic images, the endoscopic images are transmitted without being stored in the internal memory. Here, the internal storage memory is a buffer memory for an endoscopic image, and is different from a memory that temporarily stores an endoscopic image for image processing in a signal processing circuit or the like. In other words, the endoscope image is transmitted immediately without performing the storage / reading process to / from the internal storage memory which is unnecessary in the capsule 10.

<Step S15> Is there an image signal?
When the image receiving unit 22 cannot receive the image signal from the capsule 10 (No), the receiving device 20 repeats the processing from S11.

  When the image receiving unit 22 receives the image signal from the capsule 10 (Yes), the receiving device 20 starts the process from S16.

<Step S16> Image Storage Step The receiving device 20 stores the received image signal as an image in the external memory 23.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the process from time T2, the following processes (1) to (5) are performed. (1) The permission signal transmission unit 24 of the receiving device 20 transmits a permission signal. (2) The permission signal receiving unit 11 of the capsule 10 receives the permission signal. (3) The image acquisition unit 14 of the capsule 10 captures an endoscopic image. (4) The image transmission unit 15 of the capsule 10 transmits an image. (5) The image receiving unit 22 of the receiving device 20 receives the image, and the received image is stored in the external memory 23.

  On the other hand, since the permission signal receiving unit 11 of the capsule 10 cannot receive the permission signal in the process from the time T5, the processes (3) to (5) are not performed.

  Then, since the communication state is recovered in the process from time T6, the processes (1) to (5) are performed again.

  That is, the control unit 12 of the capsule 10 controls the image acquisition unit 14 and the image transmission unit to stop operation when the permission signal receiving unit 11 cannot receive the permission signal.

  As described above, in the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment, the permission signal transmission / reception is performed only once between the capsule 10 and the receiving apparatus. Further, the image transmitted by the image transmitting unit 15 is immediately transmitted to the capsule 10 without the image captured by the image acquiring unit 14 being stored in the internal memory or the like.

  For this reason, the endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment can check the communication state while having a simple configuration. Moreover, since the capsule 10 has low power consumption, the endoscope system 1 can be driven for a long time.

  Note that the permission signal transmission unit 24 of the reception device 20 may be configured separately from the image reception unit 22 and the external memory 23. When a radio signal having the same frequency as the image signal is used as the permission signal, the antenna unit 21 may be used as a transmission antenna of the permission signal transmission unit 24.

  Further, in the control method of the in-vivo information acquisition system of the present embodiment, the receiving device wirelessly transmits a permission signal at predetermined time intervals, and the in-vivo information acquiring device detects whether the permission signal can be received. When the permission signal is received in the permission signal receiving step and the permission signal receiving step, the information acquisition unit of the in-vivo information acquisition device acquires information in the body, and the information transmission unit acquires the information acquisition unit An information acquisition / information transmission step for immediately transmitting the information to be wirelessly transmitted.

Second Embodiment
Next, an endoscope system 1A and a control method for the endoscope system 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The endoscope system 1A and the control method of the endoscope system 1A according to the present embodiment are similar to the endoscope system 1 and the control method of the endoscope system 1 according to the first embodiment, and thus have the same function. Are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the configuration of the endoscope system 1A is similar to the configuration of the endoscope system 1 shown in FIG. The capsule 10A includes an internal memory 17 that is an internal storage unit capable of temporarily storing images.

  The capsule 10 </ b> A captures an image even when the communication state with the receiving device 20 </ b> A is poor, and stores the captured image in the internal memory 17. The capsule 10A transmits the image stored in the internal memory 17 when the communication state with the receiving device 20A is recovered.

  Next, the operation of the endoscope system 1A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Step S20> Introduction Step Since this is the same as FIG. 4 and S10, description thereof is omitted.

<Step S21> Shooting (information acquisition step)
The image acquisition unit 14 of the capsule 10 </ b> A captures an image inside the body of the subject 2. That is, in the endoscope system 1A, the image acquisition unit 14 operates regardless of whether or not the permission signal is received. As will be described later, the photographing process may be performed after S23 (allowance signal reception).

<Step S22> Permission signal step Since this is the same as FIG. 4 and S11, description thereof is omitted.

<Step S23> Permission signal reception step When the permission signal receiving unit 11 receives the permission signal transmitted from the receiving device 20 (Yes), the capsule 10A performs the process from S24 and fails to receive ( No) performs the processing from S27.

<Steps S24 to S26> Image transmission step to image storage step Since these steps are the same as those in FIGS. 4 and S14 to S16, description thereof will be omitted.

<Step S27> Image Temporary Storage Step The control unit 12A of the capsule 10A performs control so that the image is temporarily stored in the internal memory 17.

<Step S28> Is there an image in the internal memory 17?
The controller 12A of the capsule 10A determines whether there is an image stored in the internal memory 17. If there is an image, the process from S29 is performed, and if not (No), the process from S21 is performed.

<Step S29> Internal Memory Stored Image Transmission Step The image transmission unit 15 of the capsule 10A transmits the image stored in the internal memory 17. The transmitted image is erased from the internal memory 17.

<Step S30> Next shooting time?
When the next image transmission process is completed within one frame at a predetermined frame rate (No), the capsule 10A repeats the process from S28, and when the next frame shooting time is reached (Yes), the capsule 10A performs S21. Process from.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, in the process from time T10, the following processes (1) to (5) are performed. (1) The permission signal transmission unit 24 of the receiving device 20 transmits a permission signal. (2) The permission signal receiving unit 11 of the capsule 10A receives the permission signal. (3) The image acquisition unit 14 of the capsule 10A captures an endoscopic image. (4) The image transmission unit 15 of the capsule 10A transmits an image. (5) The image receiving unit 22 of the receiving device 20 receives the image, and the received image is stored in the external memory 23.

  In FIG. 8, unlike FIG. 7, the case where (3) processing is performed after the processing of (2) is shown. For this reason, this processing from time T10 is the same as that of the endoscope system 1.

In contrast, in the process from time T11, (2) the permission signal receiving unit 11 of the capsule 10A cannot receive the permission signal, so (4) the image transmission process is not performed, and (6) the image is stored in the internal memory 17. Temporarily stored.
FIG. 8 shows a case where the permission signal receiving unit 11 cannot receive the permission signal during two frames (two images) (T11 to T12). As a result, two images are stored in the internal memory.

In the process from time T12, since the permission signal can be received in (2), (4) the captured image is immediately transmitted, and (7) the image stored in the internal memory 17 is read out. 8) The image stored in the internal memory 17 is transmitted.
FIG. 8 shows a case where one internal memory storage image can be transmitted in addition to one captured image during one frame.

  As described above, in the endoscope system 1A, when the control unit 12A cannot receive the permission signal, the internal memory 17 stores the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 14 when the permission signal receiving unit 11 cannot receive the permission signal. When the signal reception unit 11 can receive the permission signal, the image transmission unit 15 is controlled to transmit the image stored in the internal memory 17.

  The endoscope system 1A of the present embodiment has the effects of the endoscope system 1 of the first embodiment, and can acquire an endoscope image even during a period in which the communication state is bad.

When the permission signal receiving unit 11 cannot receive the permission signal for a predetermined time or more, the control unit 12A may stop the operation of the image acquisition unit 14, reduce the frame rate of the image acquisition unit 14, The image quality acquired by the acquisition unit 14 may be reduced.
The control unit 12A may reduce the frame rate of the image acquisition unit 14 or reduce the image quality acquired by the image acquisition unit 14 according to the remaining storable capacity of the internal memory 17.

  In the above description, the capsule endoscope has been described as an example of the information acquisition device. However, various information such as a capsule medical device for collecting digestive fluid, a swallowable capsule temperature sensor, or a swallowable capsule pH sensor. It can be applied to a capsule type information acquisition apparatus.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A ... Endoscope system 10, 10A ... Capsule type | mold endoscope, 11 ... Permit signal receiving part, 12, 12A ... Control part, 13 ... Battery, 14 ... Image acquisition part, 14A ... Illumination part, 14B ... Image capturing unit, 15 ... image transmitting unit, 16 ... housing, 16A ... end, 16B ... cylindrical portion, 16C ... end, 17 ... internal memory, 19 ... reed switch, 20, 20A ... receiving device, 21 ... antenna unit , 22: Image receiving unit, 23: External memory, 24: Permission signal transmitting unit, 25: Main unit

Claims (5)

An in-vivo information acquiring system comprising an in-vivo information acquiring device and a receiving device,
The receiving device arranged outside the body of the subject,
An information receiving unit for receiving information transmitted by the in-vivo information acquiring device;
An external storage unit for storing the information received by the information receiving unit;
A permission signal transmitter for transmitting the permission signal at predetermined time intervals,
The in-vivo information acquisition device to be introduced into the body of the subject,
An information acquisition unit for acquiring information in the body;
An information transmission unit for transmitting the information acquired by the information acquisition unit;
A permission signal receiver for receiving the permission signal;
When the permission signal receiving unit receives the permission signal, the information transmitting unit includes a control unit that controls to immediately transmit the information acquired by the information acquiring unit.   2. The body according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the information acquisition unit and the information transmission unit to stop operation when the permission signal receiving unit cannot receive the permission signal. Information acquisition system. The in-vivo information acquisition device has an internal storage unit for storing the information,
When the control unit cannot receive the permission signal, the internal storage unit stores the information acquired by the information acquisition unit, and the permission signal reception unit can receive the permission signal. 2. The in-vivo information acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the information transmission unit is controlled to transmit the information stored in the internal storage unit. The in-vivo information acquisition device is a capsule endoscope,
The information acquisition unit includes an illumination unit that illuminates the body and an imaging unit that images the body,
The in-vivo information acquisition system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the information is an image taken by the photographing unit. An introductory step of inserting the in-vivo information acquisition device into the subject;
A permission signal transmitting step in which an external receiving device wirelessly transmits a permission signal at a predetermined time interval;
The in-vivo information acquisition device detects a permission signal receiving step for detecting whether or not the permission signal can be received;
When the permission signal is received in the permission signal receiving step, the information acquisition unit of the in-vivo information acquisition device acquires information in the body, and the information transmission unit immediately transmits the information acquired by the information acquisition unit to the radio A method for controlling an in-vivo information acquisition system comprising: an information acquisition / information transmission step for transmission.

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