IP Library › Patent Application 12265409

Patent Application

App. No. 12/265,409

MEDICAL CAPSULE

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Patent No.: US None
App. No.: 12/265,409

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Abstract

A medical capsule having a capsule configuration of size permitting introduction in a body, adapted to be at least partially dissolved over time by remaining in the intestines for a predetermined time or more. The medical capsule includes an inner casing provided at both ends with a discharge outlet and, surrounding the periphery thereof, an outer casing with a substantially uniform thickness. The inner casing and the outer casing are made of a material dissolved in the digestive secretion of the intestines. When the medical capsule remains in the intestines by, for example, entering a narrow area of the intestines, the wall of the outer casing begins to be dissolved. By this dissolution, the inner space of the inner casing communicates through the discharge outlet with the outside of the medical capsule. Consequently, a filling, such as a dye, medicine, etc., of the inner casing flows into the intestines.

Claims (98)

1 . A medical capsule, having a capsule shape and size capable of being introduced into a subject body, at least a part of the medical capsule being dissolved over time by remaining in a predetermined time or more in a lumen, the medical capsule comprising a casing, for forming the capsule shape, having at least two thin portions,

wherein a communication opening for communicatively connecting an inner space of the casing to an outside of the medical capsule is formed when the thin portion is eliminated earlier than other portions of the medical capsule by dissolution of the casing.

2 . The medical capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the casing is formed by an inner casing with a plurality of discharge outlets and an outer casing with a substantially uniform thickness, the outer casing surrounding an outer surface of the inner casing.

3 . The medical capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the thin portion is formed so that an interior of a wall of the casing is shaped at least two portions with a substantially uniform thickness.

4 . The medical capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the casing is formed by an inner casing with a plurality of discharge outlets and an outer casing with a substantially uniform thickness, the outer casing surrounding an outer surface of the inner casing, and

the thin portion is formed so that an interior of a wall of the casing is shaped at positions facing the discharge outlets of the outer casing.

5 . The medical capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the casing is formed by two cup-shaped members which are connected to each other.

6 . The medical capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the casing contains a contrast medium visible by X-ray as a material.

7 . The medical capsule according to claim 6 , wherein the contrast medium is homogeneously-mixed and added to the material of the casing.

8 . The medical capsule according to claim 6 , wherein the contrast medium is barium sulphate.

9 . The medical capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the space is substantially similar to an outline of the casing.

10 . The medical capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the space is filled with a filling of at least one of granulated material, powder, gel and liquid.

11 . The medical capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the space is filled with a filling of at least one of gas with an exceptionally striking smell, gel, liquid dye, painkiller, and other medicine.

12 . A medical capsule, having a capsule shape and size capable of being introduced into a subject body, at least a part of the medical capsule being dissolved over time by remaining in a predetermined time or more in a lumen, the medical capsule comprising

a casing, for forming the capsule shape, having a thin portion; and

a filling with which an inner space of the casing is filled,

wherein the filling is discharged to an outside of the medical capsule after dissolution of the thin portion, with an portion of the casing other than the thin portion keeping substantially the capsule shape.

13 . The medical capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the thin portion includes a plurality of thin portions provided at different positions, respectively.

14 . The medical capsule according to claim 13 , wherein the thin portions are provided at facing positions corresponding respectively to the front and back of the medical capsule.

15 . The medical capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the casing is formed by an inner casing with a plurality of discharge outlets and an outer casing with a substantially uniform thickness, the outer casing surrounding an outer surface of the inner casing.

16 . The medical capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the thin portion is formed so that an interior of a wall of the casing is shaped at least two portions with a substantially uniform thickness.

17 . The medical capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the casing is formed by an inner casing with a plurality of discharge outlets and an outer casing with a substantially uniform thickness, the outer casing surrounding an outer surface of the inner casing, and

the thin portion is formed so that an interior of a wall of the casing is shaped at positions facing the discharge outlets of the outer casing.

18 . The medical capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the casing is formed by two cup-shaped members which are connected to each other.

19 . The medical capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the casing contains a contrast medium visible by X-ray as a material.

20 . The medical capsule according to claim 19 , wherein the contrast medium is homogeneously-mixed and added to the material of the inner casing.

21 . The medical capsule according to claim 19 , wherein the contrast medium is barium sulphate.

22 . The medical capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the space is substantially similar to an outline of the casing.

23 . The medical capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the filling is at least one of granulated material, powder, gel and liquid.

24 . The medical capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the filling is at least one of gas with an exceptionally striking smell, gel, liquid dye, painkiller, and other medicine.

25 . A method for testing patency of an intestinal tract with a medical capsule having a capsule shape and size capable of being introduced into a subject body, at least a part of the medical capsule being dissolved over time by remaining in a predetermined time or more in a lumen, the method comprising

using as the medical capsule a capsule in which at least two thin portions of a casing forming the capsule shape is dissolved after a predetermined time to form a communication opening for communicatively connecting an inner space of the casing to an outside of the medical capsule, and the capsule keeps the capsule shape further after a predetermined time.

26 . The method according to claim 25 , wherein the casing contains a contrast medium as a material, the method comprising detecting the medical capsule by X-ray.

27 . The method according to claim 25 , wherein the filling is at least one of granulated material, powder, gel and liquid.

28 . A method for testing patency of an intestinal tract with a medical capsule having a capsule shape and size capable of being introduced into a subject body, at least a part of the medical capsule being dissolved over time by remaining in a predetermined time or more in a lumen, the method comprising

using as the medical capsule a capsule,

the capsule including a casing, for forming the capsule shape, having a thin portion; and

a filling with which an inner space of the casing is filled, wherein the filling is discharged to an outside of the capsule after dissolution of the thin portion, with an portion of the casing other than the thin portion keeping substantially the capsule shape.

