IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,452,338
Granted Patent B2
US 7,452,338 · App. 10/981,054 · Granted Nov 18, 2008

Intracoelomic mobile body, and capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope

Assignee: Olympus Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,452,338
App. No.
10/981,054
Granted
Nov 18, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An intracoelomic mobile body comprising: a capsule body which has a body to be rotated and can be introduced into the human body; and a rotation drive unit which has a rotation shaft for freely rotating the body to be rotated back and forth. The rotation drive unit is arranged in the capsule body in such a way that a first line obtained by linking the positions of center of gravity of cross-sections formed up to a limit of the formation when the capsule body is cut along a plane perpendicular to the rotation shaft does not overlap a second line obtained by extending the rotation shaft as the same line.

Claims (36)

1. An intracoelomic mobile body comprising:

a swallowable capsule body which has an internal body to be rotated, the swallowable capsule body can be introduced into the human body and having first and second ends offset in a longitudinal direction; and

a rotation drive unit which has a rotation shaft for freely rotating the internal body to be rotated back and forth, the rotation drive unit being arranged in the swallowable capsule body between the first and second ends of the swallowable capsule body in such a way that a first line obtained by linking the positions of center of gravity of cross-sections formed up to limit of the formation when the capsule body is cut along a plane perpendicular to the rotation shaft does not overlap a second line obtained by extending the rotation shaft as the same line.

2. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 1 , wherein the internal body to be rotated is an information acquisition unit for acquiring biological information.

3. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 2 , wherein the information acquisition unit is an ultrasonic transducer unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

4. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 3 , wherein the first line and the second line do not overlap at all.

5. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 2 , wherein the information acquisition unit is an image pickup unit for picking up optical images.

6. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 3 , wherein the first line is a straight line.

7. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 6 , wherein the first line and the second line are not parallel.

8. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 6 , wherein the first line and the second line are substantially parallel.

9. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 8 , wherein the distance between the first line and the second line is less than about 10 mm.

10. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 3 , wherein the first line is formed from a combination of a straight line and a curved line.

11. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 10 , wherein the first line has at least two straight lines and at least one of the straight lines overlaps the second line.

12. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 3 , wherein the rotation drive unit is arranged in the capsule body in such a way that the first line and the second line form an angle.

13. The intracoelomic mobile body according to claim 3 , wherein the rotation drive unit is arranged in the capsule body in such a way that the second line is eccentric from the first line.

14. A capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope comprising:

a swallowable capsule body which has an internal body to be rotated, the swallowable capsule body can be introduced into the human body and having first and second ends offset in a longitudinal direction; and

a rotation drive unit which has a rotation shaft for freely rotating the internal body to be rotated back and forth, the rotation drive unit being arranged in the swallowable capsule body between the first and second ends of the swallowable capsule body in such a way that a first line obtained by linking the positions of center of gravity of cross-sections formed up to a limit of the formation when the capsule body is cut along a plane perpendicular to the rotation shaft does not overlap a second line obtained by extending the rotation shaft as the same line.

15. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 14 , wherein the internal body to be rotated is an information acquisition unit for acquiring biological information.

16. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 15 , wherein the information acquisition unit is an ultrasonic transducer unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

17. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 16 , wherein the first line and the second line do not overlap at all.

18. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 15 , wherein the information acquisition unit is an image pickup unit for picking up optical images.

19. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 16 , wherein the first line is a straight line.

20. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 19 , wherein the first line and the second line are not parallel.

21. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 18 , wherein the first line and the second line are substantially parallel.

22. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 21 , wherein the distance between the first line and the second line is less than about 10 mm.

23. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 16 , wherein the first line is formed from a combination of a straight line and a curved line.

24. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 23 , wherein the first line has at least two straight lines and at least one of the straight lines overlaps the second line.

25. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 16 , wherein the rotation drive unit is arranged in the capsule body in such a way that the first line and the second line form an angle.

26. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 16 , wherein the rotation drive unit is arranged in the capsule body in such a way that the second line is eccentric from the first line.

27. A capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope comprising:

a swallowable capsule body which can be introduced into the human body, the swallowable capsule body having first and second ends offset in a longitudinal direction;

an ultrasonic transducer internal to the swallowable capsule body and which can generate ultrasonic waves; and

a rotation drive unit which has a rotation shaft for rotating the ultrasonic transducer, the rotation drive unit being arranged in the swallowable capsule body between the first and second ends of the swallowable capsule body in such a way that a first line obtained by linking the positions of center of gravity of cross-sections formed up to a limit of the formation when the capsule body is cut along a plane perpendicular to the rotation shaft does not overlap a second line obtained by extending the rotation shaft as the same line.

28. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 27 , wherein the rotation drive unit is arranged in the capsule body in such a way that the first line and the second line form an angle.

29. The capsule-type ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 27 , wherein the rotation drive unit is arranged in the capsule body in such a way that the second line is eccentric from the first line.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2005
From: TANIGUCHI, YUKO
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016241/0036 →
Priority Claims (3)
JP 2003-377487 · Nov 6, 2003 · national
JP 2004-291679 · Oct 4, 2004 · national
JP 2004-316929 · Oct 29, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050119577A1 · Jun 2, 2005