JP4472410B2 - Capsule type medical device position / posture detection system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a capsule medical device position / posture detection system that detects the orientation and position of a capsule medical device body inserted into a body cavity.

  For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-179700 discloses a conventional example in which the inside of a subject is propelled by a rotating magnetic field. In the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-179700, a magnetic field generator that generates a rotating magnetic field, a robot body that receives the rotating magnetic field and rotates to obtain thrust, a position detector that detects the position of the robot body, Movement control of a movable micromachine provided with magnetic field changing means for changing the direction of the rotating magnetic field by the magnetic field generation unit to direct the robot main body in a direction to reach the destination based on the position of the robot main body detected by the position detection unit A system is disclosed.

A position detection unit used in the movement control system of the micromachine detects a magnetic field generated by a magnet built in the micromachine by a magnetic sensor and determines the position of the micromachine.
JP 2001-179700 A

  However, the position detection unit used in the movement control system of the micromachine described in JP-A-2001-179700 interferes with (influences) the rotating magnetic field that gives the rotating magnetic field to the micromachine and the magnetic field by the magnet. In addition, it is difficult to accurately detect the orientation and position of the micromachine.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and is a capsule medical device that can accurately detect the orientation and position of the capsule medical device body without affecting the rotating magnetic field that magnetically guides the capsule medical device body. An object is to provide a position / posture detection system.

A capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a capsule medical device body inserted into a living body, a magnet provided in the capsule medical device body, and the capsule medical device body. An encapsulated coil constituting a provided resonance circuit, an excitation coil arranged around the living body and generating an alternating magnetic field for generating an induced magnetic field with respect to the encapsulated coil, and around the living body Arranged at least one detection coil for detecting the magnetic field strength of the induced magnetic field generated by the coil in the capsule by the alternating magnetic field, and arranged around the living body to generate a rotating magnetic field acting on the magnet, A rotating magnetic field generator for guiding the capsule medical device body, and the frequency of the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generator , It is different from the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit.
A capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a capsule medical device body inserted into a living body, a magnet provided in the capsule medical device body, and the capsule medical device. a magnet provided in the apparatus main body, the capsule in the coil constituting the resonant circuit provided in the capsule medical device main body, is disposed around the living body, an oscillator for oscillating the resonant circuit, of the biological Arranged around the at least one detection coil for detecting the magnetic field strength of the induced magnetic field generated by the coil in the capsule by the oscillator , and arranged around the living body to generate a rotating magnetic field acting on the magnet, A rotating magnetic field generator for guiding the capsule medical device body, and the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generator Frequency, the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit are different.

  The capsule medical device position / posture detection system of the present invention has an effect that the orientation and position of the capsule medical device body can be accurately detected without affecting the rotating magnetic field that magnetically guides the capsule medical device body.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 22 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a capsule medical device position / posture detection system of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a capsule medical device position / position of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the capsule main body, FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the applied rotating magnetic field and the operation of the capsule main body by this rotating magnetic field, and FIG. 5 is for the rotating magnetic field of FIG. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the applied oscillating magnetic field (couple generating magnetic field) and the operation of the capsule body by this oscillating magnetic field (couple generating magnetic field). FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a rotating magnetic field generator and a position / orientation detecting device, FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotating magnetic field generating device and the position / orientation detecting device of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a rotating magnetic field generator of FIG. Equipment and position / posture FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rotating magnetic field generator and a position / posture detector showing a first modification of the position / posture detector of FIG. 8, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the rotating magnetic field generator of FIG. FIG. 12 is a cutaway view of the position / posture detection device, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture detection device showing a second modification of the position / posture detection device of FIG. 8, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a rotating magnetic field generator and a position / posture detector configured to be openable and closable, and FIG. 15 is a position / posture detector. FIG. 15A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an arrangement pattern of detection coils and excitation coils arranged on a substrate, and FIG. 15A is an example of an arrangement pattern of detection coils and excitation coils arranged on a position / posture detection substrate. Oblique position / posture detection board FIG. 15B is a top view of the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture detection device of FIG. 15A, and FIG. 16 shows other detection coils and excitation coils arranged on the position / posture detection board. FIG. 16A is a perspective view of a position / posture detection board showing another first arrangement pattern example of a detection coil and an excitation coil placed on the position / posture detection board. FIG. 16B is a perspective view of the position / posture detection board showing another second arrangement pattern example of the detection coil and the excitation coil arranged on the position / posture detection board, and FIG. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the position / posture detection board showing another third arrangement pattern example of the detection coil and the excitation coil arranged on the position / posture detection board, and FIG. 17 shows the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture of FIG. FIG. 17 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a detection device, and FIG. ) Is a schematic perspective view showing the external appearance of the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture detector of FIG. 10, and FIG. 17B shows the internal configuration of the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture detector of FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view, FIG. 18 is a schematic explanatory view of the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture detecting device of FIG. 12, and FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture detecting device of FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the rotating magnetic field generation device and the position / posture detection device of FIG. 18, and FIG. 19A is the internal configuration of the rotating magnetic field generation device and the position / posture detection device of FIG. 19B is a schematic cross-sectional view in the direction of arrow A, FIG. 19B is a schematic cross-sectional view in the direction of arrow B showing the internal configuration of the rotating magnetic field generation device and the position / posture detection device in FIG. 18, and FIG. Rotating magnetism showing a third modification of the position / attitude detection device FIG. 20A is a schematic explanatory diagram of a generation device and a position / posture detection device, and FIG. 20A is a schematic diagram showing a rotating magnetic field generation device and a position / posture detection device showing a third modification of the position / posture detection device of FIG. 20B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture detection device of FIG. 20A, and FIG. 21 is the position / posture detection device of FIG. FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective view showing a fifth modification of the position / posture detection apparatus of FIG. 8, and FIG. 22 (A) is a position / posture detection of FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective view showing a fifth modification of the apparatus, and FIG. 22B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the position / posture detection apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the capsule medical device position / posture detection system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is inserted into a body cavity of a patient (not shown) and images the inside of the body cavity. A capsule-type medical device body 3 (hereinafter abbreviated as a capsule body) and a patient's surroundings, that is, outside the body. A rotating magnetic field is applied to the capsule body 3 to change the orientation and position of the capsule body 3 from outside the body. A rotating magnetic field generating device 4 as a first magnetic field generating device as a guiding device for guiding, a magnetic field control device (or a power supply control device) 5 for controlling the supply of a driving current for causing the rotating magnetic field generating device 4 to generate a rotating magnetic field, and In addition to performing processing for wireless communication with the capsule body 3 that is arranged outside the patient's body, the direction and magnitude of the rotating magnetic field applied to the capsule body 3 are controlled by controlling the magnetic field control device 5. A processing device 6 that performs processing, a display device 7 that is connected to the processing device 6 and displays an image captured by the capsule body 3, and is connected to the processing device 6 and is operated by an operator such as an operator. As an operation input device 8 that inputs an instruction signal corresponding to an operation, for example, a direction input device 8a that generates an instruction signal in a magnetic field direction, a speed input that generates an instruction signal of a rotating magnetic field having a rotation frequency corresponding to the operation The apparatus 8b has a function button 8c for generating an instruction signal corresponding to a set function such as generation of a rotating magnetic field eccentrically corresponding to the operation.

  Further, the capsule medical device position / posture detection system 1 generates an alternating magnetic field for generating an induced electromotive force in a resonance circuit 40 (described later) built in the capsule body 3, and the induced electromotive force is generated by the alternating magnetic field. A position / posture detection device 9 is provided as a magnetic field detection unit that detects the magnetic field generated by the resonance circuit 40 that generates the signal and detects the direction (direction) of the capsule body 3 in the longitudinal direction and also detects the position. The detailed configuration of the position / posture detection device 9 will be described later.

First, the capsule body 3 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the capsule main body 3 is provided with a spiral projection (or screw portion) 12 serving as a thrust generating structure portion that generates thrust by rotation on the outer peripheral surface of a capsule-shaped outer container 11. In addition to the objective optical system 13 and the imaging element 14 disposed at the imaging position thereof, the illumination element 15 (see FIG. 2) that illuminates to perform imaging, and the like are sealed inside the exterior container 11. The magnet 16 is accommodated.

The objective optical system 13 is disposed, for example, inside the tip cover 11a formed in a semispherical shape in the outer container 11 so that its optical axis coincides with the central axis C of the cylindrical capsule body 3. The central portion of the tip cover 11a is an observation window 17. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the illumination element 15 is disposed around the objective optical system 13.
Therefore, in this case, the visual field direction of the objective optical system 13 is the optical axis direction of the objective optical system 13, that is, the direction along the cylindrical central axis C of the capsule body 3.
Further, in the capsule body 3, for example, in the vicinity of the rear end of the outer container 11, the capsule coil 42 constituting the resonance circuit 40 is wound in a predetermined direction, specifically, the capsule coil 42 is wound in a solenoid shape. The capsule body 3 is stored in a state in which the direction is set in the longitudinal direction of the capsule body 3.

  Further, the magnet 16 disposed near the center in the longitudinal direction in the capsule body 3 has an N pole and an S pole disposed in a direction orthogonal to the central axis C. In this case, the center of the magnet 16 is arranged so as to coincide with the center of gravity of the capsule body 3, and the center of the magnetic force acting on the magnet 16 when a magnetic field is applied from the outside is the center of gravity of the capsule body 3. Thus, the capsule body 3 can be easily and smoothly propelled magnetically. Further, the magnet 16 is arranged so as to coincide with a specific arrangement direction of the image sensor 14. That is, the upward direction when the image captured by the image sensor 14 is displayed is set to the direction from the south pole to the north pole of the magnet 16.

By applying a rotating magnetic field to the capsule body 3 by the rotating magnetic field generator 4, the magnet 16 is magnetically rotated, and the capsule body 3 having the magnet 16 fixed inside is rotated together with the magnet 16. The helical projections 12 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule 12 are rotated in contact with the inner wall of the body cavity so that the capsule body 3 can be propelled.
In addition, in this way, when the capsule body 3 including the magnet 16 is controlled by an external magnetic field, it is determined which direction is the upward direction of the image captured by the capsule body 3 from the direction of the external magnetic field. I want to know.

  In the capsule body 3, in addition to the objective optical system 13, the image sensor 14, and the magnet 16 described above, as shown in FIG. 2, a signal processing circuit 20 that performs signal processing on a signal imaged by the image sensor 14, and this A memory 21 for temporarily storing a digital video signal generated by the signal processing circuit 20, and a video signal read from the memory 21 is modulated with a high-frequency signal to be converted into a radio transmission signal or transmitted from the processing device 6. A radio circuit 22 that demodulates the control signal, a capsule control circuit 23 that controls the capsule body 3 such as the signal processing circuit 20, and a battery 24 that supplies power for operation to the electrical system inside the capsule body 3 such as the signal processing circuit 20. And are stored.

  Further, in the capsule body 3, a capacitor 41 that is electrically connected to the in-capsule coil 42 is provided, and constitutes a resonance circuit 40 together with the in-capsule coil 42. In the resonance circuit 40, when an AC magnetic field is generated by the position / attitude detection device 9, an induced electromotive force is generated by the AC magnetic field, and a current flows.

  The coil 42 has a unique self-resonance frequency. When an AC magnetic field close to the self-resonance frequency is generated from the position / posture detection device 9, an effective induced electromotive force can be generated without the capacitor 41. The capacitor 41 can be generated. By doing so, the capacitor 41 can be omitted, the size can be reduced, and the configuration can be simplified.

  The processing device 6 that performs wireless communication with the capsule body 3 includes a wireless circuit 25 that performs wireless communication with the wireless circuit 22, an image display for image data transmitted from the capsule body 3, and the like. Of the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generator 4 via the power control device 5 and the data processing circuit 26 for performing the data processing, the control circuit 27 for controlling the data processing circuit 26, the power control device 5 and the like. It has a storage circuit 28 for storing state information and setting information by the direction input device 8a or the like.

A display device 7 is connected to the data processing circuit 26, and an image or the like captured by the image sensor 14 and processed by the data processing circuit 26 via the wireless circuits 22 and 25 is displayed. Further, since the data processing circuit 26 captures an image while the capsule body 3 is rotated, the data processing circuit 26 performs a process of correcting the orientation of the image when displayed on the display device 7 in a certain direction, so that the operator can easily view the image. Image processing is performed so that it can be displayed (described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-105493).
An instruction signal corresponding to the operation is input to the control circuit 27 from the direction input device 8a, the speed input device 8b, and the like constituting the operation input device 8, and the control circuit 27 performs a control operation corresponding to the instruction signal.

  In addition, the control circuit 27 is connected to the storage circuit 28, and the direction of the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generator 4 via the magnetic field controller 5 (the normal direction of the magnetic field rotation plane of the rotating magnetic field) and the magnetic field The direction information is always stored. Thereafter, even when an operation for changing the direction of the rotating magnetic field or the direction of the magnetic field is performed, the direction of the rotating magnetic field or the direction of the magnetic field is continuously changed so that it can be changed smoothly. Note that the memory circuit 28 may be provided inside the control circuit 27.

The magnetic field control device 5 connected to the control circuit 27 generates an alternating current, and also includes an alternating current generation and control unit 31 including three alternating current generation and control circuits that control the frequency and phase thereof, A driver unit 32 including three drivers each amplifying an alternating current, and the output currents of the three drivers are supplied to the three electromagnets 33a, 33b, and 33c constituting the rotating magnetic field generator 4, respectively. .
In this case, the electromagnets 33a, 33b, and 33c are arranged so as to generate magnetic fields in three orthogonal axes. For example, the electromagnets 33a, 33b, and 33c are a pair of opposed coils each having two coils, and a three-axis opposed coil in which the respective magnetic field generation directions are orthogonal can be considered. As an example of the counter coil, two Helmholtz coils arranged so as to sandwich the patient can be considered.
In this embodiment, as will be described later, the rotating magnetic field generator 4 includes a rotating magnetic field generating Helmholtz coil 4A as a coil for generating a rotating magnetic field for guiding the capsule body 3 (see FIG. 7).

  The capsule medical device position / posture detection system 1 operates by operating the direction input device 8a constituting the operation input device 8 to generate a magnetic field direction instruction signal or by operating the speed input device 8b. By generating a rotating magnetic field instruction signal having a corresponding rotational frequency or by generating an oscillating magnetic field (AC or periodic) set by operating the function button 8c, Further, it is possible to generate a couple that rotates the central axis C itself around the central point of the central axis C in the longitudinal direction of the capsule body 3. In this case, the capsule main body 3 is tilted or vibrated because it is applied alternately or periodically so as to change the direction of the oscillating magnetic field (acting as a couple) in the reverse direction before the central axis C itself is completely rotated. It becomes like this. In the direction input device 8a, a rotating magnetic field is generated so as to move the capsule body 3 in the desired direction by tilting in a desired direction to move a joystick (not shown).

For example, FIG. 4 shows a state when a rotating magnetic field is applied. By applying a rotating magnetic field to the capsule body 3, the magnet 16 built in the capsule body 3 can be rotated. The main body 3 can be moved forward or backward.
As shown in FIG. 4, a rotating magnetic field in which the direction of the pole of the rotating magnetic field changes in a rotating magnetic field plane perpendicular to the direction of the central axis C in the longitudinal direction of the capsule body 3 (y ′ in FIG. 4) is applied. The capsule body 3 is rotated around the longitudinal direction together with the magnet 16 fixed in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in the body 3, and the inner wall of the body cavity is engaged by the spiral projection 12 shown in FIG. 3 according to the rotational direction. They can be moved forward or backward.

FIG. 5 shows a state when, for example, an oscillating magnetic field (couple generating magnetic field) is applied to the rotating magnetic field, and the capsule body 3 is in the direction of the central axis C in the longitudinal direction (yz in FIG. 5). An oscillating magnetic field (couple generating magnetic field) that acts to oscillate (vibrate) the magnet 16 around is applied.
As a result, the capsule body 3 is rotated about the longitudinal central axis C and is eccentric so that the direction of the central axis C of the rotation is inclined. In other words, the rotational torque of the spinning top is reduced, and an operation in which the mandrel is shaken by the action of gravity (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as a jiggling operation) can be performed.

  In this way, when the capsule body 3 is advanced or retracted along the longitudinal direction of the lumen in a lumen approximately the same as the diameter of the capsule body 3, the capsule body 3 is moved in the longitudinal direction. Can be moved smoothly by applying a rotating magnetic field that rotates around the.

On the other hand, when the capsule body 3 hits the bent portion at the bent portion of the lumen and is simply rotated around the longitudinal direction, it may be difficult to smoothly move in the bent direction. .
In such a case, as described above, the oscillating magnetic field is applied along the central axis C in the longitudinal direction of the capsule body 3 so that a force that rotates the central axis C acts on the center. Thus, the capsule body 3 is caused to perform a jiggling operation, and when the longitudinal direction in the jiggling operation is in the bending direction of the lumen, the capsule body 3 can be smoothly moved in that direction. .

  In addition, by tilting the joystick, the state of the capsule body 3 or the state of the rotating magnetic field is always grasped so that the direction of the rotating magnetic field can be controlled from the current traveling direction to a desired arbitrary direction. In this embodiment, the state of the rotating magnetic field (specifically, the direction of the rotating magnetic field and the direction of the magnetic field) is always stored in the storage circuit 28.

Specifically, an operation instruction signal in the operation input device 8 in FIG. 2 is input to the control circuit 27, and the control circuit 27 outputs a control signal for generating a rotating magnetic field corresponding to the instruction signal to the magnetic field control device 5. The information on the direction of the rotating magnetic field and the direction of the magnetic field is stored in the storage circuit 28.
Therefore, the storage circuit 28 always stores information on the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generator 4 and the direction of the periodically changing magnetic field forming the rotating magnetic field.

  The storage circuit 28 is not limited to storing information corresponding to the control signal of the direction of the rotating magnetic field and the direction of the magnetic field from the control circuit 27, and is output from the control circuit 27 to the magnetic field control device 5. Information for determining the direction of the rotating magnetic field and the direction of the magnetic field that are actually output to the rotating magnetic field generating device 4 through the alternating current generating & controlling unit 31 and the driver unit 32 in the magnetic field controlling device 5 according to the control signal. It may be sent from the side to the control circuit 27 and stored in the storage circuit 28.

  In this embodiment, when the application of the rotating magnetic field is started and stopped, or when the direction of the rotating magnetic field (in other words, the direction of the capsule traveling direction) is changed, a sudden force acts on the capsule body 3. The rotating magnetic field is controlled so as to continuously change so as to operate smoothly.

Further, in the present embodiment, the image picked up by the image pickup device 14 is also rotated by the rotation of the capsule body 3. Therefore, when this is displayed on the display device 7 as it is, the displayed image is also a rotated image. Therefore, since the operability of the instruction operation to the desired direction by the direction input device 8b is lowered, it is desirable to stop the rotation of the display image.
Therefore, in this embodiment, as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-105493, the data processing circuit 26 and the control circuit 27 perform the process of correcting the rotated image into an image whose rotation is stationary.
The image may be rotated based on the magnetic field orientation information, and the capsule body 3 may be canceled and displayed (the image correlation processing or the like may be performed to display a still image of a predetermined orientation). Display it).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the position / posture detecting device 9 includes an exciting coil as second magnetic field generating means for generating an alternating magnetic field for generating an induced electromotive force in the resonance circuit 40 of the capsule body 3. Detection coil as a magnetic field detecting means for detecting the magnetic field generated by the array 51 and the resonance circuit 40 of the capsule body 3 to detect the longitudinal direction (direction) of the capsule body 3 and also detecting the position of the capsule body 3 And an array 52.
The excitation coil array 51 and the detection coil array 52 are configured as one set, and in this embodiment, three sets are arranged so as to generate magnetic fields in three orthogonal axes.

  Further, the position / posture detection device 9 includes a signal measuring device 53 that measures a signal detected by the detection coil array 52, and the longitudinal direction of the capsule body 3 based on the data measured by the signal measuring device 53. The calculation processing unit 54 that calculates the direction (direction) and the position thereof, and the control for the calculation processing unit 54 to generate an AC magnetic field necessary for mutual induction of the resonance circuit 40. And an oscillator 55 that oscillates the coil array 51 at a predetermined oscillation frequency, for example, 1 kHz to 1 MHz.

Here, the measurement magnetic field B _total (vector) detected by the detection coil array 52 is an applied magnetic field generated by the excitation coil array 51 as B _ext (vector), and the magnetic field generated by the resonance circuit 40 is B _reso. (Vector) as

Formula 1

である。

It is.

The magnetic field B _ext (vector) generated by the resonance circuit 40 can be described as a function of the position and direction of the resonance circuit 40 on three-dimensional coordinates (not shown) as follows.

Formula 2

但し、
ｘ_０：カプセル本体３のｘ座標，ｙ_０：カプセル本体３のｙ座標，
ｚ_０：カプセル本体３のｚ座標，
θ：カプセル本体３のｚ軸の周りの角度、φ：カプセル本体３のｙ軸の周りの角度，
ｒ：共振回路４０から検出用コイルアレイ５２までの距離，
Ｍ：共振回路４０が生成する等価的な磁気モーメントの強さ
即ち、演算処理部５４は、検出用コイルアレイ５２により検出される測定磁界Ｂ_totalから励磁用コイルアレイ５１により発生する印加磁界Ｂ_extを減算して共振回路４０により発生する磁界Ｂ_resoを求め、この値からカプセル本体３の位置（ｘ，ｙ，ｚ）、カプセル本体３の向き（θ，φ）及び等価的磁気モーメントＭを算出するようになっている。

However,
x ₀ : x coordinate of the capsule body 3, y ₀ : y coordinate of the capsule body 3,
z ₀ : z coordinate of the capsule body 3,
θ: angle around the z-axis of the capsule body 3, φ: angle around the y-axis of the capsule body 3,
r: distance from the resonance circuit 40 to the detection coil array 52;
M: Strength of equivalent magnetic moment generated by the resonance circuit 40 That is, the arithmetic processing unit 54 applies the applied magnetic field B _ext generated by the exciting coil array 51 from the measured magnetic field B _total detected by the detecting coil array 52. _Is obtained, and the position (x, y, z) of the capsule body 3, the orientation (θ, φ) of the capsule body 3 and the equivalent magnetic moment M are calculated from this value. It is supposed to be.

The frequency of magnetic induction by the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generating Helmholtz coil 4A is up to about 10 Hz in order to physically move the capsule body 3. On the other hand, the frequency of mutual induction due to resonance of the resonance circuit 40 is, for example, about 1 kHz to 1 MHz as described above in consideration of the absorption of a living body. For this reason, the magnetic induction by these rotating magnetic fields and the mutual induction by the resonance of the resonance circuit 40 do not affect each other.

The excitation coil array 51 and the detection coil array 52 are configured to be incorporated in the rotating magnetic field generator 4 as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, for example.
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the exciting coil array 51 and the detecting coil array 52 are, for example, one on four surfaces excluding the head and foot portions so that the patient's body can enter. In this way, the exciting coil 62 and the plurality of detecting coils 61 are arranged and opposed to each other.

The excitation coil array 51 and the detection coil array 52 can be combined so that, for example, if one surface on the front side is an excitation side, one surface on the opposite side is the detection side, as described above. It is configured as one set, and three sets are arranged so as to generate magnetic fields in three orthogonal directions. In addition, since the exciting coil array 51 and the detecting coil array 52 cannot be arranged as one set for the head and foot portions, the exciting coil 62 and the detecting coil whose directions (directions) are different by 90 degrees. 61 is distributed and formed on the other four surfaces.
Further, the exciting coils are formed in the same cubic shape as the rotating magnetic field generating device 4 and the three exciting coils 62 (Helmholtz) are formed so that the magnetic field generating directions are orthogonal and the alternating magnetic field is uniformly formed. Configuration is desirable.)

As a result, the position / posture detection device 9 can uniformly form an alternating magnetic field, so that the induced electromotive force is generated in the resonance circuit 40 more finely, and the magnetic field of the resonance circuit 40 is generated by the detection coil array 52 with higher accuracy. It can be detected.
The detection coil 61 and the excitation coil 62 are arranged on a position / posture detection board (see FIGS. 15 and 16), but the position / posture detection board is omitted for the sake of clarity. .

  The excitation coil array 51 and the detection coil array 52 are arranged in a mountain shape at a predetermined angle so as to generate magnetic fields in three orthogonal directions as shown in FIGS. May be formed. 10 to 11, the excitation coil 62, the detection coil 61, and the excitation coil 62 are arranged on the position / posture detection board (see FIGS. 15 and 16). For ease of viewing, the position / posture detection board is omitted. The position / posture detection board 60 on which the exciting coil 62, the detecting coil 61 and the exciting coil 62 are arranged is, for example, a frame as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. Is attached.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 12, the exciting coil 62 may be provided on four surfaces excluding the patient's head and feet. The exciting coil 62 preferably has a Helmholtz configuration. In FIG. 12, the excitation coil 62, the detection coil 61, and the excitation coil 63 are arranged on the position / orientation detection board (see FIGS. 15 and 16). The position / posture detection board is omitted.

  Note that the position / posture detection apparatus shown in FIG. 12 is different from the other example in which the position / posture detection board is provided on three axes including the head and foot portions of the patient. Since the position / posture detection board is provided on the two axes excluding the portion, the detection sensitivity is lowered, but the configuration is simple and easy to implement.

The position / posture detection board 60 on which the exciting coil 62, the detecting coil 61, and the exciting coil 63 are arranged is, for example, the rotating magnetic field that is a frame as shown in FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 19B. It is attached to the generator 4.
The position / orientation detection device 9 configured as described above inputs the orientation (direction) and position information of the capsule body 3 calculated by the arithmetic processing unit 54 to the control circuit 27 of the processing device 6. Yes.

When the operation input device 8 is operated, the control circuit 27 generates a rotating magnetic field or generates a rotating magnetic field based on information stored in the storage circuit 28 and information detected by the position / posture detecting device 9. The operation of controlling the direction of the image is performed.
The rotating magnetic field generator 4 and the position / posture detector 9 incorporated in the rotating magnetic field generator 4 can be divided into two parts as shown in FIG. 13 so that the patient can easily insert the body. Alternatively, it may be configured to be openable and closable as shown in FIG. Further, the above structure may be individually configured in the rotating magnetic field generation device 4 and the position / attitude detection device 9.

  Further, the position / posture detection device 9 is configured by arranging the excitation coil 62 and the detection coil 61 in the same plane of the position / posture detection substrate 60 as shown in FIG. 15 or FIG. . As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the position / orientation detection board 60 has the detection coils 61 arranged horizontally at equal intervals with respect to the excitation coil 62 in the same plane. Further, the detection coils 61 for the head and foot portions are configured to be vertically arranged uniformly at equal intervals.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16A, the position / posture detection board 60 is configured by arranging the excitation coil 62 and the detection coil 61 in parallel in the same plane. Further, as shown in FIG. 16B, the position / posture detection board 60 is configured by disposing the detection coil 61 in the excitation coil 62 in the same plane. Further, as shown in FIG. 16C, the position / orientation detection board 60 further uniformly arranges the detection coil 61 around the excitation coil 62 in addition to the configuration of FIG. It is configured as follows.

As described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, the position / posture detection board 60 has various variations in the same plane. As a result, the position / posture detection device 9 can efficiently generate an alternating magnetic field for generating an induced electromotive force in the resonance circuit 40 of the capsule body 3, and the magnetic field generated by the resonance circuit 40 of the capsule body 3 can be generated. It can be detected efficiently.
In the position / orientation detection device 9, it is desirable that the exciting coil 62 has a Helmholtz configuration when the two position / orientation detection substrates 60 face each other.

The operation of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described.
When examining the inside of a body cavity with the capsule body 3, the patient swallows the capsule body 3. When the capsule body 3 inserted into the body cavity passes through the esophagus or the like, it is illuminated by the illumination element 15, and an image captured by the imaging element 14 is wirelessly transmitted to the processing apparatus 6 outside the body via the wireless circuit 22.

  The processing device 6 receives the image data demodulated by the wireless circuit 25 and stores the demodulated image data in an image storage device (such as a hard disk) provided inside the data processing circuit 26 and performs display processing. The images output and sequentially captured by the capsule body 3 are displayed.

  Here, the control circuit 27 of the processing device 6 generates a rotating magnetic field based on the direction (direction) and position information of the capsule body 3 detected by the position / posture detecting device 9, and the direction of the generated rotating magnetic field, etc. The operation which controls is performed.

First, the control circuit 27 controls and drives the position / posture detection device 9 to measure the direction (direction) and position of the capsule body 3. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the exciting coil 62 is used as the exciting coil array 51 and the detecting coil 61 is used as the detecting coil array 52.
The position / attitude detection device 9 causes the excitation coil array 51 (excitation coil 62) to oscillate at a predetermined oscillation frequency, for example, 1 kHz to 1 MHz, by an oscillator 55, thereby generating an alternating magnetic field.

  The resonant circuit 40 of the capsule body 3 generates an induced electromotive force by mutual induction by an alternating magnetic field, and generates a magnetic field by causing a current to flow through the coil 42 in the capsule. The magnetic field generated by the resonance circuit 40 is detected by the detection coil array 52 (detection coil 61). The measurement value detected by the detection coil array 52 (detection coil 61) is captured by the signal measuring device 53 and input to the arithmetic processing unit 54.

The arithmetic processing unit 54 calculates the direction (direction) and position of the resonance circuit 40 from the above-described formulas 1 and 2 based on the input measurement value, and the calculated result is the direction (direction) and position of the capsule body 3. The data is output to the control circuit 27 as data.
The control circuit 27 sets (sets) the direction of the rotating magnetic field based on the direction (direction) and position data of the capsule body 3 input from the position / posture detection device 9 and controls and drives the rotating magnetic field generator 4 in that direction. To generate a rotating magnetic field.
The control circuit 27 controls the rotating magnetic field generator 4 so as to control the capsule body 3 in a desired direction (direction) and position in accordance with an operation input device 8 operated by an operator, for example, a joystick of the direction input device 8a. To drive.

  That is, when the control circuit 27 detects the input of the operation input device 8 (joystick) and determines that there is an input, the control circuit 27 moves the capsule body 3 in a desired direction (direction) and according to the operation of the operation input device 8. A condition for generating the next rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generator 4 is calculated so as to control the position, and a rotating magnetic field is generated (added). When there is no input from the operation input device 8 (joystick), the control circuit 27 maintains the set rotating magnetic field state until this input is present.

  The capsule body 3 changes direction (direction) and position according to the generated rotating magnetic field. Here, the capsule body 3 is not suitable for the operation of the operation input device 8 due to the state of the lumen, for example, the presence of body fluid or sputum or the size of the organ. The degree of ease of change changes, and an error that does not correspond to the calculated orientation of the capsule body 3 occurs.

  Here, the mutual induction of the resonance circuit 40 of the capsule body 3 is performed by the center axis of the position / posture detection board 60 provided with the excitation coil array 51 (excitation coil 62) and the detection coil array 52 (detection coil 61). ) Is generated by the intra-capsule coil 42 as the amount of change in position and the amount of change in angle increase, with the maximum when the central axis of the position / posture detection board 60 provided with a) coincides with the axis of the intra-capsule coil 42. The magnetic field becomes small, and accurate position detection becomes difficult.

  In addition, since the strength of the magnetic field generated by the capsule coil 42 decreases in proportion to the cube of the distance, it is necessary to make the space as small as possible in order to increase the detection accuracy. , It must be arranged to surround only the target part.

In the case of a cube, the excitation coil array 51 (excitation coil 62) and the detection coil array 52 (detection coil 61) on at least two of the six surfaces interfere with the human body and maintain a three-axis arrangement. It is necessary to devise the coil arrangement so that the size of the coil does not increase.
In the present embodiment, as described above, the excitation coil array 51 (excitation coil 62) and the detection coil array 52 (detection coil 61) are, for example, the rotating magnetic field generator 4 (the rotating magnetic field generating Helmholtz coil 4A). On the other hand, a plurality of excitation coils 62 and detection coils 61 are uniformly arranged and opposed to the four surfaces excluding the head and foot portions so that the patient's body can enter. Yes.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the resonance frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the exciting coil 62 or the exciting coils 62 and 63 is oscillated at, for example, 1 kHz to 1 MHz, so that the rotating magnetic field generator 4 (helmholtz for generating the rotating magnetic field). Unlike the driving frequency of the rotating magnetic field generated by the coil 4A), there is no interference (influence).

For this reason, in this embodiment, the direction and position of the capsule body 3 can be accurately detected without affecting the rotating magnetic field that magnetically induces the capsule body 3.
Therefore, the control circuit 27 again measures the direction (direction) and position of the capsule body 3, and performs the following control to correct the error.

That is, the control circuit 27 controls and drives the position / posture detection device 9 again to measure the direction (direction) and position data of the capsule body 3.
The control circuit 27 uses the direction (direction) data of the capsule body 3 obtained from the position / orientation detection device 9 and the direction of the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generator 4 (normal direction of the magnetic field rotation plane of the rotating magnetic field). The data is compared, and it is determined whether or not the comparison result is larger than a preset set value α.

The control circuit 27 compares the direction (direction) data of the capsule body 3 obtained from the position / orientation detection device 9 with the direction data of the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generating device 4, and the result is larger than the set value α. In this case, the direction of the rotating magnetic field is set as the measured orientation data of the capsule body 3, and thereafter the input of the operation input device 8 (joystick) is detected and the above operation is repeated.
As a result, the capsule medical device position / posture detection system 1 can accurately detect the orientation and position of the capsule body 3 without affecting the rotating magnetic field that magnetically guides the capsule body 3.

The position / posture detection apparatus may be configured as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the position / posture detection device 9B is provided with a position / posture detection board 60 for the foot portion so as to be opened and closed in an oblique shape, and also for the position / posture detection portion 9B. The posture detection board 60 is configured by forming a hole through which the head can be inserted.
Thereby, the position / posture detection device 9B can detect the direction (direction) and position of the capsule body 3 efficiently up to the vicinity of the head and the foot.

  Further, the position / posture detection device may be configured in a regular octahedron shape as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, in the position / posture detection device 9C, a position / posture detection board 60 is attached to a frame formed in a regular octahedron shape. As a result, the position / posture detection device 9C can detect the direction (direction) and position of the capsule body 3 efficiently up to the vicinity of the head and the foot.

Further, the position / posture detection device may be formed in a spherical shape as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B, the position / posture detection device 9D has a position / posture detection board 60 attached to a frame formed in a spherical shape. As a result, the position / posture detection device 9D arranges the position / posture detection substrate 60 in a spherical shape, so that it substantially coincides with the axis of the capsule coil 42 regardless of the orientation (direction) and position of the capsule body 3. An axis can be provided, and detection accuracy is further improved.

  When the capsule body 3 is combined with the rotating magnetic field generator 4 for magnetically guiding the capsule body 3, the position / posture detectors 9C and 9D are combined so that the rotating magnetic field generator 4 is arranged on the outside. In this case, the rotating magnetic field generator 4 to be combined has a cubic rotating magnetic field generating Helmholtz coil 4 </ b> A (not shown) arranged outside.

  The position / posture detection devices 9C and 9D are configured to be openable and closable so that the patient can easily insert a body, and a handle 71 is provided. Further, the position / orientation detection device 9C does not arrange the position / orientation detection substrate 60 in a spherical shape as compared with the position / orientation detection device 9D formed in a spherical shape, so that the manufacturability is improved.

  FIG. 23 to FIG. 25 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 23 shows a rotating magnetic field generator and a position / posture detection device constituting the capsule medical device position / posture detection system of the second embodiment. FIG. 23A is a schematic perspective view showing the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture detection device constituting the capsule medical device position / posture detection system of the second embodiment, and FIG. ) Is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the rotating magnetic field generation device and the position / posture detection device of FIG. 23 (A), and FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a variation of the position / posture detection device of FIG. 25 is a schematic perspective view of the posture detection device, and FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the direction of arrow A showing the internal configuration of the rotating magnetic field generation device and the position / posture detection device of FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the system is configured to operate while the patient is sleeping. In the second embodiment, the system is configured to operate while the patient is sitting. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description will be omitted, and the same components will be described with the same reference numerals.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B, in the capsule medical device position / posture detection system of the second embodiment, the position / posture detection device 9E is configured in a chair shape.
More specifically, the position / posture detection device 9E is provided with a position / posture detection board 60 so that the patient can sit on the rotating magnetic field generator 4 which is a frame formed in a cubic shape. The position / posture detection board 60 is disposed on the patient's buttocks and backrest, and is disposed on the front surface of the patient facing the buttocks and backrest. Further, a position / posture detection board 60 is arranged to face both sides of the patient.
As a result, the position / posture detection device 9E can operate the system while the patient is sitting when the patient does not need to sleep.

In addition, as shown in FIG.24 and FIG.25, you may comprise the position and attitude | position detection apparatus 9F in the chair 72, and may comprise. More specifically, in the position / posture detection device 9F, the rotating magnetic field generation device 4 that is a frame formed in a cubic shape is attached to the chair 72, and the position / posture detection substrate 60 includes the patient's buttocks and It arrange | positions at the backrest part, and is arrange | positioned at the front part of the patient facing these buttocks and the backrest part.
As a result, the position / posture detection device 9F allows the patient to sit more comfortably than in the second embodiment, and can operate the system in this state.
Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  FIGS. 26 to 34 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 26 shows a rotating magnetic field generator and a position / posture detection device constituting a capsule medical device position / posture detection system of the third embodiment. FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of the main part of the rotating magnetic field generator and the position / posture detection device of FIG. 26, FIG. 28 is an overall configuration diagram showing the capsule medical device position / posture detection system of the third embodiment, FIG. Is a flowchart showing the control operation of the capsule medical device position / posture detection system of the third embodiment, FIG. 30 is a schematic perspective view showing a modification of the position / posture detection device of FIG. 26, and FIG. 31 is the position / posture of FIG. FIG. 32 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the posture detection device, FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a modification of FIG. 31, and is a diagram illustrating position / posture detection by the position / posture detection device for the capsule body in which the position / posture detection board is configured in a flat plate shape, FIG. Conde FIG. 34 shows the positional relationship among the excitation coil, the detection coil, and the capsule coil. FIG. 34A is a schematic explanatory diagram, FIG. 34A is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship when the axis connecting the excitation coil and the detection coil and the coil in the capsule are coaxial, and FIG. 34B is an excitation diagram. FIG. 34C is a schematic explanatory view showing the positional relationship when the axis connecting the coil for detection and the coil for detection is perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the capsule coil, and FIG. 34C is from the axis connecting the excitation coil and the detection coil, It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship when the coil in a capsule will be in the position which shifted | deviated.

  In the first and second embodiments, the position / posture detection board 60 is fixedly arranged, but in the third embodiment, the position / posture detection board 60 can be moved to an optimum position during the inspection. Configure as follows. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description will be omitted, and the same components will be described with the same reference numerals.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 26 to 28, the capsule medical device position / posture detection system 1G of the third embodiment is configured to detect the position / posture in the rotating magnetic field generator 4G which is a frame formed in a spherical shape. The position / posture detection device 9G is configured so that the two movable units 80a and 80b incorporating the substrate 60 can be moved to predetermined positions. The position / posture detection substrate 60 is provided with the plurality of detection coils 61 and the excitation coil 62 described above.

The rotating magnetic field generator 4G can be separated into hemispheres.
The movable units 80a and 80b are arranged one by one in the hemispherical portion of the rotating magnetic field generator 4G. When one of the movable units 80a and 80b generates an alternating magnetic field for mutually inducing the resonance circuit 40 of the capsule body 3, the other detects the magnetic field generated by the resonance circuit 40 of the capsule body 3. Yes.

In FIG. 26, the one arranged in the upper hemisphere portion of the rotating magnetic field generator 4G is the exciting movable unit 80a, and the one arranged in the lower hemisphere portion of the previous rotating magnetic field generator 4G is for detection. The movable unit 80b is used.
These movable units 80a and 80b are configured such that a driving tire 81 capable of changing the direction by 180 degrees is connected to a motor 82 and can be moved to a predetermined position. The movable units 80a and 80b are provided with four driven tires 83 that are driven in accordance with the rotation of the drive tire 81, for example, so as to be rotatable.

  The motor 82 is controlled and driven by a motor drive circuit 84, and the motor drive circuit 84 is connected to the drive control device 86 and the signal measuring device 53 described in the first embodiment via a flexible substrate 85. Has been. The drive control device 86 controls the motor drive circuit 84 so that the movable units 80a and 80b move to predetermined positions.

The drive control device 86 is connected to the control circuit 27G of the processing device 6. In addition to the control described in the first embodiment, the control circuit 27G controls the drive control device 86 so that the movable units 80a and 80b move to predetermined positions.
More specifically, for example, the magnetic field to be detected has the following three patterns when the capsule coil 42 is equidistant from the exciting coil 62 and the detecting coil 61.

As shown in FIG. 34A, the detected magnetic field becomes maximum when the axis connecting the exciting coil 62 and the detecting coil 61 and the capsule coil 42 are coaxial.
As shown in FIG. 34B, the magnetic field to be detected is a magnetic flux from the exciting coil 62 when the axis connecting the exciting coil 62 and the detecting coil 61 is orthogonal to the longitudinal central axis of the capsule coil 42. Does not enter the coil 42 in the capsule. For this reason, an induction magnetic field is not generated in the intra-capsule coil 42 (resonance circuit 40), and it becomes difficult for the detection coil 61 to detect the magnetic field of the intra-capsule coil 42.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 34C, the magnetic field to be detected is excited in the capsule coil 42 when the capsule coil 42 is off the axis connecting the magnet coil 62 and the detection coil 61. The magnetic field can be detected by the detection coil 61 at a position where the magnetic flux from the coil 62 enters and the induction coil 42 generates an induction magnetic field. However, in this case, the strength of the magnetic field detected by the detection coil 61 depends on the relationship between the direction of the induced magnetic field generated at that time and the direction of the detection coil 61 and the distance between the capsule coil 42 and the detection coil 61. It depends on.

  For this reason, the control circuit 27G uses the position / orientation detection board 60 based on the past direction (direction) and position information of the capsule body 3 calculated by the arithmetic processing unit 54 based on the measurement data from the signal measuring device 53. The drive control device 86 is controlled to a suitable position where the magnetic field generated by the resonance circuit 40 of the capsule body 3 detected by is not reduced.

The operation of the third embodiment having such a configuration will be described.
When examining the inside of a body cavity with the capsule body 3, the patient swallows the capsule body 3. When the capsule body 3 inserted into the body cavity passes through the esophagus or the like, it is illuminated by the illumination element 15, and an image captured by the imaging element 14 is wirelessly transmitted to the processing apparatus 6 outside the body via the wireless circuit 22.
The processing device 6 receives the image data demodulated by the wireless circuit 25 and stores the demodulated image data in an image storage device (such as a hard disk) provided inside the data processing circuit 26 and performs display processing. The images output and sequentially captured by the capsule body 3 are displayed.

  Here, in this embodiment, the control circuit 27G generates or generates a rotating magnetic field based on the orientation (direction) and position information of the capsule body 3 detected by the position / posture detection device 9G according to the flowchart shown in FIG. An operation for controlling the direction of the rotating magnetic field is performed, and an operation for controlling the movable units 80a and 80b to move to an appropriate position is performed.

First, the control circuit 27G detects the position of the capsule body 3.
The control circuit 27G controls and drives the position / posture detection device 9G to measure the position and orientation (direction) of the capsule body 3 (step S11).
The position / orientation detection device 9G causes the position / orientation detection substrate 60 (excitation coil array 51 thereof) built in the exciting movable unit 80a to oscillate with an oscillator 55 at a predetermined oscillation frequency, for example, 1 kHz to 1 MHz, and an AC magnetic field. Is generated.

  The resonance circuit 40 of the capsule body 3 generates an induced electromotive force by mutual induction by an alternating magnetic field, and generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field generated by the resonance circuit 40 is detected by the position / orientation detection substrate 60 (the detection coil array 52) built in the detection movable unit 80b. The measurement value detected by the detection movable unit 80 b is taken in by the signal measuring device 53 and input to the arithmetic processing unit 54.

  The arithmetic processing unit 54 calculates the direction (direction) and position of the resonance circuit 40 from the above-described formulas 1 and 2 based on the input measurement value, and the measurement value and the calculated result are used as the direction (direction) of the capsule body 3. ), Position data, and magnetic field strength are output to the control circuit 27G.

The control circuit 27G, based on the direction (direction) of the capsule body 3 input from the position / posture detection device 9G, the position data, and the strength of the magnetic field, the position data of the movable units 80a and 80b, and the obtained capsule body 3 Based on the direction (direction), position data, and magnetic field strength, the movable units 80a and 80b are moved to suitable positions where the magnetic field generated by the resonance circuit 40 does not become small, and remeasured (step S12).
The control circuit 27G compares the previous measurement value and the remeasurement value (step S13), and if the previous measurement value is larger, repeats S11 to S13 until the remeasurement value becomes larger.

In the movable units 80a and 80b, when the motor drive circuit 84 drives the motor 82 based on the drive signal from the drive control device 86, the drive tire 81 and the driven tire 83 rotate and move to predetermined positions. .
On the other hand, when the remeasurement value is larger than the previous measurement value, the control circuit 27G completes the position detection (step S14) and controls the magnetic induction by the next rotating magnetic field.

Here, the capsule main body 3 is easily moved or hard to move with respect to the operation of the operation input device 8 depending on the state of the lumen, for example, the presence of body fluid or sputum and the size of the organ. The degree of thickness changes, and an error that does not correspond to the calculated orientation of the capsule body 3 occurs.
Therefore, the control circuit 27G performs control so as to repeat the position detection (S11 to S14) of the capsule body 3 by re-measurement at regular (time) intervals.

Next, the control circuit 27G performs magnetic induction of the capsule body 3 by the rotating magnetic field.
The control circuit 27G outputs the orientation (direction) and position data of the capsule body 3 from the position / posture detection device 9G (step S15), and from the orientation (direction) and position data of the capsule body 3 obtained by the arithmetic processing unit 54. The direction of the rotating magnetic field to be added (for magnetically guiding the capsule body 3) is set (set) (step S16).

  The control circuit 27G controls the rotating magnetic field generator 4 so as to control the capsule body 3 in a desired direction (direction) and position in accordance with an operation input device 8 operated by the operator, for example, a joystick of the direction input device 8a. To drive. That is, the control circuit 27G detects an input of the operation input device 8 (joystick) (step S17), determines whether there is an input (step S18), and if there is an input of the operation input device 8, this operation is performed. The input amount of the input device 8 is calculated (calculated), and the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generating device 4 is added until the set value is reached (step S19). When there is no input from the operation input device 8, the control circuit 27G maintains the state of the rotating magnetic field that is set until this input is present.

  The control circuit 27G determines whether or not the added rotating magnetic field has reached the set value (step S20), and continues to add the rotating magnetic field until the rotating magnetic field reaches the set value. Then, the induction is completed (step S21), and the magnetic induction control (S16 to S21) by the rotating magnetic field is repeated.

As a result, the capsule medical device position / posture detection system 1G can obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment, and can move the position / posture detection board 60 to the optimum position, so that the capsule always The direction (direction) and position of the main body 3 can be accurately measured.
The flow chart of FIG. 29 describes the case where the position / posture detection board 60 is configured to be movable. However, when the position / posture detection board 60 is fixedly arranged except for the portion for moving the movable unit. It is also applicable to.

As described above, the third embodiment has been described. In the present embodiment, the following modifications can be considered.
In the capsule medical device position / posture detection system, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, a position / posture detection device may be configured by using a multi-degree-of-freedom movable arm 90 instead of the movable units 80a and 80b.

As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the position / posture detection device 9 </ b> H is configured by providing a multi-degree-of-freedom movable arm 90.
The multi-degree-of-freedom movable arm 90 is bifurcated at the tip end, and the position / posture detection board 60 is provided at the tip portion. If one of these position / orientation detection boards 60 is on the excitation side, the other is the detection side. Alternatively, the position / orientation detection board 60 may be switched periodically, or some coils on the same board may be used simultaneously for excitation and others for detection.

The multi-degree-of-freedom movable arm 90 incorporates a motor (not shown) in a joint portion. These motors are controlled and driven by the drive control device 86 by the control circuit 27G in the same manner as the movable units 80a and 80b described in the third embodiment.
Since other configurations and operations are the same, the description thereof is omitted.

As a result, the position / posture detection device 9H according to the present modification is very easy because the patient does not have to go in, and the size of the device can be reduced.
The number of position / posture detection boards 60 attached to the multi-degree-of-freedom movable arm 90 may be one as shown in FIG. In this case, the position / posture detection board 60 is configured such that the excitation coil 62 is arranged at the center of the board and the detection coil 61 is arranged around the excitation coil 62. In FIG. 32, the magnetic field lines come out of the exciting coil 62 at the center of the substrate and return to the surrounding detecting coil 61.

  The position / posture detection board 60 generates an alternating magnetic field for the exciting coil 62 to generate an induced magnetic field for the intracapsule coil 42, and the induced magnetic field of the intracapsule coil 42 generated by the alternating magnetic field. Is detected by the detection coil 61.

  Accordingly, the multi-degree-of-freedom movable arm 90 includes a magnetic field generating means for generating an alternating magnetic field for generating an induced magnetic field for the in-capsule coil 42, and a magnetic field intensity of the induced magnetic field generated by the in-capsule coil 42. The magnetic field detection means for detecting the two and the two roles can be configured by only one of the position / posture detection substrate 60, so that the control is simpler than the configuration of providing two, and further downsizing is possible. .

The capsule body 3 may be configured to generate an induced magnetic field spontaneously in addition to an induced magnetic field generated by the alternating magnetic field of the exciting coil array 51 as shown in FIG.
In this case, the capsule body 3 includes a resonance circuit 40B configured by connecting an oscillator 55B to the in-capsule coil 42 instead of the capacitor 41. The oscillator 55B oscillates at an oscillation frequency, for example, 1 kHz to 1 MHz in order to generate an alternating magnetic field necessary for mutually inducing the resonance circuit 40B.

  On the other hand, in the position / orientation detection device 9B, the detection coil array 52 (detection coil 61) detects a magnetic field generated spontaneously by the resonance circuit 40B of the capsule body 3B. Based on the signal measuring device 53 for measuring the signal detected by the array 52 (detection coil 61) and the data measured by the signal measuring device 53, the orientation (direction) of the capsule body 3B in the longitudinal direction is calculated. And an arithmetic processing unit 54 that also calculates the position.

Here, the measurement magnetic field B ′ _total (vector) detected by the detection coil array 52 (detection coil 61) is obtained by using the magnetic field generated by the resonance circuit 40B as B ′ _reso (vector).

Formula 3

である。

It is.

Note that the magnetic field B ′ _reso (vector) generated by the resonance circuit 40B is substantially the same as the expression 2 described in the first embodiment, and is omitted.
Thereby, the arithmetic processing unit 54 sets the measurement magnetic field B ′ _total detected by the detection coil array 52 (detection coil 61) as the magnetic field B ′ _reso generated by the resonance circuit 40B, and _sets the position (x, y, z), the direction (θ, φ) of the capsule body 3B, and the equivalent magnetic moment M can be calculated.

Accordingly, since the capsule body 3B can spontaneously generate a magnetic field by the resonance circuit 40B, the position / posture detection device 9B has an excitation means for generating an alternating magnetic field for generating an induced electromotive force in the resonance circuit 40B. There is no need for further miniaturization.
It should be noted that embodiments configured by partially combining the above-described embodiments and the like also belong to the present invention.

[Appendix]
(Additional item 1)
A capsule-type medical device body inserted into a living body;
A capsule-in-coil coil provided in the capsule-type medical device body and constituting a resonance circuit;
A magnetic field detector arranged around the living body and detecting a change in the magnetic field generated by the coil in the capsule;
A capsule-type medical device position / posture detection system comprising:

(Appendix 2)
The magnetic field detector detects a magnetic field intensity of the induced magnetic field generated by the coil in the capsule by the magnetic field generating means for generating an alternating magnetic field for generating an induced magnetic field for the coil in the capsule. The capsule-type medical device position / posture detection system according to Additional Item 1, further comprising: a magnetic field detection unit.

(Additional Item 3)
The capsule medical device main body has an oscillator for causing the resonance circuit to oscillate, the resonance circuit oscillates by the oscillator, and the coil in the capsule generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field generated by the coil in the capsule 2. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field detection means provided in the magnetic field detection unit detects the intensity.

(Appendix 4)
The frame to which the magnetic field detection unit is attached is a guiding device that guides the orientation and position of the capsule medical device body from outside the body by a rotating magnetic field, and the driving frequency of the rotating magnetic field generated by the guiding device and the resonance of the resonance circuit 4. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to any one of additional items 1 to 3, wherein the frequency is different.

(Appendix 5)
The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an opening through which the living body is inserted is formed and the magnetic field detector is arranged in a spherical shape.
(Appendix 6)
The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an opening through which the living body is inserted is formed and the magnetic field detection unit is arranged in a regular polyhedron shape.

(Appendix 7)
The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an opening through which the living body is inserted is formed, and the magnetic field detection unit is arranged in three axes in a cubic shape.
(Appendix 8)
The capsule-type medical device position / posture detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the magnetic field detection unit is arranged so as to be opposed to and sandwich the living body.

(Appendix 9)
The capsule type medical device position / posture detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the single magnetic field detection unit is arranged so as to face the living body and is movable. .
(Appendix 10)
The capsule-type medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 7, wherein at least one surface of the cubic shape is openable / closable or detachable.

(Appendix 11)
It has a multi-degree-of-freedom movable arm that can move and rotate,
A control device for controlling the operation of the multi-degree-of-freedom movable arm so that the magnetic field detected by the magnetic field detection unit is maximized;
Item 9. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to item 8 or item 9, characterized by comprising:

(Appendix 12)
Forming an opening through which the living body is inserted;
A movable unit that can move in a spherical shape,
A control device for controlling the operation of the movable unit so that the magnetic field detected by the magnetic field detector is maximized;
Item 9. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to item 8 or item 9, characterized by comprising:

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the capsule medical device position / posture detection system of FIG. 1. It is side surface explanatory drawing of a capsule main body. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the operation | movement of the capsule main body by the applied rotating magnetic field and this rotating magnetic field. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an oscillating magnetic field (couple generating magnetic field) applied to the rotating magnetic field of FIG. 4 and the operation of the capsule body by the oscillating magnetic field (couple generating magnetic field). It is explanatory drawing of the position and attitude | position detection by the position and attitude | position detection apparatus with respect to a capsule main body. It is explanatory drawing which shows a rotating magnetic field generator and a position and attitude | position detection apparatus. FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotating magnetic field generation device and the position / posture detection device of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of the rotating magnetic field generation device and the position / posture detection device of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the position and attitude | position detection apparatus of FIG. It is a rotating magnetic field generator of FIG. 10, and a position and attitude | position detection apparatus cutting | disconnection figure. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rotating magnetic field generation device and a position / posture detection device showing a second modification of the position / posture detection device of FIG. 8. It is the schematic which shows the rotating magnetic field generator and position and attitude | position detection apparatus which were comprised so that division | segmentation into two was possible. It is the schematic which shows the rotating magnetic field generator and position and attitude | position detection apparatus which were comprised so that opening and closing was possible. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an arrangement pattern of the coil for a detection arrange | positioned on a position and attitude | position detection board | substrate, and the coil for excitation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of arrangement | positioning pattern of the coil for a detection and the coil for excitation arrange | positioned at a position and attitude | position detection board | substrate. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the rotating magnetic field generator of FIG. 10, and a position and attitude | position detection apparatus. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the external appearance of the rotating magnetic field generator of FIG. 12, and a position and attitude | position detection apparatus. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the rotating magnetic field generator of FIG. 18, and a position and attitude | position detection apparatus. FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a rotating magnetic field generation device and a position / posture detection device showing a third modification of the position / posture detection device of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a rotating magnetic field generation device and a position / posture detection device showing a fourth modification of the position / posture detection device of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a rotating magnetic field generation device and a position / posture detection device showing a fifth modification of the position / posture detection device of FIG. 8. It is explanatory drawing which shows the rotating magnetic field generator and position / posture detection apparatus which comprise the capsule type medical device position / posture detection system of 2nd Example. FIG. 24 is a schematic perspective view of a rotating magnetic field generation device and a position / posture detection device showing a modification of the position / posture detection device of FIG. 23. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the A arrow direction which shows the internal structure of the rotating magnetic field generator of FIG. 24, and a position and attitude | position detection apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the rotating magnetic field generator and position / posture detection apparatus which comprise the capsule type medical device position / posture detection system of 3rd Example. It is a principal part enlarged view of the rotating magnetic field generator of FIG. 26, and a position and attitude | position detection apparatus. It is a whole block diagram which shows the capsule type medical device position and attitude | position detection system of 3rd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the control action of the capsule type medical device position and attitude | position detection system of 3rd Example. FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective view showing a modification of the position / posture detection apparatus in FIG. 26. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the position and attitude | position detection apparatus of FIG. FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of position / posture detection by a position / posture detection device for a capsule body in which the position / posture detection board is configured in a flat plate shape, showing a modification of FIG. 31. It is explanatory drawing of the position and attitude | position detection by the position and attitude | position detection apparatus with respect to the capsule main body which provided the oscillator instead of the capacitor | condenser and comprised the resonance circuit. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the coil for excitation, the coil for a detection, and the coil in a capsule.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Capsule type medical device position / posture detection system 3 Capsule body 4 Rotating magnetic field generator 5 Magnetic field controller 6 Processing device 7 Display device 8 Operation input unit 8a Direction input device 8b Speed input device 8c Function button 9 Position / posture detection device 12 Spiral projection 16 Magnet 20 Signal processing circuit 26 Data processing circuit 27 Control circuit 31 AC current generation & control unit 32 Driver unit 33a to 33c Electromagnet 40 Resonance circuit 41 Capacitor 42 Coil in capsule 51 Coil array for excitation 52 Coil array for detection 53 Signal measuring instrument 54 Arithmetic processing unit 55 Oscillator 61 Detection coil 62, 63 Excitation coil Agent Patent attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (19)

A capsule-type medical device body inserted into a living body;
A magnet provided in the capsule medical device body;
A coil in a capsule constituting a resonance circuit provided in the capsule medical device body;
An exciting coil that is arranged around the living body and generates an alternating magnetic field for generating an induction magnetic field with respect to the coil in the capsule;
At least one detection coil that is arranged around the living body and detects the magnetic field strength of the induction magnetic field generated by the coil in the capsule by the alternating magnetic field;
A rotating magnetic field generator arranged around the living body, generating a rotating magnetic field acting on the magnet, and guiding the capsule medical device body;
A capsule medical device position / posture detection system, characterized in that the frequency of the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generator differs from the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit.   The capsule-type medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 1, wherein the excitation coil and the detection coil are arranged in the rotating magnetic field generator.   A position / posture detection board comprising the excitation coil and at least one detection coil is further provided, the position / posture detection board is disposed so as to surround the living body, and the position / posture detection board is provided. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 2, wherein the capsule medical device position / posture detection system has a hole portion through which a living body can be inserted.   4. The capsule medical device according to claim 3, wherein the rotating magnetic field generation device is a cube, and the plurality of position / posture detection substrates are oriented in a direction different from a cube surface of the rotating magnetic field generation device. Device position / posture detection system.   The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the position / posture detection substrates are arranged in a cubic shape and have a hole through which the living body can be inserted.   6. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 5, wherein at least one surface of the cube is openable / detachable.   The capsule-type medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 5, wherein the position / posture detection board is arranged on four surfaces of the cube, and the living body can be inserted through the remaining two surfaces of the cube. .   A position / posture detection board on which the excitation coil and at least one detection coil are configured is further provided, and a plurality of the position / posture detection boards are arranged opposite to each other with the living body interposed therebetween, and are movable. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 1.   A position / posture detection board on which the excitation coil and at least one of the detection coils are configured is further provided, and the position / posture detection board is disposed facing the living body and is movable. The capsule-type medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 1.   10. The capsule medical device position / posture detection according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising a control device that controls movement of the position / posture detection board so that a magnetic field detected by the detection coil is maximized. system. A capsule-type medical device body inserted into a living body;
A magnet provided in the capsule medical device body;
A capsule-in-coil that is provided in the capsule medical device body and forms a resonance circuit;
An oscillator disposed around the living body for oscillating the resonant circuit;
At least one detection coil disposed around the living body and detecting the magnetic field strength of the induced magnetic field generated by the coil in the capsule by the oscillator;
A rotating magnetic field generator arranged around the living body, generating a rotating magnetic field acting on the magnet, and guiding the capsule medical device body;
A capsule medical device position / posture detection system, characterized in that the frequency of the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotating magnetic field generator differs from the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit.   The capsule-type medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 11, wherein the detection coil is disposed inside the rotating magnetic field generation device.   A position / posture detection board on which at least one of the detection coils is configured is further provided, and the position / posture detection board is disposed so as to surround the living body, and the living body is not provided with the position / posture detection board. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 12, further comprising a hole portion through which insertion is possible.   14. The capsule medical device according to claim 13, wherein the rotating magnetic field generation device is a cube, and the plurality of position / posture detection substrates are oriented in a direction different from a cube surface of the rotating magnetic field generation device. Device position / posture detection system.   The capsule type medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of the position / posture detection substrates are arranged in a cubic shape and have a hole through which the living body can be inserted.   16. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 15, wherein at least one surface of the cube is openable / detachable.   16. The capsule medical device position / posture detection according to claim 15, wherein the position / posture detection board is arranged on four sides of the cube, and the living body can be inserted through the remaining two sides of the cube. system.   The position / posture detection board on which at least one of the detection coils is configured is further provided, and the position / posture detection board is arranged to face the living body and is movable. Capsule type medical device position / posture detection system.   19. The capsule medical device position / posture detection system according to claim 18, further comprising a control device that controls movement of the position / posture detection board so that a magnetic field detected by the detection coil is maximized.

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