29 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein the casing contains a contrast medium as a material, the method comprising detecting the medical capsule by X-ray.

30 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein the filling is at least one of granulated material, powder, gel and liquid.

31 . The method according to claim 26 , wherein the filling is at least one of gas with an exceptionally striking smell, gel, liquid dye, painkiller, and other medicine.

32 . A method for treating an intestinal tract with a medical capsule having a capsule shape and size capable of being introduced into a subject body, at least a part of the medical capsule being dissolved over time by remaining in a predetermined time or more in a lumen, the method comprising

using as the medical capsule a capsule,

the capsule including a casing, for forming the capsule shape, having a thin portion; and

33 . The method according to claim 32 , wherein the casing contains a contrast medium as a material, the method comprising detecting the medical capsule by X-ray.

34 . The method according to claim 32 , wherein the filling is at least one of granulated material, powder, gel and liquid.

35 . The method according to claim 32 , wherein the filling is at least one of gas with an exceptionally striking smell, gel, liquid dye, painkiller, and other medicine.

36 . A medical capsule, having a capsule shape and size capable of being introduced into a subject body, at least a part of the medical capsule being dissolved over time by remaining in a predetermined time or more in a lumen, the medical capsule comprising a casing, for forming the capsule shape, having an promptly-dissolving portion,

wherein a communication opening for communicatively connecting an inner space of the casing to an outside of the medical capsule is formed when the promptly-dissolving portion is eliminated earlier than other portions of the promptly-dissolving portion by dissolution of the promptly-dissolving portion.

37 . The medical capsule according to claim 36 , wherein the promptly-dissolving portion is a thin portion of the casing.

38 . The medical capsule according to claim 36 , wherein the promptly-dissolving portion is a plug for closing a bore of the casing.

39 . The medical capsule according to claim 36 , wherein the promptly-dissolving portion is resistant to secretion of a stomach and is made of a material which dissolves by the secretion of the stomach earlier than the casing.

40 . The medical capsule according to claim 36 , wherein the promptly-dissolving portion is a plug for closing over an entire length of a through-bore across the casing.

41 . The medical capsule according to claim 40 , wherein the plug has a pipe-shape, and the plug is resistant to secretion of a stomach and is made of a material which dissolves by the secretion of the stomach earlier than the casing.

42 . The medical capsule according to claim 36 , wherein the casing contains a contrast medium visible by X-ray as a material.

43 . The medical capsule according to claim 36 , wherein the space is substantially similar to an outline of the casing.

44 . The medical capsule according to claim 36 , wherein the space is filled with a filling of at least one of granulated material, powder, gel and liquid.

45 . The medical capsule according to claim 36 , wherein the space is filled with a filling of at least one of gas with an exceptionally striking smell, gel, liquid dye, painkiller, and other medicine.

46 . A medical capsule for testing patency of an intestinal tract or treating an intestinal tract, the medical capsule comprising:

a first state of dimension such that the capsule passes through an intestinal tract having no narrow area but is stopped by a narrow area;

a second state of dimension such that the capsule can pass the narrow area of the intestinal tract; and

an indicator material covered by a portion of the capsule hindering the indicator material to flow into the intestine in the first state and flows into the intestine in the second state,

wherein the portion of the capsule is dissolvable by secretions of the intestine after a predetermined time to allow the indicator material to flow into the intestine.

47 . The medical capsule according to claim 46 , wherein the indicator material includes at least one of a dye, a foam, and a substance producing striking smell.

48 . The medical capsule according to claim 46 , wherein the portion covering the indicator material is a layer which partially covers the medical capsule.

49 . The medical capsule according to claim 46 , wherein the portion covering the indicator material is a plug of a wall of the medical capsule.

50 . The medical capsule according to claim 46 , the predetermined time is longer than the time needed for the medical capsule to pass an intestinal tract having no narrow area which hinders the medical capsule to pass.

51 . The medical capsule according to claim 46 , wherein the first state of dimension has a dimension corresponding to the dimension of a video capsule for imaging the intestine tract.

52 . The medical capsule according to claim 46 , comprising a path allowing passage of liquid or gas through the medical capsule.

53 . The medical capsule according to claim 46 , wherein the portion hindering the indicator material to flow out the capsule in the first state is not covered by other portion of the medical capsule and is not permeable with regard to intestine secretions.

54 . The capsule according to claim 46 , wherein the dissolvable portion of the medical capsule is an outer layer covering an inner layer that includes at least a communication opening,

the communication opening, after removal of the outer layer, is communicatively connected to a surrounding area of the medical capsule in an inner space of the capsule, and

the inner space contains the indicator material so that the indicator material can flow out of the capsule through the communication opening.

55 . The medical capsule according to claim 54 , comprising at least two communication openings at both sides of the medical capsule.

56 . The capsule according to claim 54 , wherein the inner layer is dissolve after a second predetermined time longer than the predetermined time.

57 . The capsule according to claim 46 , comprising an X-ray contrast medium.

58 . The capsule according to claim 46 , wherein the dissolvable portion is an outer layer of the medical capsule,

the outer layer having at least a thin portion which provides a communication opening that communicatively connects an inner space of the capsule to a surrounding area of the capsule after dissolution of a portion of the outer layer, and

the inner space contains the indicator material so that the indicator material can flow out of the medical capsule.

59 . A medical capsule for coloring an intestinal wall, comprising:

a portion which is non-dissolvable by secretions of a stomach but which is dissolvable by secretions of an intestine after a predetermined time; and

a dye covered by the portion in the medical capsule, not flowing out of the capsule when the portion is not dissolved but flowing out of the capsule when the portion is dissolved.

60 . A system comprising: